Hull SC survived a second-half fightback from Wareham Forest United, with Sam O’Malley’s fourth goal sealing a dramatic 6-5 home victory.
Hull Sporting Club came through a dramatic eleven-goal contest at Pelican Park Playing Fields, beating Wareham Forest United 6-5 in the East Riding County League Division 4.
The Reds made a strong start and took the lead in the 15th minute through Sam O’Malley, who finished well to give Hull SC early control of the match.
Oliver Read doubled the advantage six minutes later, putting the home side in a commanding position and rewarding a positive opening spell.
Wareham Forest United responded in the 26th minute through Jordan Gilbert, reducing the deficit and bringing the visitors back into the contest.
Hull SC answered with authority. O’Malley struck again in the 32nd minute before completing his hat-trick in the 40th minute, giving the Reds a 4-1 lead heading into the break.
The second half brought a major response from Wareham. Gilbert scored again in the 49th minute before completing his own hat-trick in the 57th, cutting Hull SC’s lead to one and shifting the momentum of the match.
Daniel Laughton restored breathing room for Hull SC in the 65th minute, finding the net to make it 5-3 and settle the home side after a difficult spell.
We made the game harder than it needed to be, but the character at the end was excellent. When the score went level, the players could have panicked, but they kept pushing, kept believing and found a way to win.
— Hull SC Manager
But Wareham refused to go away. Jake Palfreman scored in the 78th minute before Mo Sakr equalised in the 82nd, completing the visitors’ comeback and setting up a tense final stage.
Hull SC needed a response, and O’Malley delivered. In the 85th minute, he scored his fourth goal of the match to restore the lead and give the Reds a decisive 6-5 advantage.
The closing stages tested Hull SC’s composure, but the players held firm, managed the pressure and saw out a dramatic home victory.
O’Malley’s four-goal performance was the headline contribution, while Read and Laughton also played important roles in a match full of attacking moments and momentum swings.
For Hull SC, it was a game that showed both lessons to learn and character to build on, with the squad finding a way to win even after surrendering a strong lead.