With seven places and fifteen points difference
between the two teams, on paper Thrapston should have been
no match for the second in the table team but the difference
was less obvious from today's display.
Thrapston, kicking down the pitch in the first
half, started brightly and put the Hellenic defence under
pressure, with Simon Smith up front involved in the early
action but he couldn't create any clear chances. In defence,
the reshaped back four looked sharp and dealt with most of
the high balls that Hellenic played from their keeper's clearances.
This tactic seemed to be the only way Hellenic were able to
get out of their own half and eventually led to their first
goal after 15 minutes, after Thrapston failed to clear their
lines. Thrapston's heads didn't drop though and tried to play
through the Youth defence, but just couldn't get the final
ball pass right. Half time 0 - 1.
The second half saw Thrapston step up a gear
looking to level the game, but again couldn't finish any of
their chances, whilst the home defence managed to keep the
Hellenic strikers at bay. Hellenic did get through the defence
on a couple of occasions but didn't finish their chances.
Midway through the second half, Jason Styles latched on to
a wide cross and managed to beat the Hellenic keeper to set
the game up for an exciting finish. Both teams looked for
the winner and with ten minutes before the final whistle Hellenic
capitalised on Thrapston's inability to win the ball from
a goal kick and the Youth striker beat a diving Thrapston
keeper.
Thrapston were not beat though and shortly before
the end, Jason Styles and Kai Robinson went close but couldn't
beat the Hellenic keeper. Final score 1 - 2.
