Sun Sports v Hadley 1st August 2015  Herts Charity Shield 1st Rd

Sun Sports lose the first official game of the season in a cup tie against Hadley in the Herts Charity Shield.

The game started brightly and although Hadley took control in the first few minutes it was Sun who had the first decent shot on goal with a Nathan Pooley free kick being palmed over the bar.

A couple of minutes later and an attack on the right side with a Karl Penny cross was poorly cleared by the Hadley defence giving Marcel Jones a shot which the Hadley keeper Le Tissier got down to well on his left to start a brief flurry of corners for Sun.

But it was from a corner to the reds just before the half hour which came out to centre back Sam Lyon who expertly volleyed the ball into the back of the Sun net to make it 1-0.

Hadley had another chance soon after and the dangerous looking Mustafa Mutlak who had been running at the Sun defence all afternoon was clear through from a counter attack but he put the ball over.

In the second half Sun pushed ahead but could still not get the breaks.

A Chrysanthou free kick for Hadley looked like it was heading into the top corner of the Sun net but for a fantastic save from Ross Hampton.

Hadley then had another chance to further the lead when the ball came to Abrahams who dodged a defender and hit the ball low which was comfortably saved by Hampton.

Sun Sports then came more into the game as a long ball from the left was pumped into the Hadley penalty area but Dan Bourne was unable to get enough power into the shot.

Karl Penny then went past one Hadley defender and shrugged off another but his shot went over the bar.

Marcel Jones then attacked the left side of the penalty box, cut the ball back to Karl Penny who's shot was palmed into the path of Dan Bourne who scooped the ball over the desparing Hadley keeper to make it 1-1.

Hadley tried to re-take the lead straight after as Abrahams shot-come-cross was deflected by Machedo as it fizzed past the wrong side of the post.

Karl Penny was then bundled over which looked just inside the penalty area but despite the claims from the Sun dug out only a free kick was given. Louis Bowen was given his second yellow card and was sent off.

This gave the Sun fans cause to hope but unfortunately it did not turn out that way as it seemed to give Hadley more resilience and they went out on the attack instead of digging in and hoping for the best.

Hadley had two clear chances to take the lead, first of all Machedo looked like he had all the time in the world to shoot but instead passed it back to Abrahams who's shot was blocked.

The next chance was when a cross was put through and had there been someone in the box at the time it could have been the winner for Hadley.

Then came the moment that mattered.
Chrysanthou rolled the ball to one of Hadley's new faces, Gustavo Angel-Tamayo who nonchalently curled the ball past Ross Hampton to put Hadley into the next round to face either Welwyn Garden City or Sawbridgeworth Town at home.

Sun substitutes Dan Griggs and Robbie Tocher came on and both had a couple of good chances to equalise but luck wasn't on Sun's side, the final whistle blew and the lads will have to dust themselves down and get ready for St Margaretsbury next Saturday in the first league match of the 2015/16 campaign.