Boxted travelled to Rowhedge for a fixture that had dropped out of the Border league calendar before their reintroduction this year.
After the disappointing performance against Sudbury the previous week, Carl Thompson made some personnel changes with Ford and Gray returning to the back three and Price starting the game in a midfield berth.
The home team started the more brightly and controlled the first 20 minutes. Jason Gray made a last ditch tackle early on to deny a chance and the Rowhedge winger burst through to hit his shot straight at Taff in goal. Good defending as a team resulted in Boxted weathering the early storm and then they started to play some football. The switching of wings of Lawson and Trueman made Boxted more secure and a threat going forward at the same time. Boxted made a few chances and Francis made the keeper tip a shot over the bar and the Lodgers where disappointed with a few tight calls by the linesman.
The game was about to change in a moment. A shot on the half volley by Rowhedge from the edge of the box just went over, but the referee had adjudged that Richards had fouled in challenging. Both sides appeared to be in disbelief with the decision, but especially the lodgers. The Rowhedge number 10 hit his penalty too well and the ball crashed against the post, with justice prevailing in the end. This gave Boxted the lift they needed and there was more pressing and Macklin and Richards were starting to win more possession in midfield. Sturdy had to be o his toes at the back made a superb covering challenge to ensure that the score at half time was goalless.
The lads were buzzing and Thompson wanted to ensure this carried into the second half. He was not to be disappointed. Boxted came out of the traps early and decisively. Sturdy made a good interception on the edge of the box and his ball was flicked on Bradbury, the defence who had a tendency to push up did not see Francis run from his own half and he coolly continued and lobbed the oncoming keeper to make it 1 – 0. Another sweeping move started by Trueman on the edge of his own box and the ball was passed through the midfield and forwards and it ended up at said player’s feet and he dispatched the ball into the net to double the score.
Boxted were now carving the home side apart, Trueman was again causing a nuisance on a run and him and Bradbury were looking menacing on the edge of the box, the defender made a strong challenge which took the ball into the net for an own goal. In another classy move Price played through a good ball to Francis who was clean through and scored at the second attempt.
King, McCarthy and Congdea all came on to ad some extra impetuses to the team. In another move Bradbury was clearly taken put by the keeper for a penalty. Francis fancied a hat trick and he dispatched the ball straight down the centre of the net.
There was still time for one more when skipper Bradbury pulled the ball down well and cracked the shot into the net on the half volley, with the keeper not even moving.
A score line of 6-0, the same as the home match, but once again Rowhedge would be right in thinking that both games should have been a lot closer. Boxted battled hard and got their just rewards, it must be said a brilliant Hat trick for the ever improving Francis and a monumental defence performance by Sturdy who looked like he had been a first team regular for years.
A good start to 2008, Boxted must continue with the same team spirit and quality and still believe they have a chance to go on a promotion run.
