Symonds Green 4 Elsenham 11 Under-16s Division Two DEAN Clayden hit a double hat-trick as Elsenham played some of their best attacking football of the season in atrocious conditions at King George V Park. An already late 2pm kick-off became an even later

Symonds Green 4 Elsenham 11

Under-16s Division Two

DEAN Clayden hit a double hat-trick as Elsenham played some of their best attacking football of the season in atrocious conditions at King George V Park.

An already late 2pm kick-off became an even later one as the booked referee failed to show up, leaving one of the home parents to take the whistle and the linesmen to wave a couple of bibs.

When play did finally get underway, Elsenham quickly started to demonstrate why they are at the top of the division and Symonds Green occupy bottom spot.

The home side were barely able to get out of their half and the visitors could easily already have had three goals by the time Josh Daniel got his head on a Luke Fisher corner to open the scoring after 10 minutes.

Daniel quickly grabbed a second as he pounced on the rebound after Adam Mace's fierce shot has been parried by the 'keeper.

Mason Duckett added a third when rounding the 'keeper and stroking the ball into the empty goal and Clayden might have had his first of the day but for a great block on the goal-line.

With five minutes left in the half, Clayden beat the 'keeper to the ball to add a fourth goal and a superb 20 yard strike made it five just before the interval.

Elsenham were urged not to allow their opponents off lightly as they have done on some occasions this season, and there was no sign of a let up after half time as Clayden completed his hat-trick almost immediately after the restart.

Sam Minter came on for his debut and almost made it a memorable one when he struck a great shot that ended up in the net, only for the offside flag to deny him.

With 47 minutes on the clock, Tony Hogg's shot was blocked by the 'keeper, allowing Fisher to follow up and score the seventh and Duckett made it eight with a tidy finish soon afterwards.

By now the rain was lashing down and it was becoming so dark that it might almost have been the middle of the night.

Being so far in front and with conditions becoming worse by the minute, Elsenham's disciplined approach started to falter and Symonds were able to capitalise with two quick goals, the second a great strike from 25 yards.

Clayden restored the eight goal lead with two more goals of his own but Symonds weren't done with and got another one back before Clayden rattled in his sixth.

Having had little to do (other than pick the ball out of the net a couple of times), 'keeper Jon Booth made a brief cameo appearance out on pitch and immediately earned a penalty when he was fouled after a driving run into the box.

Booth grabbed the ball and promptly blazed his spot kick over the bar.

Symonds Green completed the scoring with a fabulous long range strike that gave stand-in 'keeper Fisher no chance.