Yet more glorious autumn sunshine welcomed the Hornets to Blackhouse Lane, the home of Cornard United, as they went in search of three more league points. Cornard had suffered a terrible run of home results lately conceding 24 goals and scoring just one in the last four games so the prospects for the Hornets looked promising on paper at least. Tom Hardwick was welcomed back from his holiday and was fit to take the number 5 shirt vacated by the departure of Shaun French to pastures new whilst Lee Bloom returned to the squad to take a place on the bench.
Debenham kicked off and could have been a goal up in the first minute when James Heathcote’s effort was well saved and Cornard also had an early opening when Bruce Poole found himself in the box but Liam Jones saved well low to his left. Debenham got into their stride and kept the ball in the Cornard half of the pitch as a Jack Severy free kick sailed high over the bar and a neat passing move ended with Adam Rickwood planting the ball into the net but a flag was waving for an infringement.
Debenham’s goal had a lucky escape on 11 minutes when Tom Hardwick miscued his clearance and the ball scraped past the post but Debenham were having by far the majority of the play and deservedly took the lead on 16 minutes when a good pass from midfield released JAMES HEATHCOTE down the right wing from where he moved into the penalty area, won the ball back from a tackle and then spun and shot just inside the far post giving the keeper no chance. A good goal showing just why James was snapped up to play for the Hornets.  Three minutes later Cornards’ keeper punched the ball clear but straight to Jack Severy whose fierce shot was saved as Debenham piled on the pressure with wave after wave of attacks. Liam Bevis was busy and industrious in midfield with Jack Severy looking lively and Marc Wake and Adam Rickwood causing the home defenders problems each time the ball went to them. Adam Rickwood in particular was unlucky not to score on at least three occasions as the ball went past a post from a header and ended in the side netting from a shot twice. Liam Bevis saw his long shot deflected into the net but a flag was waving for offside and Cornard had a good chance when a ball into the box was headed back for Dean McEwan to volley over the bar from a good position. Liam Bevis got himself booked after a corner kick routine went wrong but Debenham finished the half well on top.

Half Time        Cornard United FC      0     Debenham LC FC       1  
                                                                 Heathcote  11

Debenham started the second half like a train as they forced Cornard back into their own half and on 46 minutes ADAM RICKWOOD took a pass wide on the right and ran at the defence riding two tackles before rounding the keeper and putting the ball into the empty net. Two minutes later the Hornets were rampant as James Heathcote took a pass on the 18 yard line and side footed a curling shot past the keeper only to see the ball bounce away with the keeper rooted to the spot and things didn’t get any better for Cornard on 53 minutes as a delightfully weighted through ball from Liam Bevis released ADAM RICKWOOD again on the right side to outpace a defender and plant the ball past the hapless keeper whose dive was far too late to get to the ball. So three nil and cruising and Liam Smith replaced Marc Wake to further worry the home defence with pace but the home team began to get back into the match as Marc Wakes’ hold up play went missing but their efforts lacked venom and a lot of moves broke down in midfield where Debenham were dominant. Adam Rickwood was playing out of his skin as he made runs at the defence and could and should have had a hat trick when he ran past three defenders but his effort at goal was blocked.
Then all of a sudden things went awry for the Hornets after 50 minutes as the usually dependable Rob Kemp made a terrible short back pass the was latched onto by BRUCE POOLE who ran unchallenged into the box and scored past Liam Jones. This was followed by a defensive mix up as Debenham's defence failed to clear a ball in the box and DEAN MACEWAN found time and space to shoot home Cornard’s second goal in the space of two minutes. Bruce Poole will be cursing himself for not making more of another opportunity a minute later but his shot went wide of the goal. Things quietened down though after a rather impetuous tackle by Dean McEwan left Liam Jones on the floor and earned the Cornard forward a yellow card. The short break in play gave the Debenham players a chance to regroup and set themselves to winning the game and Adam Rickwood responded with some excellent play running at defenders as did Liam Smith whose run into the box ended with a shot that beat the keeper and as we all waited for the net to bulge the ball hit a post and went away from the goal.  
Debenham’s nerves were finally put to rest after 82 minutes when JAMES HEATHCOTE took a pass in midfield and shot from 20 yards past the keeper’s right hand and into the net to re-establish a 2 goal lead and break Cornards resistance.
Both goalkeepers were busy in the final minutes of the game but it was always the visitors who looked likely to score and if they can take this form forward to the next league match at March there’s every prospect of more points in the bag.

Final Score            Cornard United FC       2             Debenham LC FC        4

Referee                 Mr P Andrews       Assistant Referees    Mr I Gammage    Mr D Mason

Attendance           44              

Cornard United FC    Ball, Swjackowski, Becket, Wamner, Panruker, Pittaway, McEwan, Pannell,                                         Newland, Poole, McInnis       Substitutes   Melia, Lynn

Debenham LC FC         Jones, Hutchings, Kemp, Barker, Hardwick, Cussons, Bevis, Heathcote, Severy,                                         Rickwood, Wake,        Substitutes       Gedney, Bloom, Beaton