With a majority of last seasons players having to move on due to becoming of age, a  new look Hadleigh Under 18 team played their first home friendly of the season, against Walsham -le-Willows who once again have a very competitive team

Hadleigh keeper Ryan Bruce had to make an early save as Walsham attacked from the start, however within the first minutes Hadleigh won a corner, with a perfect delivery by Callum Smith , Patrick Armstrong saw his header turn out by the keeper, with Callum Smith's second flag kick flashing across the goalmouth .

On 8 minutes Hadleigh's Patrick Armstrong found  Josh Caraccio who's neat touch found Callum Smith to fire in with the Keeper punching clear , with Patrick Armstrong firing the loose ball just wide.

With 10 minutes on the clock, Walsham quick break upfield caught Hadleigh out , which lead to a defensive error which allowed a Walsham player to open the scoring.

Hadleigh pushed forward with the Walsham keeper having to gather well from shots by Callum Smith , Josh Caraccio & Franco Mallardo. 

Hadleigh's persistence paid dividends after 18 minutes when an excellent cross from the right by Patrick Armstrong found Michael Barwick to equaliser with a superb on the turn shot to beat the diving Keeper.

Three minutes later a long range testing shot by Franco Mallardo forced the Walsham keeper into a fine save, before Patrick Armstrong shot in on the turn from the right as Hadleigh had a good spell .

Hadleigh took the lead on 27 minutes, when a cross from the left by Callum Smith bobbled in the goalmouth with Luke Wilding slotting home as Walsham defence failed to clear.

Straight from the restart Hadleigh keeper Ryan Bruce gathered well from a Walsham as they looked to get on level terms quickly.

Hadleigh had to defend well for a period as Walsham pressed looking for the equaliser, but Hadleigh increased their lead after 38 minutes when Josh Caraccio intercepted a back pass to control well and slot home at the far post.

Three minutes later, Walsham pulled a goal back as Hadleigh were slow to defend giving a Walsham player ample time and space to fire in powerfully into the top left corner .

As half time approached, a Walsham defender cleared well from a Franco Mallardo shot.

H-T    Hadleigh 3  Walsham 2

Walsham attacked early in the second half with Hadleigh's Jermaine Haynes clearing a dangerous ball in from the left.

Hadleigh had a chance to increase their lead on 57 minutes when a Patrick Armstrong shot was cleared , with Michael Barwick shot back in going just over the bar.

Hadleigh sub Jack Gage forced the Walsham keeper to punch clear twice in quick succession as Hadleigh continued to press.

At the other Ryan Bruce saved well from a dangerous Walsham ball in, before Walsham levelled the score when another shot in was only cleared to a Walsham player to fire in from close range.

Hadleigh's Luke Garwood saw a  shot go just over from a Michael Barwicl through ball, while at the other end Ryan Bruce made another excellent save to deny Walsham

Walsham were now upping their game, with Hadleigh's Jermaine Haynes heading a dangerous ball clear., minutes later the same player set out on a solo run down the right , only to see his shot in well defended.

As full time approached Walsham pressed looking for the winner, with keeper Ryan Bruce tipping over a Walsham effort, before on the final whistle a Walsham free kick in was headed on to the roof of the net.

F-T  Hadleigh 3   Walsham 3

An entertaining match full of passing football by both teams in a spitited competitive match with Referee Maurice Scrivener having little to do, with the crowd of 90 applauding the players off the pitch

Hadleigh Squad :-

1  R. Bruce, 2 J. Haynes, 3. R. Booth, 4. B. Hynard, 5. D. Hines, 6. M. Barwick, 7. L. Wilding, 8 J. Caraccio, 9 F. Mallardo, 10. P. Armstrong, 11. C . Smith, 12 . L. Garwood on for 10, 14. Deasho Garner  on for 11, 15. J. Everitt on for 9, 16, J. gage on for 7, 17. C. Clarke on for 4, 18. R. Bray on for 8, 19. B. George on for 5, 20. Ben Berry  on for 3.