Match Report - 20th April 2008

The long awaited clash between the two top teams in the Div was worth the wait and did not disappoint. Before this game both teams records were almost identical. Headstone had scored 56 and conceded 8 and Brunswick had scored 54 and conceded 8. This game was always going to be tight.

Brunswick is by far the best footballing team we have come across and you could understand why they have been so successful this season. Since Michael had broken his leg we have been forced to change the line up of the team. Headstone had been playing 4-4-2 all season but was forced to start with a 4-5-1 line up. The early clashes between the teams were like two heavyweight boxers trying to protect themselves from an early knock out punch.

Ryan our captain has been outstanding all season and has proved a major force dominating the midfield in the majority of matches. Today though he was in a major battle and needed to use all his ability against an outstanding midfield. The midfield started to win more balls and George’s powerful tackling and Tyrell’s pace started to cause a number of problems. Brunswick was up to challenge and there outstanding back four were able to keep Headstone’s attack at bay. The first twenty minutes of this match saw very few clear cut challenges and belonged to the defensive lines of both teams. Josh was up against their top scorer an exceptionally gifted player. Josh though was in a dominate mood and no one was going past him.

The first clear cut chance fell to Headstone. Liam delivered a perfect corner, George was at full stretch and was unfortunate to put it over the bar. Headstone at that point realised that Brunswick were not the strongest in the air and shortly afterwards we had another header cleared off the line. The half time whistle went with the deadlock not broken and Headstone ahead on points.

The second have started with both teams looking for that breakthrough. Brunswick was to break the dead lock. Headstone gave away the ball on the edge of the Brunswick box that moved the ball quickly to their forward. The Brunswick player showed excellent strength to hold off two Headstone tackles and deliver an excellent shot that beat Jack. Headstone were gutted, they had been hit with an excellent upper cut but had not been knocked out. Brunswick suddenly looked a yard faster and stronger and Headstone was on the ropes. This is when Jack in goal showed why I rate him so highly. Jack on two separate occasions pulled off two excellent saves in a one on one position to keep us in the game. Headstone’s luck held out when Brunswick’s excellent forward forced a rash tackle inside the box that look like a certain penalty but was not given.

Headstone regrouped following an excellent ball to Liam who was left with a one on one situation but unfortunately the keeper pushed the ball around the post. Had Headstone missed their chance? The corner again was delivered inch perfect and Luke forced the ball into the back of the net. 1-1. Headstone then started to believe that they could win the game and forced Brunswick back into their own half. Shortly afterwards Headstone had another corner, could they get the winner? Shomari thought he had after he forced it into the net, but sadly the ref had seen some pushing.

The final whistle went 1-1. This had been a game of two halves, the first being quite even but the second belonging to Brunswick. Headstone though had shown great character to come back into the game and the outstanding back five of Jack, Joey, Luke, Babak, Josh had kept the boys in the game. The team had never given up and were rewarded at the end. The result though had meant that Brunswick needed to beat Headstone at home to move them into pole position in the title race.

This had been an extremely tense affair end both the boys and the parents that walked away from this game were left exhausted.