Match Report - 26 September

A third consecutive defeat for Headstone Manor and it was a severe lack of firepower in front of goal that was the difference between the two sides. Headstone managed only one shot on target in the entire game and that was ruled out for offside. Greenford had no more of the play but they tested the Headstone defence more severely and in the end ran out convincing winners.

Headstone battled hard throughout the match picking up from their much improved second half performance in the previous week's match at Kensington. There was nothing between the teams in the first half with most of the play in the midfield. Neither team created many clear cut chances and there were few corners. Headstone looked to have taken the lead in the opening 10 minutes when Brett Swinton-Bland broke through the Greenford Celtic defence to score. The Headstone players celebrated only to find the goal ruled out for offside. Five minutes later and Greenford opened the scoring with their first attack. From a fast break down the left they produced a fierce shot that flew past Jordan Wright into the corner.

Minutes later one of the Greenford players fired a high ball goalwards that Jordan Wright parried and then raced back to smother on the line. Jordan followed this with three more excellent saves. At the other end Kushal Kotecha had two shots but both went wide. Brett had three speedy runs down the left but was unable to cross the ball into the area. Late in the half Nathan Lane fought hard to win the ball and race into the area but with two defenders alongside him he was unable to shoot and the ball ran through to the keeper.

At 0-1 down at half time Headstone were in a strong position to the turn the game round if they could threaten the Greenford goal. But within three minutes of the restart Greenford broke down the right and made it 2-0. Yet again Headstone had a big hill to climb but, all credit to the boys, they kept battling away, supported each other and tried to use their passing to break Greenford down. However, each time they forced Greenford back, they were unable to get in position to test the keeper. In the whole of the second half they didn't have any shots. Rory Carolan came on up front for Kushal and Fedrico Jaramillo replaced Brett on the left. But minutes later Greenford made it 3-0 with a high ball from long distance.

At 0-3 down the game was lost and Headstone switched Russell Butlin up front alongside Rory and Nathan to try and create some chances on goal. Michael Theodorou came on in place of Thomas Green and played in defence alongside Daniel. But although Headstone pushed forward there were still no goal attempts and it was Greenford who had the final say cruising through the defence to score two late goals and seal a 5-0 win.

Nathan Lane was the manager's man of the match for the way he never stopped running, battling and working up front. He often dropped deep to win the ball and tried hard to create chances. Niall Corcoran was the player's man of the match. Niall worked very well at right back, ran tirelessly throughout the game, kept his position well and provided a lot of good support for Jordan Coleman when going forward. He also made one outstanding run to catch one of Greenford's attackers who was racing through on goal and forced the ball out for a goal kick.