Haggies triumphant in Primary Cup clash
AG Hingham vs AFC Emneth Reserves – The 4Work Primary Cup Final
Harrod Sport Arena, 13.05.23, KO 2pm
Final Score: AG Hingham 3 – 1 AFC Emneth Reserves
HAGGIES TRIUMPHANT IN PRIMARY CUP CLASH
AG Hingham became 22-23 4Work Primary Cup winners on Saturday afternoon after beating AFC Emneth Reserves 3-1.
In an even first half, Jack Flynn put the Haggies ahead, only for Brad Kennedy to equalise five minutes later.
A Matt Carr penalty saw Hingham regain the lead in the second half after Callum Kindred was brought down in the area. Sam Miles then put the game out of reach with a late header from a Flynn free kick.
From the kick off a long ball forward saw a miscommunication at the back and Hingham concede a corner, however the Emneth set piece floated out of play. Instantly up the other end a great run from Jack Flynn saw the number seven pull back to Jay Webb whose low strike was parried by the keeper, only for Matt Carr’s scuffed rebound to be cleared off the line in an entertaining opening two minutes.
In what was beginning to look like an end-to-end encounter, Emneth saw another corner cleared followed by Callum Kindred’s cross to Flynn being the victim of a poor first touch by the latter. Both teams were pushing forward but failing to find the finish, Ben Garner coming closest for Emneth with a low strike saved by Hingham’s Luke Harvey.
As the game approached the half an hour mark, Emneth began to assert themselves on the game more and almost had the deadlock broken when Callum Elsey received a set back 30 yards out and send a rasping first time shot goalward. Harvey got down to his left extremely well and not only managed to keep the ball out, but hold on to the strike with a save that matched the effort.
Elsey then played an excellent through ball to Webb whose first-time back heel allowed Steve Wright to get a shot off, however once again Harvey was equal to the strike. After a period of AFC pressure, it was somewhat against the run of play that the deadlock was finally broken on 35 minutes.
Kindred received the ball for Hingham, high on the left side and cut in to beat his defender. The winger sent a lofted cross toward the back stick where Flynn had made a brilliant run to meet the ball with an emphatic bullet header that Emneth’s Henry Price could not react to.
The lead didn’t last long as only five minutes later AFC Emneth got themselves level with some excellent play. After some nice build up, Garner found held the ball up on the edge of the box and played a beautiful reverse pass through the Hingham back line which found right winger Brad Kennedy. The substitute latched on to the ball and sent a smart, low drilled finish across Harvey and into the bottom left corner.
That would prove to be the last meaningful action of the half with the teams going in all square at the break.
Half time: AG Hingham 1 – 1 AFC Emneth Reserves
Emneth started the second period on the front foot and a confident Kennedy went on a mazey run past a several defenders before being brought down for a free kick 25 yards out. The ball was curled in by Ethan Goodale but was eventually cleared by AG.
Up the other end Webb had a chance which he fired straight at Price must to his own frustration, and moments later Jake Hopkisson found himself rounding Price on the left side of the area but unable to find a Hingham shirt to finish the move.
Midway through the half it was AG Hingham who were enjoying more possession as they looked to regain the lead, but creating a clear cut chance was proving difficult for the Haggies.
A huge chance for that to change happened in the 60th minute when a long ball put Kindred away on the left side. The wide man’s first touch was good, and Micah Baxter’s challenge was late, bringing Kindred to the ground with Referee Ryan Starkey immediately pointing to the spot. Hingham substituted Matt Carr back onto the pitch for the spot kick and the forward made no mistake, rifling his shot to the left of Price.
Hingham extended their lead in the final ten after being awarded a free kick in the 82nd minute. Flynn’s set piece was delivered well, and met by Sam Miles in the air, his looping header beat price to hit the top right corner and put the Haggies in pole position for the remaining few minutes.
The Honeybadgers had a chance to set up a grandstand finish with three to go when Kennedy pickpocketed Kindred on the right hand side and set away Garner into the box. The big number 9 squared the ball across to the arriving Baxter however the winger missed the opportunity to get his side back into the game as he blazed his strike over.
Hingham won a free kick out to the right corner as the Fourth Official raised his board to signify four minutes of stoppage time. The cross was dealt with by Emneth’s defence however AG regained possession shortly after and preceded to manage the game, winning fouls, keeping possession and pushing for set pieces.
Ethan Goodale had a speculative long range effort for Emneth in the dying seconds but it was a comfortable catch for Harvey and The Haggies were able to see out the final seconds to become this season’s 4Work Primary Cup Winners.
Final Score: AG Hingham 3 – 1 AFC Emneth Reserves
Line ups:
AG Hingham: Luke Harvey, Sam Snowling ©, Tom Miles, Charlie Smith, Jack Flynn, Steve Wright, Jay Webb, Matt Carr, Callum Kindred, Jacob Carr, Sam Miles.
Subs: Lewis Dolan, Tom Venables, Matt Brown, Greg Mann, Dan Whitman.
AFC Emneth Reserves: Henry Price, Ethan Goodale, Luke Whyah, Micah Baxter, Josh Lester, Ben Garner, Jake Hopkisson, William Ketteringham, Callum Elsey, Ricky Mason, Jesse Hemmings ©.
Subs: Michael Price, Kamil Staniec, Roman Kostovics, Joel Matless, Brad Kennedy.
Referee: Ryan Starkey
Assistants: Thomas Alexander & Chris Tyrrell
Fourth Official: Paul Cracknell
Attendance: 101
Player of the Match: Tom Miles
Photography: Ben Cunningham