Match Report - 6 February 2005

After 10 matches without a win it was really nice for Headstone to come off the pitch with a performance to be proud of, the right result and a clean sheet. The performances throughout the whole team were so good that it wasn't possible to select one player to take the man of the match award. Everyone deserved it.

Though Princes Park have been bottom of the table this was no easy win. Princes Park worked very hard and defended resolutely. They also came within a whisker of getting a goal back but Jordan Wright made a fine save in the last minute to get Headstone their first clean sheet of the season.

Headstone had much more of the play throughout the match and used the ball much better than they have done in previous games. In midfield Rory Carolan battled very hard and Thomas Green played his normal composed football. Together they got Brett Swinton-Bland into action several times charging down the left wing and Federico Jaramillo working down the right. There were some good interchanges between the midfield and the two strikers Kushal Kotecha and Jordan Coleman.

Kushal gave Headstone an early lead with a goal after only 8 minutes. He won the ball from a corner on the left and his shot, though parried by the keeper, rolled over the line. Four minutes later Headstone went 2-0 ahead. Kushal again was involved passing the ball to Jordan Coleman racing through on the right and Jordan shot low into the corner. Though Headstone kept the ball in the Princes Park half for most of the time, they struggled to create many good chances. Kushal had another shot a little later and Joe Jordan, who had a superb game at right back, had a long range of shot that went close.

In the 22nd minute Federico was put through on the right and he took the ball and raced into the area. Princes Park's left back raced across to tackle him but mistimed it and brought Federico down with a strong challenge. Jordan Coleman took the penalty but steered it the wrong side of the left hand post so the score remained 2-0.

At the back Joe, Russell Butlin, Daniel Lynch and Josh Street were all solid and strong to keep Princes Park out and all made some outstanding tackles. Jordan Wright had a very quiet game but he was called into action late in the half and raced off his line to clear the ball to safety. He also produced some very good drop kicks as the game progressed.

The game continued in the same way after the break but, despite their possession, Headstone still found it hard to get into positions to shoot. The strikers and midfield players all looked for an extra touch before shooting and Princes Park, who were much quicker in the tackle, didn't give them the time. Then with 12 minutes remaining Headstone sealed the points with two goals in two minutes. First Federico was put though on the right and he carefully controlled the ball before placing it powerfully past the keeper. It was his first ever goal for the team and was well deserved. Then Headstone broke again and Rory charged into the area following a high ball and he bravely beat the keeper to the ball to head home. There might have been further goals with chances falling to Kushal, Jordan and Thomas.

Niall Corcoran came on for Jordan and played right back. Joe switched to midfield and Rory joined Kushal up front. Brett was a threat on the left but such was his eagerness to get forward that he was twice caught offside late in the game when he got through on goal. The last chance fell to Princes Park with a break and high shot into the corner. But Jordan Wright, had kept his concentration, and dived to his right to save superbly.

The players voted Rory as their man of the match and they all shared the manager's award. Next week they have to do it all again away at Princes Park.