TIGERS HIT FALCONS FOR SIX

Tigers' first League fixture since the first week of February brought a resounding victory against strugglers Pangbourne Falcons. With only 11 players available, the Hearts U18 team did very well to weather a torrid spell either side of half-time . Hearts pace and accurate passing in midfield was eventually too much for the visitors who visibly wilted in the final 10 minutes.
The opening quarter saw both teams making progress. Tigers appeared to have the edge on the flanks while Falcons tried to play over the top and upset the home team's defensive line.
Tigers drew first blood when the Pangbourne 'keeper parried a shot from George Lee only to see the ball spin over his head and into the back of his empty net. It looked as though the game was there for Tigers to assert full control but Falcons managed to exploit a breakdown in communication in Tigers' defence to level the scores before half-time. It gave Falcons a boost in confidence and they did exert a period of pressure which was undone by the enthusiasm of their central striker who seemed to play most of the game on the wrong side of the offside line. With Davies and Sinclair both firing wide from good chances, it was clear that Tigers could match anything that was thrown at them.
The second half commenced with Falcons encouraged by the scoreline and for ten minutes they looked to be creating good opportunities while keeping Tigers away from the visitors' penalty area. A defensive mix-up from Hearts which left Joe Wallis in no-man's land enabled the big Falcons striker to force the ball over the Tigers' goal-line, despite the efforts of Biggs to cover.
It was a frustrating goal to concede but Tigers responded superbly. Davies and Sinclair caused havoc down either side of the Falcon defence and on 54 minutes Davies was brought down as he surged into the box and Kobe Sabado put away the resulting penalty with aplomb to level the score at 2-2.
Falcons were quick to create a chance of their own but were again caught offside, although Joe Wallis pulled off an excellent before the referee saw the flag. George Lee re-established the lead for Tigers just after the hour and the Falcons' wings were clipped. The Hearts defence were winning the majority of first and second balls, Biggs and Sadoon were guarding the wide channels, while Pickrell and Liddiard were finding time and space in midfield. A magnificent run from Sinclair culminated with a cross that Kobe Sabado joyfully turned home.
Toby Chilvers went close with a header during a plethora of corners, Lee chipped a clever effort onto the top of the Falcons' goal and the Falcon's No9 put in two superb blocks to deny Sabado and Pickrell. Sinclair was possibly a little generous passing to Pickrell when he could have shot and Sabado and Lee went close with a couple of efforts. It was Ned Davies who put the icing on the cake with two goals in the last 5 minutes, the first from an excellent clearance by Wallis and, with almost the last touch of the game, heading home after good work by Liddiard.
The win lifts Tigers away from the bottom places in Division 1, although a surprising draw at Rotherfield keeps next week's opponents Camberley on Tigers' tail. With five games still to play, Tigers could lift themselves into the top half of the table, although they are likely to end the season having been unable to play five fixtures.