Match Report - 31 October 2004

This was a well deserved win for Ealing Shamrock. Their strengths, neat passing, swift movement and a hunger for the ball, were Headstone's weaknesses and were absent from the visitor's play. But for all that, Headstone were still right in it until 12 minutes from time when Ealing took a 3-1 lead which was too much for Headstone to recover. That was largely thanks to Charlie Wingate, in goal for the second week running, who kept Ealing at bay with a series of fine recovery saves.

The match was played in fine conditions for the end of October. A mild sunny day on a flat, grassy, dry pitch made a welcome change. Headstone started quickly with Brett Swinton-Bland seizing on a loose pass to break down the left. But he was unable to keep possession and that was an example of what was to follow throughout the afternoon. All the Headstone players struggled to get their passing going to put sufficient pressure on Ealing. For the most part it was Headstone on the back foot, chasing Ealing, and on such a big pitch the players' stamina was put to the test.

Ealing got an early break with a goal after only 4 minutes. They played a ball between Niall Corcoran and Russell Butlin and the Headstone defence stopped as they looked for the offside flag. But it didn't come and Ealing's striker raced through unchallenged and tucked the ball home. Headstone were then tested by some useful Ealing breaks down both wings. From one corner the ball sailed over all the players and landed a yard away from the goal line but Niall was on hand to clear. Charlie was tested by several good shots but he was equal to them producing some acrobatic diving saves. He was also called on to race off his line to clear from passes over the defence and met all of these with solid clearances.

Headstone's problem was that without their passing they were always chasing the game and couldn't test the Ealing defence. In the first half only Joe Jordan and Kushal Kotecha had shots but neither threatened the keeper. However, they came in at half time 0-1 down so were still well in the game.

It was important for Headstone to keep the game tight at the start of the second half but, as has happened a few times this season, within 2 minutes they had conceded again from an attack down the right. Headstone did create more this half especially towards the end of the game. Kushal, Joe Jordan and Brett had chances. Kushal got Headstone back into the game in the 46th minute. Picking up the ball from Tom Wrigley he took the ball into the area and lifted the ball over the keeper for his first goal of the season.

That should have been the springboard to threaten Ealing's defence and put them under pressure. But two minutes later it was all over. Headstone conceded a free kick five yards outside the penalty area. Ealing curled a high ball into the area and the entire defence left it and it sailed into the back of the net. Four minutes later Ealing made it 4-1, picking the ball up from a Headstone attack they raced down the left and finished by sliding the ball past Charlie as he raced off his line.

Charlie took the manager's man of the match award for keeping the team in the match for so long with so many good saves. Brett took the player's award. Next week they have to do it all again as they meet Ealing again at home.