Taverners take over as Hardwicke falter (From Stroud News and Journal)

Taverners take over as Hardwicke falter

County League Taverners 2 Hardwicke 0

Having taken ten points from twelve and only conceding one goal in their last four games, Hardwicke travelled to Taverners hoping to keep their unbeaten start to the year going, but failure to convert good chances proved very costly.

The visitors had a great chance in the early minutes when Scott Lane played in Adam Hacker but with only the keeper to beat screwed his shot wide.

Hacker had another good chance shortly after when he got on the end of a John Leccacorvi cross but again put the chance wide.

Lane was finding a lot of space on the right and continually put over some inviting crosses but they could not be taken advantage of.

The second half saw Hacker have the best chance when he ran onto a pass from Leccocorvi rounded the keeper but shot over the bar and then from a throw in saw a back headed just clear the bar.

The game changed when Taverners were awarded a controversial penalty when Rob Hine tackled a home player, putting the ball out for a corner but the referee adjudged him to have made contact with the player and John Crowther scored from the spot.

Hardwicke pushed men forward in search of an equaliser and at times left only two at the back and a couple of minutes from time Taverners broke away and a shot was stopped by the hand of keeper Jermaine Hunt but outside the area.

The referee showed the keeper a red card and from the resulting free kick Wayne Zachoswki hammered the ball past stand-in keeper Charlie Nicholas leaving Hardwicke to travel home very disappointed and frustrated.