Headstone Manor YFC

Match Report - 13th September 2009

Tough start for the Bs. No shortage of hard work but, one of several lessons to come from this game was that effort alone is not enough. Understanding, teamwork and control are also fundamental and they were in short supply today. Only three players, Russ, Francis and Adam, came off at the end having played anywhere near their potential. So, on the upside, there is plenty of scope for improvement.

Not an excuse, but the Bs went into the game without two defenders, Joe and Josh, and lost Ciaran during the match with a muscle strain. This meant that there were probably too many changes at the back as the Bs strived to get a solid backline and penetration up front. The game looked to have come too soon for some of the team who seemed to struggle for their fitness and touch.

It was only in the last ten minutes of the first half that the Bs did themselves justice before the break by getting the ball down and playing some controlled football. Before that it was too frantic as the ball spent most of its time with an aerial view of the pitch. Harlington handled this much better, quicker to the ball, too strong at the back for the Bs strikers and eager to shoot when the chance arose. During the half George came on in midfield, CJ came off and Shomari went up front.

At the break 0-0 was a reasonable score as the Bs had played nowhere near their best. Ciaran was replaced by Nick and Kyle took over from Shomari. Adam took Shomari’s place up front. Just six minutes into the half Harlington got the breakthrough with a goal after a swift move down the right. As the ball was drilled into the box they had two players charging in and one touched it past Stephen.

The Bs best chances came from dead balls and they had plenty of opportunities in both halves. Most came from corners and, though the delivery from Jordan and Nick was excellent, most opportunities were squandered. Russ was the most dangerous from these, once hitting the bar near the end.

The game started to drift away from the Bs on 58 minutes when Harlington doubled their lead with another attack down the right and no challenge in the box. Four minutes later the win was sealed as they scored with a superbly curled shot from the edge of the box. The Bs had no answer and didn’t look likely to score. Russ was now playing up front. Adam, who never stopped running, closing down and tackling, took his centre back role. Kyle took over Jordan’s right back position with Luis switching to midfield where he looked more comfortable.

Russ nearly scored in the closing minutes winning the ball and striking across the face of the goal but he dragged the shot wide. A 0-3 finish would probably have been the right score but Harlington’s perseverance notched them two late goals to clinch it 0-5.

Russ was man of the match. He was fiercely determined at both ends of the pitch and came closest of all to scoring. But he was pushed very close by Francis who, by getting the ball down, his head up and passing simply, rarely gave the ball away and helped set the Bs going forward time and time again. Adam also made a massive contribution and showed great work rate and determination in the three positions he played in.