Report

Hambleden played hosts to Walters leisure in the semi final of the league cup last Saturday. Walters leisure having drawn with the league champions at home in the league and beating  Hambleden on the Dene in the away  fixture were in confident mood and were looking to gain entry into the finals for their first chance of silverware in their first season as the Leisure team.
Hambleden had to make forced changes due to a growing injury, cup tied  and commitment list, fielded three part injured substitutes on the team sheet. John Beale was called into action after a lengthy injury layoff and was unusually positioned in the heart of midfield as both Cook and the influential Macellen were both unavailable. R Kemp dropped to the bench suffering with a Achilles problem which allowed a returning Chivers to provide the fulcrum in the heart of the pitch with an adaptable Sanashee. Lakovic retained his berth at center back and was partnered by Duane Brian as the previous weeks starting pairing saw Markwell part injured  and Irving  cup tied. A Lopez was also cup tied.
A good crowd witnessed an action packed match between two very genuine teams.  Walters leisure kicking with the wind in the first half took the game too Hambleden. Hambleden struggled from the first minute to settle with their line up and were immediately under pressure when a long ball was flicked on past a hapless Brian evading  a hesitant Lakovic and falling on the edge of the six yard box to a grateful Leisure striker, Braun, who rushed his finished and placed the ball wide.
Hambleden were unable to string any number of passes together and were looking particularly vunerable. On only the 6th minute Leisure provided  a  long range directional ball which was again flicked on past static defenders allowing Braun another similar chance which this time he took with great aplomb. Hambleden continued to struggle and within 2 minutes of the restart found themselves two goals down. After losing possession in the Walter's half Hambleden failed to track the run of the right midfielder whose clipped pass evaded both central defenders leaving  Braun again clear  to find the bottom corner with Hambledens keeper, R Hathaway, having no chance of saving.  Sanga looked uncomfortable playing on the left handside of the defense and  Childs worried Hambleden right back Colby, skipping by but shooting  wide when well positioned.  Hambleden struggled to mount any challenge but started to find their feet and stem the tide of the rampant away side. D Kemp was beginning to find space on the right side of midfield. Beale began to press forward and it was Beale who provided Hambleden's first shot on 35 minutes but this drifted wide. Good work by North, Sanashee and D Kemp allowed a frustrated S Hathaway to shot from the edge of the box with the ball scraping the top of the bar on its way over. North and Chivers were fighting hard  gaining control of the midfield battle but it was leisure who should have extended their lead going into  half time as  Childs wasted a glorious opening when put through by Braun.
In the second half, with the wind and slope behind them Hambleden began with renewed vigour. Positional changes allowed Chivers and D Kemp space to attack the Leisure back line, but, it was Norths strong run down the left which led to Hambledens frist clear sight on goal. S Hathaway collecting inside the area and firing a shot towards the left side of the goal which Macca in the Leisure goal just managed to turn  onto the post and behind for a corner.
With the momentum very much in Hambleden's favour Sanashee created an opening for North who from close in was again thwarted by the alert Leisure keeper. Whilst pressing forward Hambleden left themselves open for the counter attack and on 55 minutes Childs could have all but wrapped up the game sprinting clear after a misplaced Colby couldnt prevent a cross field ball. Childs with only R Hathaway to beat placed another golden opportunity wide of the mark.
On 56minutes Hambleden's Beale was replaced by R Kemp and this had an instant effect, holding the ball well for Chivers to rattle the bar from the edge of the box. North again troubled Macca in the leisure goal and D Kemp's cross after good build up play eluded everyone when only a touch was required.
On 62 minutes Markwell replaced an injured Brian in defense and was immediately called upon to halt a leisure attack. Hambleden's desire for a goal pressed them continually forward but they came against stout defending and inspired keeping.  With the game seemingly drifting from the home team Chivers collected the ball from R Kemp in midfield, after setting his sights, Chivers unleashed a  half volley from a full 30 yards which saw  Macca in the leisure goal scrambling to get close but the shot drifted over. On 66 minutes a similar move involving Sanashee and R Kemp saw the ball run kindly for Chivers who again from 30yards unleashed another rocket towards the goal. With his sights this time firmly set  the alert Macca could only watch as the ball bounced of crossbar, stantion and post before nestling in the back of the Leisure net for a goal that would grace any goal of the season competition.
Walters replaced Childs with West and adopted a deeper team position hoping to hold their lead till the final whistle. A now rampant Hambleden created many openings. Hathaway and North again finding the keeper ever present and both Kemp brothers grazing the bar with fine efforts. A goal mouth scramble from a North cross saw the ball cleared from the line and Macca again foiled  D Kemp's near post effort. An improved defending Sanga was sacrificed for striker Reading as Hambleden pressed.
For all Hambleden's hard work and endeavor in the second half it looked like they were to run short until  In the 92nd minute and with the time all but up an irrepressible Chivers again set his sights from distance. Lifting the ball from his standing foot Chivers crashed another effort towards goal with both power and accuracy. The shot  eluding the Leisure keeper to provide a most astonishing double strike for Chivers and sending his team into rapturous celebrations with the equalising goal for the home side.
There was still time for Hambleden to mount one last challenge to win the game in normal time, but Hathaway's shot was blocked by a last ditch tackle and the game entered an extended period.
Hambleden's fitness and composure was telling and almost straight from the restart R Kemp found D Kemp on the right side. D Kemps strong running into the box forced the defender to make a late challenge from which the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. A cool S Hathaway stroked the ball into the net from the spot to put Hambleden in front for the first time in the game. Leisure looked spent and within 2 minutes found the game all but beyond them. A clever ball from Reading sending S Hathaway clear. The advancing striker was brutually challenged by the on rushing keeper and with all but Reading appealing for a foul and certain red card. The substitute again played the ball forward to find the stricken Hathaway just being able to gather his senses and shoot to claim his second goal of the game. The leisure keeper then had to be replaced due to injury sustained in the challenge. With no further substitutes available Walters found themselves two goals down and only 10 players with still 25 minutes of extra time to play.
With confidence now high Hambleden stretched the opposition with neat play in all areas of the pitch . On 102minutes Redding latched onto a North cross and after a mistake by the  new Leisure keeper recorded his first goal since December to put the fixture beyond doubt. Leisure were forced in the second period of extra time to search for savior but Hambleden were happy and able  to hold their advantage  breaking  from deep at will. Reading should have really done better when put clear by D Kemp and Hathaway could have secured his hatrick.  In the end, with all legs tiring Hambleden, thankful for Chivers wonder goals,  were happy to see the game out and secure their berth in the league cup final.