15th November 2009

Reigate Hornets 5 Walton 1

Hornets got back to winning ways in this FA Cup 2nd round tie.  Following heavy rain on Saturday the match was in doubt, but the referee passed the perfect Priory pitch playable.  Unfortunately the groundsman then came along and said we could not use that pitch, so a hasty move to another pitch was required.

Hornets started brightly and were rewarded with a penalty after just 7 minutes.  Williams curled a beauty over the stranded Walton keeper but his effort was tipped over the bar by a defender, who was promptly dismissed.  Spearing calmly put the spot kick away to give Hornets the lead.  With an extra man, Hornets passed the ball well but failed to make any clear chances and became slack, allowing Walton back into the game, and 5 minutes before half time Hornets failed to clear and Walton were back on level terms.  Hornets were in real danger of letting this game slip - there is an old adage in football - you can have a bad game with the ball but its unacceptable to have a bad game when you havent got the ball - and too many of the Hornets were coasting.

The second half got off to the best possible start when Williams again caused trouble for the Walton defence and slid the ball home to regain the lead.  Hornets then took complete control and keeper Pratt was a spectator for much of the second half.  White added a third and then Giggs C fired home from 25 yards.  The scoring was rounded off when Giggs A, making his first appearance for over a year, and a late replacement for Tremble, scored with just 5 minutes to go.

In the end a satisfactory result and a satisfactory second half performance.