The day was clear and chilly after the rains of Friday had threatened the game with postponement but some solid work from the Debenham Committee members had some sand spread in the goalmouth to make the match playable. The pitch was very slippery on the surface but held up well through the game as Debenham started the game with Nathan Vincent in the 11 and Liam Smith on the bench.
Debenham started brightly and in the first minute leading goal scorer James Heathcote chased a ball into the visitors’ penalty area but hit his shot high and wide of the goal and on six minutes Ben Green played a lovely 25 yard cross field pass that ended at the feet of James Heathcote again and this time his shot was closer but still wide of the mark. George Johnson was playing his third match for the first team and was looking much more comfortable and relaxed on the ball as shown on 9 minutes when he made a good sliding tackle to stop Halstead’s number 11 James Raby who was bearing down on the Debenham penalty area.
Halstead were playing neat approach football but the final pass was missing each time as the Debenham defence were mopping up anything that their opponents could produce and Liam Jones dealt with crosses and corners comfortably although on 19 minutes Jordan Hutchings tried his luck from an angle 25 yards out and saw the ball thump against the upright and away for a goal kick with Liam Jones’ desperate dive well beaten.
Debenham were playing neat passing football with Ben Green prominent in midfield using his pace and control to set up chances and on 24 minutes a corner from Liam Bevis’ was touched on by Lee Bloom for Nathan Vincent to power in a header that the keeper pushed out. The second corner then fell for Lee Bloom but his powerful header sailed high over the bar. A driven cross from Ben Green fell for James Heathcote on 26 minutes but his first time shot was pulled just wide of the left hand post and then a cross from Ed Cussons was laid off by Marc Wale for James Heathcote to have another shot at goal but again the keeper was in the right place to block the effort..
Lee Bloom was having a very good effective game at the heart of the defence stopping the Halstead forwards with well timed tackles notably when Liam Jones mis-kicked and the ball fell kindly for Jordan Hutchins but Lee stopped his progress with an excellent tackle.
Things didn’t look quite so rosy for the Debenham defence after 38 minutes however as Jordan Hutchins was tackled as he ran into the Hornets’ penalty box and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot from where REIS FARLEY-HEARN converted the kick to give Halstead Town the lead.
Debenham didn’t wilt though and continued to press and play smart quick passing football that saw them earn a corner kick after 41 minutes. Liam Bevis’ kick was cleared by the visitors’ defence but only as far out as 25 yards where James Heathcote was waiting and he sent over a delicate chipped pass into the penalty area that was controlled by Marc Wake and the ball ran kindly for NATHAN VINCENT  to knock the ball past the despairing leap of the Halstead keeper to score the equaliser. Halstead were calling for an offside decision but the assistant referee was well placed and kept his flag firmly by his side.

Half Time              Debenham LC FC       1              Halstead Town FC        1
                            Vincent 41                                   Farley-Hearn   38

Debenham started the second half looking confident and strong despite the heavy pitch that was sapping the energy but not the spirit as the Hornets tore into Halstead right from the off.  Ben Green was prominent again as the half progressed and James Heathcote was running the visitors’ defenders ragged as he made himself space for shots at goal but none brought the hoped for reward.
George Johnson sent over a good cross into the penalty box after 60 minutes but the ball was just too high for James Heathcote and shortly after Ben Green was cautioned for a rash challenge but all that was forgotten on  70 minutes when a free kick was played into the left side of the penalty area for JAMES HEATHCOTE to carry the ball forward and slip it under Matt Walke in the Halstead goal to put the Hornets in the lead for the first time in the game. It was a fitting reward for James who had been making spce for himself and shooting at goal all afternoon and he has now scored 8 goals from 9 starts - what a great record!
Joy turned to bitter disappointment however after 72 minutes when an indecisive pass in the home defence let in Halstead’s JOHN ROOT who was clear in the penalty area and he calmly dribbled the ball around Liam Jones’ desperate effort to save and planted the ball into the empty net to score the equaliser for Halstead.
We all feared that the afternoon’s work would be going down the drain but the spirit in the Hornet’s team was very evident as they surged up the field again with Kevin Barker, Ben Green and Marc Wake all getting forward to try to engineer a winning goal and in the 80th minute it came when a shot at goal from 25 yards from Liam Bevis dipped over the keeper’s desperate attempt to save but hit the left hand post and bounced back onto the pitch where it was like slow motion as everyone looked to see who would get to the ball first and it was Captain ED CUSSONS who sprinted forward to get to the ball just before a lunging defender to send a shot zipping into the net to put the Hornets back in the lead once again.
After the celebrations died down the game continued with Halstead pressing and looking for yet another equaliser but Debenham’s defence held firm with Captain Ed Cussons leading the way and ably supported by Lee Bloom and Ton Hardwick.
A number of substitutions saw Nathan Smith join the match only to suffer an injury and be replaced by Ben Bowler and the remainder of the game was played out mainly in midfield where Debenham were able to contain the let efforts of the Halstead players.

Full Time            Debenham LC FC       3              Halstead Town FC        2
                         Vincent 41                                   Farley-Hearn   38
                         Heathcote  70                              Root   72
                         Cussons  80

Referee              Mr S Essex   Assistant Referees    Mr R Salmon     Mr D Seccombe

Attendance        84

Debenham LC FC   Jones, Johnson, Cussons Capt, Barker, Hardwick, Bloom, Bevis, Vincent, Green,
                              Wake, Heathcote     Substitutes   L.Smith, Kemp, Beaton, N. Smith, Bowler
Cautioned                Bloom, Green

Halstead Town FC  Walke, Rayner, Newnes, Keading, Cunliffe Capt, Pal;mer, Hutchins, Sakal,
                               Farley-Hearn, Root, Raby   Substitutes  Crush, Willis, Newlove, Athey