Blunders cost Hanwell Town

Dec 10 2009 Ealing Gazette

TWO blunders in the closing minutes from Hanwell Town keeper Berkeley Lawrencein gifted all three points to the west Londoners' bogey team, Kingsbury London Tigers.

Town, who failed to record a victory in their five previous meetings with the Tigers, were leading 2-1 with just three minutes remaining when Lawrencein's errors made it 3-2 to the Tigers.

Lawrencein first allowed a cross-shot from Henry Emenike to slip through his hands into the net, and then, deep into injury time, Elton Almeida's close-range header slithered under his body - to the unconcealed delight of the home side.

It was cruel on the keeper, who had been Town's saviour earlier in the game with two outstanding saves.

Town were the better side in the first 45 minutes and were denied an early lead when Chris Mills hit the post with a free-kick with Kingsbury keeper Siki Kambila beaten.

Town took the lead seven minutes before the interval, when captain Matt Kidson bundled in Mills's corner kick from close range.

Either side of the interval, Town suffered two blows, with both Mills and the excellent Michael Buckley limping out of the game with ankle injuries.

Kingsbury equalised on the hour, before Lawrencein then distinguished himself with two great one-on-one saves

With 15 minutes remaining, player-manager Keith Rowlands put Town back into the lead after Charley Baverstock's shot has been blocked, before Lawrencein's howlers allowed Tigers to grab the points.

Town, eighth in the Spartan South Midlands League, have another difficult game tomorrow (Saturday) at home to a side they have never beaten, Chalfont St Peter.