Match Report - 28 November 2004

After a good performance last time out against Acton, expectations were high. But Headstone never managed to reach the same standard and rarely tested Kodak who fully deserved their win. Headstone's first half performance was very disappointing and it was all credit to Jordan Wright in goal that, at half time, the score was only 0-2. But in the second half Headstone played much better and created enough chances to put Kodak under pressure. If only their finishing had been more accurate and more forceful.

Headstone's problem in the first half was that they were much too sluggish and as a result were second to virtually every ball all over the pitch. This gave Kodak most of the possession and they used it well with a number of neat passing moves that stretched Headstone's defence. Headstone's other problem was that when they did have possession they were unable to keep it. The passing was poor to the point of non existent and the ball was given away with ease.

Kodak took the lead with two goals in the 12th and 16th minutes. The first followed an attack down the left and when the defence failed to cut out a high ball Kodak prodded the ball home. The second followed a Headstone attack. When the Kodak keeper collected the ball he produced a long clearance upfield which Kodak were first to latch on to. With one touch they raced clear and, as Jordan Wright raced off his line, they steered it home. It was a very simple but clinical finish.

At the other end Jordan Coleman went closest with a cross from the right that had the keeper struggling to get back in time to collect it. Thomas Green also had a long shot that went just wide. Jordan Wright was called on to make several good saves when Kodak beat the Headstone defence. He made an excellent save when left one on one with Kodak's striker and bravely got his body and hands in the way of some goalward shots.

In the second half Heatsone finally started to pass the ball and found that they had more of the play and could create chances. They also worked much harder to get the ball from Kodak. Thomas had a couple of shots and Nathan Lane, Thomas and Brett Swinton-Bland combined superbly with a fast passing move that put Brett clear. With his pace, Brett beat the keeper to the ball, knocked it passed him but Kodak defended well to close him down and keep his shot out. Nathan also had a couple of shots but despite creating the chances Heasdtone's finishing rarely looked like beating Kodak's tall keeper.

The central midfield trio of Thomas, Joe Jordan and Rory Carolan were more effective this half. Behind them Niall Corcoran, Russell Butlin, Daniel Lynch and Josh Street also looked more solid. But as the game went on it looked less and less likely that Headstone would get the breakthrough that would put Kodak under pressure. And right at the end Kodak finished it with a fine goal, a well paced high shot from the left corner of the area, that had Jordan Wright well beaten.

Overall Headstone allowed Kodak to dominate them too much and it was a difficult choice to find anyone who merited the man of the match trophy. But, for keeping the score respectable at half time with several excellent saves, Jordan Wright took the manager's award and Josh Street took the players' award.