Match Report - 9 January 2005

Headstone played well in the first half and deserved their narrow lead. They worked hard together, used the ball well and created several useful chances. At the other end Charlie Wingate in goal for Headstone kept Bessingby at bay with some fine saves. But it was a different story in the second half as Headstone struggled to hold possession and found themselves penned back by Bessingby who won with four well taken goals.

Headstone started well pushing Bessingby back and during the half they created good chances for Rory Carolan and Thomas Green. Rory worked very hard throughout the match and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. Headstone defended solidly and worked hard to deny Bessingby chances. Russell Butlin and Daniel Lynch worked hard in the centre as did the full backs Niall Corcoran and Josh Street. The midfield used the ball well with Jamie Brown wide on the left and Jordan Coleman on the right pushing forward.

Bessingby nearly took the lead with a break down the right and a superb shot from the edge of the area that was kept out by the post and a superb acrobatic save by Charlie. He was also quick to come off his line to deny Bessingby in a one on one break into the area.

Headstone took the lead on 30 minutes when as they pushed forward the ball fell to Niall Corcoran outside the area. Niall drove the ball first time high towards the goal. One of Bessingby's defenders rose to head it away but the ball glanced backwards past the keeper into the net. A minute later and it was nearly 2-0. Headstone broke through the Bessingby defence, Thomas Green shot past the keeper and into the net. But the referee blew the whistle for half time as Thomas shot so disallowed the goal.

Headstone needed to hold the lead to enable them to build on this in the second half. But, as so often, within a minute of the restart Bessingby were level and Headstone had handed them a confidence booster. A quick break through the defence left Charlie exposed and they simply slotted the ball home. Ten minutes later and Bessingby sealed the points with two goals in two minutes. Headstone's passing this half was virtually non existent and so they struggled to get the ball out of their half. As Bessingby moved the ball around the Headstone defence was stretched and with two well taken shots they scored.

They might have added more but were again denied by fine goal keeping by Charlie. Headstone brought Brett Swinton-Bland and Joe Jordan on for Jamie and Nathan Lane. Brett played on the left wing and Francis Nkhoma went up front. But Thomas managed the only shot for Headstone during the half. Three minutes fom time Bessingby added a fourth with a long high shot from the left side that sailed over Charlie.

Rory was the manager's man of the match for his hard working performance in midfield and Charlie was the players' man of the match.