Rye Town earned a valuable three points in their bid for survival in the ESFL Division One beating hot favourites Hollington an astonishing 7-1 on Saturday, February 8.
Still not to have a full strength match squad Rye Town took their game plan to Hollington from the off, very shortly the goal line technology of a linesman ruled out a goal for each side in the space of two minutes.
Rye really taking the game to the visitors scored with 20 minutes gone, Will Brown reacting quickly to a goalkeeping save following a Georges Gouet was effort. The same scorer notched again following a mesmerising pass from Sam “Tekkers” Henham and some fantastic individual skill delightfully lobbing the goalkeeper to enable Rye a lead of 2-0.
In control, Rye were aided with the sin bin of a Hollington midfieder, during this time club stalwart Tekkers half volleyed the ball deep into the net before the whistle for half time.
Words of encouragement and what to expect on the return to the field were spoken by manager Shane Ridgers, a tactical change meant Liam Sayer being switched with Sam Hesmer for a short period early in the second half. The pace and power of Gouet-Hesmer-Brown in the attacking third tired the away defence, forcing mistakes, further sin bins and a red card.
Against the run of play, Hollington did actually score to make the game 3-1.
Sayer, being reintroduced, partnered Hesmer up top with the latter scoring at 75 minutes to halt any Hollington comeback.
Milton Miltiadou along with Richard Hibbs worked tirelessly in the centre of the park all game. Hibbs, not known for his goals, popped up with a smart finish running with the ball from deep to extend Town’s lead.
Numerous chances came and went for the home side and two goals in the final five minutes of the game form Sayer finished off a superb all round performance for Rye with the score finishing Rye Town 7 Hollington United 1.
The Yew Tree Stone Man of the match was Georges Gouet.
Rye Town face Hollington for the second week running next in the League Cup with the game due to take place at The Gibbons Field 1:30pm kick off.
Rye Town Lineup
Pierce Osbourn(c), Henham, Gilchrest, Ball, Naylor, Hibbs, Miltiadou, Gouet, Sayer, Brown. Subs used Burley, Hesmer unused sub, Ridgers
Image Credits: Rye Town FC .