01-10-22. FA Cup 3rd Qual Rd. Match report Vs Cheshunt FC

Harriers earn their ticket into the next round

Report: Phil Lench

The Harriers came away from what could have been a banana skin game at Cheshunt FC, today, with a ticket into the next round of the FA Cup. An early goal from Ashley Hemmings gave us the lead with Ethan Freemantle adding to that early on in the second half. There was a wake up call soon after when the Ambers substitute, Mo Camara, pulled a goal back to set nerves on edge as his team took the upper hand but couldn’t get that goal to take the game to a replay.

The next round game will be on October 15th meaning that our local away game at AFC Telford Utd will now be played on a Tuesday evening at some point in the future.

With a healthy following of Harriers fans looking on the game kicked off under a nice blue sky and fluffy white clouds. It was the Harriers that took control from the get go and it wasn’t long before the first goal arrived with Ethan Freemantle playing a ball through to Ashley Hemmings who then set off for the Cheshunt goal and then slipping it past their keeper, Joe Rose.

The Ambers hit back with a corner that looked to be in but at the last second was cleared off the line by Alex Penny. We continued to press for a second goal and went close through Caleb Richards and Gabby Rogers that were both well stopped by Rose.

Soon after Alex Penny was again involved but at the correct end this time. First he sent a glancing header in that the keeper grabbed and then he sent another chance well over the bar.

It was then Tom Palmers’ turn to see some action and that came when Brandon Adams fired in from distance but his well struck effort was turned around the post by the Reds keeper. The game went quiet for a while with just the one chance for the Harriers when Keziah Martin tried his luck but his shot had no real power and went wide anyway.  

HT: 0 – 1

The second half got underway with an opening chance for Yusifu Ceesay but lack of control of the ball meant that his shot was weak and wayward. That didn’t really matter too much though because with our next attack we had extended the lead.

This time Freemantle and Hemmings reversed roles with the latter providing the former following a mistake from Rose that was recycled back in by Rogers. Gabby played the ball forwards to Hemmings who then played it on for Freemantle to slide the ball beyond the keepers reach.

This second goal seemed to wake up the home side and they began to attack our back line more using the height and bulk of their big man. They had Taylor McKenzie, Rowan Liburd and Mo Camara all above six foot and they were utilised at every corner and attack. It was from this kind of tactic that there goal came when Camara got the highest out of the three to head the ball home.

Cheshunt then took charge and at times we struggled to make any headway against them. Ethan went close with a wide header but that was about it from him as he made way for Amari Morgan-Smith. We held on for grim life and defended as well as we could, even when another giant was sent on in the dying seconds of the game with Raul Da Silva lumbering up to add his height into the mix.

The game finally came to an end with a sigh of relief and now to wait to see who we draw in the next round on Monday afternoon.

FT: 1 – 2

Goal for Cheshunt: Camara 54

Goals for Harriers: Hemmings 5, Freemantle 51

The Harriers Online MotM is: Shane Byrne

Talk about the game here

Latest table and stats here

Cheshunt FC	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Rose
Cracknell
Eley
Aliev			35
McKenzie
Ekongo			94
Golding			75
Re
Liburd
Adams
Newton
Subs:
Edwards
Krabbendam
Camara			35
Beckles-Richards			75
Da Silva			94
Stokoe
Martins
Harriers	Goals	Subs	Time	Cards
Palmer
Penny			71
Richards
Margetson
Pearce
Byrne
Rogers			71
Martin
Freemantle			86
Hemmings
Ceesay
Subs:
Emery
Leak			71
Morgan-Smith			86
Brown			71
Lissimore
Burgess
Hewett
Referee:
Ms Abigail Byrne
Bury St Edmunds