The boys are back in town...

In what was threatening to be a strong match, the HL boys pulled off another thrilling victory. An afternoon kick-off on a warm & sunny afternoon made a pleasant change from some previous games (Berkhamsted 28th April!!) Plenty of goal scoring opportunities for the boys but sadly, as the scoreline reflected, they didn't all come to fruition...


Under 16’s – Division 2

Hale Leys Youth 2 – Chalfont Saints 0


Hale Leys Youth put in a solid performance yesterday afternoon (Sunday) against Chalfont Saints, with the whole squad focused on what was set to be a gritty game.

Leys pushed hard from the start. A lob over Saints midfield fell to the feet of Luca Forchione; unable to get a clean shot off, a cross to the head of Nathan Scarfe was tapped inches past the post. Saints managed to get themselves forward through the efforts of James Whitfield & although they filled the Leys area, were unable to gain any advantage from an awarded throw & subsequent corner kick.
A second Leys attack was inches from target & Saints reply was equally unlucky; having made a run along the right wing edging past the defence, keeper Gary Bidgway came forward to close on the attack. The through ball eluded Bidgway & rolled up to the post & gently rebounded back to safety.
With only 15 minutes having been played, a penalty awarded to Leys for an attack on Forchione was sent skywards & the deadlock remained. The home side continued to make chances & a switch of play delivered forward by Pat Hurst gave Nathan Scarfe the deadlock-breaking goal; slotted just inside the left post in the 22nd minute.
The visitors strengthened themselves making for a stalemate for the remainder of the half except for a last Forchione strike. Saints keeper, Gregor Wallace, blocked the first strike; Forchione struck the rebound & the ball was cleared off the line by a defender.

Refreshed by the break, the Hale Leys squad were on a mission. Forchione, having made a run down the right, pushed the ball just wide of target. 55 minutes played & Leys went one more ahead. Pat Hurst delivering a superbly placed corner & Chris Hawes capitalizing from a late run into the area.
Saints keeper wasn’t given much breathing space just over midway through the half either. Scarfe raised the ball over the midfield to captain Michael O’Neill who blasted a shot at goal. Wallace blocked the first & rebound attacks & managed to stretch on top of the loose ball before O’Neill got another chance on it.
The visitors were battling to get back into the game. Awarded a corner which they took short & then delivered into the heavily filled Leys 18yd box, Joe Keigh getting a shot in which Bidgway palmed away.
Well into the second half & a lofted ball that Hurst picked up & having out-paced the Saints left-back brought him one-on-one with Wallace. The keeper stood his ground & Hurst could only manage to send it wide of the post.
With only the dying minutes of play left a Saints free kick was delivered cleanly over the defending wall but was collected by Bidgway & immediately despatched forward for Leys. Kasim Zargar sent the ball across the defence; only the swift action of Leys Jeanmal Prosper kept it in play just left of goal. Pushing it out to Jordan Murphy to give himself space to receive it back, Prosper despatched the ball towards the target but sailed it across the goalmouth.