Hoddesdon Town succumbed to a 3-1 defeat against Dunmow Town in a well-attended match at Lowfield. Despite the loss, there were still some decent positives to take from the game, particularly the determined performance in the second half and the emergence of young talents.

The game began with a few changes to the Hoddesdon starting line-up following the win last week. Blue Gallagher's injury opened the door for Arnis Lala, who had impressed as a substitute previously. The match also marked a start for promising young left-back Fraser McCarthey, a product of the club's youth system and very much “one of our own” which is always enjoyed by fans.

Dunmow Town took control early on and capitalized on a defensive lapse by Hoddesdon, with Reggie Pegrum finding the net in the 10th minute. The visitors continued to dominate the first half, stifling Hoddesdon's attempts to create clear-cut chances. Just before the break, an excellent run by Connor Bolton set up Callum Bennison, but his effort was well saved by the Dunmow keeper.

In stoppage time of the first half, a mis-controlled pass back to Hoddesdon goalkeeper Liam Nugent allowed Fehinti Falola to slot in and double Dunmow's lead, making it 0-2 at halftime.

Hoddesdon emerged in the second half with renewed urgency and drive, led by the relentless Connor Bolton. His persistent runs and control were a constant threat to the Dunmow defence. Harry Carter also came close with a curling shot from the corner of the box, but it was tipped around the post by the keeper.

Bolton's efforts earned Hoddesdon a penalty in the 50th minute after another of his surging runs ended with him being tripped in the box. However, his low shot from the spot was saved by the diving goalkeeper’s legs, keeping the score at 0-2. Substitutes Ben Clarke and Naz Krutko then entered the fray in the 54th minute to bolster the Hoddesdon efforts.

In the 60th minute, Connor Bolton scored his 50th goal for the Lilywhites, also marking what we think was his 200th appearance for the club. An extremely impressive double achievement for the popular player. His headed goal from a George Hamill corner brought Hoddesdon back into the game at 1-2 and sparked a period of relentless pressing, as captain Jack Gibbs was spurring them on up the pitch. You can see the goal here.

The return of Dion Laughton in the 72nd minute added further impetus to Hoddesdon's attack. He nearly made an immediate impact, skimming a shot off the crossbar from a tight angle. However, the hard-tempo final minutes left Hoddesdon vulnerable to counterattacks, and Dunmow added a third goal in stoppage time to seal the victory after a quick break.

There was still time for Naz Krutko to hit the post for Hoddesdon, but the final whistle blew with the score at 1-3. Despite the defeat, Hoddesdon can take heart from the determination and unity displayed by the team. Their next challenge is a short trip down the road to Wormley to face Brimsdown on Wednesday night.

Up the Lilywhites!

Nugent – Agnew – McCarthy (Naz Krutko) - Riddle – Gibbs (c) - Hamill – Lala (Clarke) - Collins – Bennison (Laughton) - Carter - Bolton