Match Report - 24 October 2004

Against a team three divisions higher there was only likely to be one result and this was confirmed when LNER took a 2-0 lead after just eight minutes. With Brett Swinton-Bland's speed on the left to support Tom Wrigley up front, Headstone opted to attack LNER wherever possible. However, this gave LNER more space to work in and they took full advantage to punish Headstone with some fine finishing.

Early on Headstone were caught out by failing to close down LNER quickly enough to prevent them getting shots and crosses in. The midfield players, Thomas Green, Francis Nkhoma, Rory Carolan, Brett Swinton-Bland and Jamie Brown worked very hard to support the defence but all the players were too often second to the ball and so struggled to win and keep possession.

Charlie Wingate, throughout the game, pulled off some outstanding acrobatic saves and were it not for him the score would have been much higher. Niall Corcoran, yet again, put in a very good display at right back and Russell Butlin, Daniel Lynch and Josh Street also worked hard under consistent pressure. Headstone had only one chance in the first half when Tom Wrigley released Brett Swinton-Bland down the left. Brett raced into the area and shot just wide of the left hand post. At the end of the half LNER led 5-0.

LNER got a very early goal in the second half but Headstone had more chances in this half. Kushal Kotecha came on to support Tom Wrigley up front replacing Rory Carolan. Kushal, Brett and Tom had shots on goal that went close. It was Brett who scored Headstone's goal in typical style, a charge down the left and fine shot into the corner. Brett was inches from a second after a fine break by Tom Wrigley. Tom used his pace to beat two defenders, produced a strong shot that the keeper parried and the ball spun to Brett two yards out with an open goal to aim at. Brett racing in sliced his shot and it spun agonisingly passed the post. Later Thomas Green had a high shot from distance that drifted just over and Kushal had a long run through on goal but was tackled before he got his shot in.

At the other end LNER's control and movement was too much for Headstone and they continued to pile up the goals and at the finish won the match 11-1. Russell Butlin was the manager's man of the match for yet another powerful performance at the back and Francis Nkhoma took the player's award for the second time this season for his work in midfield.