Great start to a tough league run by Hashtag United against Heybridge Swifts!
By Mohammed Jayed Uddin
The Tags came up against an unbeaten side in their first game of three against the leagues current top five.
A few changes were made to the side following their cup win which saw Hashtag United victorious against Maldon & Tiptree.
Swift got the game underway, but Hashtag were on the front foot for the first 9 minutes, a chance came for Pedro Carvalho on the right even though he usually operates on the left.
A right footed shot tipped over by the opposition keeper.
Hashtag United Training session courtesy of JohnTombs48 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HashtagUnitedTraining.png
The pressure paid off when Hashtag broke the deadlock a minute later, a cross into the box from Ben Brookes to Matthew Wooldridge who headed the ball across the face of the goal, met by the foot of Jermaine Francis who squeezed the ball past the keeper.
Heybridge started knocking on the door with their first real chance coming in the 19th minute, the ball fell to the oppositions full back who with a better connection could have slotted the ball in the back of the net, instead pulling the shot wide.
10 minutes later another chance went begging for The Swifts.
A clearance fell to the feet of their number eleven Rob Harvey who won his tussle with Ben Brookes, but lost against the bobble, slicing the ball over the bar.
A let off for Hashtag who remained in the lead.
The chance would end up wounding Heybridge further, after a corner from Ben Brookes lofted a ball right into the goal from a corner, the spin off the ball and wind was maybe too much for the keeper, but ultimately it meant that The Tags were up by two goals to nil going into the second half.
Hashtag got the second half underway. A lot of clearances and empty attacks from both sides as the score line stayed the same.
The aggressiveness however was on display as the referee stopped play for a third head injury in the 76th minute, thankfully no further damage other than small treatment to the blow.
The referee blows the whistle for the final time of the match.
Three huge points to The Tags celebrated on the birthday of club founder Spencer Owen.
A fantastic result in a tough game, a great start from Hashtag giving them confidence going into the next game.
Ben Brookes deservedly takes home the Man of the Match award with a goal and an assist.