Match Report - 14 November 2004

What might have been!! Headstone came within a whisker (barely 30 seconds) of getting only their second win of the season when Acton grabbed an equaliser. Disappointing though it always is to lose a goal and a result so late in the game, there was plenty for the team to be proud of. This was a much improved display compared to the previous weeks. Better passing, commitment, determination, communication and a good team performance. All the players worked their socks off and made choosing man of the match a tricky choice.

Headstone were much the better team in the first half and were particularly dangerous attacking down the left. But neither goalkeeper was kept very busy throughout the match with very few decent chances from either side. Most of the play centred around the midfield where both teams battled hard to create space.

Brett Swinton-Bland was Headstone's main outlet in the first half with several surging runs down the left wing. Josh Street combined well with Brett setting him up with good passes and getting forward to support him. Brett showed some neat close control several times to beat the Acton defenders but couldn't manage to find the cross to finish the moves. Headstone played with three players in the centre midfield, Joe Jordan, Francis Nkhoma and Joe Cowan and they all worked very hard winning the ball and passing it around. Francis in particular had one of his best performances. Behind them in the centre of defence Russell Butlin and Daniel Lynch were strong in the tackle and they cleared the ball well. Jordan Wright had no saves to make in this half but when he got the ball he distributed it well.

Tom Wrigley had a few chances to break through the defence but the defenders were too sharp each time. Then in the 23rd minute he opened the scoring with a fine shot from outside the area into the corner that beat the goalkeeper. It was a great finish and Headstone held the lead at half time.

Having had such a good first half Headstone hoped to carry this on after the break. Instead they started rather sluggishly and found themselves pinned back in their half. Brett wasn't given the same service and only managed a couple of runs down the wing. On the right wing Jordan Coleman combined well with Francis and won a couple of corners but Headstone struggled to get any crosses in. After 10 minutes of the half Nathan Lane replaced Tom up front.

There were a couple of good chances this half. The first fell to Acton with a high shot from outside the area that had Jordan Wright well beaten but came back off the crossbar. Daniel Lynch had a good shot for Headstone following a corner which was saved. Then, after a good run, Francis split the defence with a good pass and Jordan Coleman was through on goal with a defender bearing down on him and the keeper coming off his line. Jordan delayed his shot slightly and the keeper made a save.

As time ran out Acton won a corner and played it short. Headstone were slow to react and the Acton player had the space to drive the ball goalwards and it was prodded over the line. Relief for Acton, disappointment for Headstone but overall probably a fair result. Joe Jordan took the manager's man of the match for a really good performance in midfield where he never stopped working. Tom Wrigley won the player's award for his superb goal.