Match Report - 12th November 2006

This was a real ding dong match. With so many goals flowing in at both ends it was just like watching QPR!!! Both teams had the lead and it was credit to all the players that, when they were behind, they all kept plugging away pushing for the win. Headstone showed great guts fighting back from 0-2 down but Actual's better control and passing in the second half eventually told when they grabbed the win with two goals in injury time.

The two team lined up with nine points from their four league games but Headstone had been two weeks since they last played after Acton had conceded the points the previous week. The first half was an even contest with both teams competing hard in the middle of the field and using the ball well.

For Headstone Francis Nkhoma was particularly impressive winning and using the ball well and he was well supported by Thomas Green. Behind them there was good work from the defence with Joe Jordan, Russell Butlin, Nicholas Furquim and Josh Street. Up front Brett Swinton-Bland and Conor McBreen were keen to use their pace but found it hard to get clear of Actual’s defenders.

Headstone were stung in the 13th minute by a break by Actual that saw several of their players get behind the defence and Daniel Lynch was unable to keep their low shot out. Daniel produced several excellent saves throughout the match. But four minutes later Actual doubled their lead when Headstone failed to clear from a corner. The ball was swung in and knocked into the goal but Russell, on the line, attempted to clear but just couldn’t get it away and though he hoofed it out the referee gave the goal.

At 0-2 Headstone’s heads might have dropped but four minutes later they turned the game around. The game was very stop start at this time with many players penalised for foul throws and plenty of free kicks. Headstone were awarded a kick twenty five yards out on the left of the pitch. Nicholas stepped up and swung in a great shot that the keeper parried. But George Moriarty reacted superbly and stabbed it home.

Headstone’s main threat was coming from the left with George involved combining well with Josh and Brett. In the 23rd minute George laid the ball back to Brett who swung in a great cross. Jordan Coleman controlled the cross and laid it back to Conor who scored with a neat shot. 2-2 and it was game on again.

Actual created more chances than Headstone but steered too many wide and found Daniel in good form when on target. For Headstone Nicholas went close with a long range shot but there wasn’t enough of a solid threat. Headstone did create some neat passing moves this half.

Headstone worked a good goal in the 43rd minute to make a superb recovery. From a throw in on the far left Jordan and Francis combined well and laid the ball back to Brett who drove the ball goalwards. The keeper parried but again Headstone were quickest off the mark and this time it was Conor who raced into score.

This half though Headstone found themselves doing too much chasing as Actual demonstrated good control from the back, good movement and neat passing that too often had Headstone chasing shadows. It makes it much more tiring and Francis, who was Headstone’s most effective player in the first half, suffered for this in the second half when he ran out of steam. Headstone found themselves second to most of the 50-50 balls and Actual’s defence had a comfortable time as Headstone failed to put them under any pressure when they had the ball.

The game was played fairly in a good spirit but there were quite a few stoppages for knocks. Russell had a painful knock on the head from an accidental collision, George had a painful knock in the ear and was badly winded in a challenge and Brett twice hurt his shoulder in racing to increase the lead. Actual defended strongly and pulled out two excellent last ditch tackles to deny him but he felt the full force. Credit to all the players who carried on to the last.

In the 50th minute Actual equalised with a goal that Headstone should have cleared. Daniel produced a good diving save from a powerful shot and Nicholas was on hand to clear the danger. But, frustratingly, the ball got stuck under his feet and as he tried to get it clear Actual swiftly tucked the ball home. At the other end Nicholas was inches from putting Headstone back in front. In typical style he hit a great 30 yarder that the keeper deflected onto the crossbar.

Actual looked as though they had scored when their tall defender hit a tremendous shot from just inside the Headstone half. It was an awkward high shot but Daniel reacted brilliantly, reading it all the way and picking it out the air cleanly. As Francis tired Luis Meneses Zerpa came on and in no time at all made space for a shot that went close. Later Jordan Wright replaced Jordan Coleman on the right of midfield.

By now Actual had the middle of the field sown up as Headstone’s passing fell apart. It was like watching pinball as the ball pinned off them without anyone imposing any control or authority on the play. When they did get it, they resorted to hit and hope and it was meat and drink to Actual’s defence. Headstone also started to struggle to clear their lines as Actual pressed for the win and there were too many to close for comfort moments at the back. In contrast Actual’s passing was neat and effective.

The eventual 3-5 result gives a slightly misleading impression as the final goals came in stoppage time. Actual grabbed their fourth in the 70th minute with a well taken shot from inside the area. But there was still nine minutes of injury time for Headstone to get back again. In reality there was only one team who looked the more likely to score and it was Actual again who sealed it two minutes later.

The main positives for Headstone were how well they came back from 0-2 down to lead 3-2 and how well they played in the first half against an accomplished team. But there were lots of lessons to learn, in particular about the importance of passing and competing throughout the whole match. Francis Nkhoma thoroughly deserved the man of the match award for his commitment, work rate and control in the opening half.