Hanover 3 Earlham 2

We go to Hanover to meet one of the other teams tied on top of the HCAC. Hanover's field is the same one they've had for a while as they await overdue improvements. Rain begins almost at kickoff but I think this actually improves the ball action on the field surface.

As we have in a couple of our away contests, we start slowly and pay a price. We give the ball away in our own half of the field and Hanover pounces and scores when a shot is deflected by Alex Ferreira's slide past Sam Embry in goal.  Slowly we begin to gain control and are rewarded in the 40th minute when Jacob Ebbs chips a beautiful ball over the keeper's head to tie the score at 1-1 going into halftime.

Our momentum continues after the break and a series of 1-2 moves get us chances leading to an Ameer Yusuf finish in the 60th minute. Crucially the lead doesn't last as Hanover equalize through a header by John Wittich 4 minutes later. We knew that Wittich presented an aerial threat but the cross was unexpected and he met the ball mid goal at the 6 and the shot beat Sam Embry in the goal. Minutes later he struck again as a free kick (was it a foul?) finds him at the far post and Hanover leads again.

With 20 minute to go we're a goal down away from home. Our response was great; a succession of chances nearly get us an equalizer including Ameer getting through only to miss inches wide of the post, a cross from Cory Campbell that finds no one home in front, a shot by Cory that hits the inside of the near post and runs across goal behind the keeper and out the other side, and 2 chances for Jacob including one in the last minute. No matter, Hanover wins a great game and can claim first place for the moment. We can't be disappointed with the effort because we played very well over the entire game. It doesn't help that Hanover's captain said to Ameer during the game "I can't believe we're winning this game". They do win and we must look forward to the potential for a rematch in the tournament.

We are, of course, not close to guaranteeing a place in that tournament and we must get a result at Manchester this weekend when we play them on their homecoming. Actually it's ours as well but we're away.