Hindringham 3, Stalham 2THIS was a real knock-out of an Anglian Combination Division One match.Home keeper Chris Cracknell suffered concussion and had to be taken to hospital, and while he was waiting for the ambulance to arrive the Hindringham manager, Phil West, was knocked cold on the touchline when a clearance from a Stalham defender accidentally cannoned onto his head.

Hindringham 3, Stalham 2

THIS was a real knock-out of an Anglian Combination Division One match.

Home keeper Chris Cracknell suffered concussion and had to be taken to hospital, and while he was waiting for the ambulance to arrive the Hindringham manager, Phil West, was knocked cold on the touchline when a clearance from a Stalham defender accidentally cannoned onto his head.

West recovered but Cracknell had to go to hospital.

The game was a thriller, with five goals, both sides hitting the bar, Hindringham seeing an effort trickle along the Stalham goal-line but not crossing it completely and other chances superbly engineered - then missed.

For Hindringham, this was their first home game since December and manager West named the same line-up, with Toby Hood returning on the bench.

Hindringham started well, getting the ball down and creating space for each other. The emphasis was to get in behind the Stalham defence, and Karl Pask obliged and crossed for Scott Gray to slide the ball home for the first goal.

Hindringham then stopped doing the right things and allowed Stalham back into the game, giving the ball away cheaply and not getting close enough to their opponents.

Stalham had a few half-chances and kept getting dangerous crosses into the box, and it was from one of these that the Stalham full-back Trevor Gannon rose highest to head home.

Hindringham changed formations to combat Stalham's attacking threat, with Darren West, Kevin Whittred and David Coslett given that task.

With a few stern words ringing in their ears at half-time, Hindringham came out and bossed the second period, with Stalham getting only the occasional half-chance.

Hindringham were dealt a blow 10 minutes into the half when keeper Cracknall came out to clear the ball, went over the attacker and smashed his head on the ground. He continued, but later went down with concussion. The club wish him well. Skipper Coslett took the gloves and Hood came on in midfield.

Scott Saunders hit the bar from a Hood free-kick with the Stalham keeper well beaten , but Hindringham soon took the lead when a neat one-two between West and Whittred saw Pask slot the ball under the keeper.

It was not long before No 3 was added after some great work by sub Tony Walker enabled Gray to score.

Stalham scored late on, but Hindringham had enough chances to have won the game with ease. Pask fired over twice when well placed, Gray found the keeper in good form and West was well tackled when about to shoot.

Coslett's handling and kicking was very good for an outfield player and this enabled Hindringham to hold on to gain the vital three points.

Next, Hindringham travel to Kirkley & Pakefield Reserves for a top-six clash, meet Bistro 12pm for a 2.30 kick-off.