Sun Sports v Hoddesdon Town          3rd December 2016           FA Vase 3rd Rd

Sun started strong but it was Hoddesdon who had the first real chance as the attacker bore down on the Sun goal, fortunately Joe Horwood managed to get one of his trademark last ditch tackles to stretch in and hook the ball away from the attacker in the area.
And with Sun's first serious attempt on goal they took the lead with Dom David scoring from a looping header dipping perfectly just under the Town crossbar.
Once bitten twice shy after the Herts County Cup defeat against Town, when Sun scored an early goal but couldn't hang on to the lead, but this time the rock solid defence stayed strong and midfielders in yellow were winning most of their battles in the middle of the field.
Hoddesdon were looking a tad displaced by the early goal and seemed to lose concentration the longer they went without a goal, this gave Sun players the confidence to go forward with Kyle Johnson and Jamie Speer both going close to try and put more goals between the teams.
Dom David was giving the Hoddesdon players a few headahces as usual when running at the defence.
Scott Bonner had the next chance when a Dom David cross found him with a downward header that the Hoddeson keeper once again managed to save with his legs
Ryan McMahon had to go off with a head injury and came back on a few minutes later with his head bandaged and played the rest of the game like a modern day Terry Butcher!
As the first half went on Hoddesdon found some gaps in the Sun defence and had a couple of decent attempts at goal.
A rush of blood to the head of Sun keeper Matty Evans saw the Hoddesdon player round him outside the penalty area but as the ball was crossed along the edge of the area the ball got somehow tangled in the Hoddesdon attackers feet with Scott Bonner hoofing the ball away gratefully.
Matty Evans then decided to punch the ball out for a corner and it was from that corner that Hoddesdon got the equaliser from a downward header that seemed to bounce off Damien Cruickshank's shin into the back of the Sun goal.
From there the Lillywhites smelt blood and went on the rampage for the remaining few minutes of the half with a dangerous cross floated from the right that was headed narrowly wide past the far post.
HT 1-1

The second half saw the Sun get back in charge and Kyle Johnson's shot at virtually blank range was well saved by the Hoddesdon keeper.
With everything equal between the sides the game ebbed and flowed as the game went from end to end and extra time was looking a distinct possibility.
That was until Kyle Johnson broke the offside trap and with two against one Kyle crossed the ball to an unmarked Dom David who slammed the ball into the net to put the Sun ahead again, causing a mass bundle of yellow shirted players as well as subs and a still bandaged McMahon joining in the celebration!
Paul Halsey, the Hoddesdon manager, had to be spoken to by the ref after claiming somewhat rambustly that Kyle was offside and that the goal shouldn't have been allowed.
The ref wasn't one to change his mind and the complaints fell on deaf ears.
Hoddesdon had another great chance to equalise but although the Hoddesdon forward controlled it well he skyed it over the crossbar.
Kyle Johnson then had another great chance after once again beating the offside trap and it looked like a case of deja vu as Dom David ran again into the area, but Kyle went alone this time to try and beat the keeper as a Hoddesdon defender crashed into him to put the ball out for a corner.
With barely minutes to go a long ball found Kyle beating the offside trap yet again and this time with a one to one with the Town keeper he kept his composure to deftly dink the ball over him for itl to roll into the goal to send the Sun fans into raptures and further dreams of Wembley in May!!
Final score
Sun Sports 3 Hoddesdon Town 1