Whittaker tried to cut inside, looking for a gap to curl a shot or find a teammate, but Foster was ready. The defender timed his intervention perfectly, sticking out a boot and poking the ball away just as Whittaker tried to shift it. It was a clean, clinical steal.
[> "Foster with the tackle," <] Peter Walsh observed. [> "Much better from the right-back. He's grown into the game after a shaky start." <]
The ball broke to Connor Davis, who was never more than ten yards away from the action. The Hastings playmaker was already thinking two steps ahead. He didn't even look at the ball as he received it; his eyes were already scanning the far side of the pitch.
Davis played a first-time ball wide to Nathan Price. The winger was in space again, the Northcastle defense having shifted too far to the left to deal with Whittaker.
[> "Price with room to work," <] Michael Harrison noted. [> "Hastings looking dangerous on the counter. They are moving the ball with such speed." <]
