Match Report: Fleet Town 2 Tadley Calleva 0

Fleet Town extended their fine home record this season to Eleven League games unbeaten with a super performance against a strong Tadley Calleva side.

Fleet Town started strongly, as they dominated early, first attack saw cross from Chike Kandi cleared but straight back to Fareed Hakeem-Habeeb, his cross being turned behind for an early corner to Fleet Town. This was delivered into the danger area in front of the goal and after a scramble on the line, Tadley got the ball away for another corner. After a rare Tadley attack where they were forced into shooting from distance providing an easy save for Finlay Purcell, he cleared the ball forward, which was collected by Fareed Hakeem-Habeeb, he ran on into the box before being brought down, giving Fleet a Penalty kick, this was taken by Tane Caubo, although Tadley keeper Craig Atkinson dived the right way and even got a touch on the ball he could not keep the ball out of the net, giving Fleet Town the lead after sixteen minutes. Fleet Town were playing well as a team, Tom Smith, Nick Medcraft and Chike Kandi all setting up chances, but Fareed Hakeem-Habeeb was on fire throughout the match and Fleet’s most dangerous player on the night. Fleet came close when Chike Kandi header from a corner went over, Kai Tanner shot also went over and Cameron Black headed wide, before Tadley had keeper Craig Atkinson to thank for keeping them in the game, on thirty minutes, as he made two stops on the line to deny Fleet. Kieran Rodgers had a chance for the visitors but he shot wide, before Fleet were back on the attack, Tom Smith cross to the far post and the Tadley keeper flaps at the ball to deflect it behind for a corner, which was taken by Tom Smith, he delivered the ball into the middle of the six yard box and Cameron Black, in his first game for Fleet, rose above everyone to powerfully head the ball home to double Fleet’s advantage and make the score 2-0 after Thirty Four minutes. Fleet came close to another goal when Matt Surmon’s shot passed just the wrong side of the post, but the score remained at 2-0 at half time.

The second half was full of drama but lacked a lot of goal mouth action, Tadley were forced into a change after Fifty Eight minutes when ex Fleet Town player Jack French went down off the ball and after several minutes of treatment was helped and then carried off the pitch. Another long stoppage came on Seventy Five minutes when one of the match officials was injured and unable to continue, before abandoning the match, the call was made over the Tannoy if there was and qualified officials in the crowd who could over as an assistant referee and just by chance there was, so after a briefing he took over the flag on the near side and the game resumed. Both sides probed forward but only managed a couple of corners each which were all cleared. As the clock passed the 90 minute mark, Tadley suddenly started pilling on the pressure and pushing Fleet back and giving the Fleet defence a real test for the first time of the night, but they stood firm and kept Tadley out. In the Tenth minute of added time a break out from Fleet saw Fareed Hakeem-Habeeb dance his way up the pitch until being brought down again, given as just outside the box and a free kick to Fleet, after what seemed an age taken by Tadley to sort out their defence and a wall the kick was taken by Josh Stepney and struck the wall going behind for a corner, with Fleet claiming a handball in the wall and wanting another penalty, the referee would not be convinced to change his mind and Josh Stepney who had the best view of the incident did not stop talking and talked himself into the sin bin, as he made his way off he continued to complain and the assistant on that side called the referee over and Josh Stepney was shown another card and then a Red to be sent off. The game eventually resumed with the corner to Fleet, who lined up with two players in the corner and none in the box, the rest of the side waiting around the half way line. Trying to keep the ball in the corner, they won a second corner, from that the ball appeared to go out for a throw to Tadley, but they knocked the ball across to the keeper to take a goal kick, from this Tadley got the ball down the other end bringing a spectacular save from Finlay Purcell to deny Tadley and keep another clean sheet as the game finished after twenty minutes of added time.

Fleet’s next game is on Saturday away to Tring Athletic in the FA Vase.