Match Report - 19 March 2005

Having finished all their league matches for the season, Headstone Manor played a friendly against Greenford Celtic who had beaten them twice in the league. As it was a friendly, Headstone gave debuts to three players who have been training with the team all season, Luke McNamara in goal, Nicholas Silva in central defence and Rory Briton up front. All three should be proud of their performances. Two others played in new positions for the first time. Daniel Lynch played up front, and capped his performance with two goals, and Tom Wrigley played on the wing.

The match was played on a hot sunny morning and the pitch was bone hard and uneven which caused the ball to bounce high. Headstone struggled to deal with this throughout the match which made it hard for them to get the ball under control and away for safety.

Greenford started the game much the better. Throughout the match they were faster and more determined to win the ball and in the opening minutes Headstone couldn't clear their lines. The ball bobbled around in the penalty area and Headstone's clearances barely cleared the box. Greenford took advantage after just five minutes getting a player free to poke the ball past Luke from close range. Once Headstone managed to push up and press Greenford, the complexion of the game changed and Headstone created a number of chances. Rory had two good chances which went close, Francis Nkhoma hit the side netting and Brett Swinton-Bland also tested the Greenford defence.

Daniel Lynch, who has played the entire season in central defence, took time to get used to his new position but on 23 minutes boosted his confidence with a well taken goal. The goal was set up by Rory with a pass through the defence which Daniel raced onto and carefully placed it past the keeper. The defence got stronger as the half progressed with Russell Butlin, Nicholas, Joe Jordan and Josh Street keeping Greenford at bay. Luke made some good saves during the half and his distribution from his drop kicks was good.

In the second half Jordan Coleman and Rory Carolan came on for Brett and Francis. Tom Wrigley switched to the left wing and his pace enabled him to stretch the Greenford defenders on a number of occasions. Rory Carolan had a typical battling performance in midfield alongside Thomas Green. But the team never got their passing going at all throughout the match and so found it hard to keep possession.

The game really took off with four goals in a six minute spell. The first, on 38 minutes, was set up by Daniel. Working a move on the right with Jordan, Daniel broke into the area and squared it for Rory who scored on his debut. Four minutes later Greenford equalised as Headstone's defence failed to deal with a high ball into the area and Greenford pounced on it to score. But then Headstone took control of the game with two goals in a minute. First Francis, who had come back on again for Tom, raced onto a chip over the defence to rifle it home from the edge of the area and then Daniel forced the ball over the line to give Headstone a 4-2 lead.

Headstone also had other opportunities with Rory going closest with a shot cleared off the line and Daniel also had a shot that tested the keeper. But on 48 minutes Greenford gave themselves a lifeline breaking through the Headstone defence and, with Luke exposed, slotted the ball home. This gave Greenford the initiative though Headstone had an opportunity shortly after with a free kick on the edge of the area. Russell took it but his shot went just wide. Greenford also had a free kick in a central position near the area but their shot went over. Greenford equalised with just seven minutes to go as they latched onto a loose ball and slammed it into the net.

In the end the draw was a fair result but for Headstone, who have won only twice all season, to be two goals ahead and get pegged back is disappointing. But there were far more positives to take from the game. Firstly to get four goals and go close with plenty of other chances. Secondly the performances of the three new players who all did well and thirdly two goals from Daniel in his first game up front. Rory Briton was the manager's man of the match for making two goals, scoring one and for his determined performance. Luke was the players' man of the match for a solid game in goal where he made a number of good saves.