Match Report - 29th April 2007

This was a good result for Headstone with some very well made and finished goals and a fine start and finish. But Headstone made much harder work of this than they needed to and let Bessingby right back into the game. This was Headstone’s second match in two days and it showed on some of the players but to come out of the weekend with six points was all credit to them.

There were four changes from yesterday’s game to rotate the team. Luis Meneses Zerpa played at right back, Nicholas Furquim started in centre midfield, George Moriarty played left midfield and Brett Swinton-Bland was back up front.

The game was played on a small, rather bumpy pitch that made it harder for all the players to control the ball. Headstone started much the stronger of the two teams and created early chances for Luis, George and Nick. Nick’s delivery from deep positions and corners and free kicks caused Bessingby many problems but Headstone didn’t take advantage as much as they might have.

But in the opening 22 minutes Headstone established a 3-0 lead that should have enabled them to relax, control the game and build on the lead. It didn’t quite turn out that way.

The opening goal was scored by Nick and was tough on the keeper. After 14 minutes Nick delivered a corner that was knocked straight back to him. He sent it back into the near post with his left foot and the keeper grabbed it but couldn’t stop himself falling back over the line with the ball in his hands. Throughout the game Nick showed some great touches, his passing was good and he sent over some dangerous crosses.

He was also involved in the second goal just five minutes later. The ball was delivered into the box and Nick laid it off to Jordan Coleman who teed it up for Conor McBreen. Conor curled it first time high into the far corner giving the keeper no chance.

Three minutes later Nick and Brett combined for the best goal of the game. Headstone were awarded a free kick just inside the left touchline 35 yards from goal. Nick delivered a high ball into the near post and Brett charged in and headed firmly into the near corner.

A minute later and from Bessingby’s first threat on goal they scored. Daniel Lynch responded to a break on the left with an excellent diving save deflecting the ball for a corner. But from the corner Headstone failed to clear and Bessingby shot home.

Bessingby worked hard in midfield but found it hard to get past Headstone’s defenders who worked very well and were quick to clear their lines. Russell Butlin and Joe Jordan have built a good partnership and have been consistently good for many weeks. At left back Ciaran McDougall had yet another outstanding game defending and creating on the left.

Headstone had opportunities to add to the lead. Russell went really close from a corner and Conor, Nick and George also had chances. Brett came the closest when he hit the post. Headstone won six corners this half and Nick placed all of them high into the six yard box where just a touch would have been enough to score. But the onrushing players were just not in the right position to get the final touch. Conor had a great chance from a corner on the right when he arrived late and completely unmarked at the far post. The ball landed at his feet but he couldn’t keep his shot down and it sailed over the bar.

At half time Headstone led 3-1 and went into the second half looking for an early goal to regain the initiative. It didn’t come and as the half progressed Headstone looked more and more weary and Bessingby won much of the ball in midfield. When they had the ball, Headstone found it harder to string the passes together to build decent attacks.

Brett and Nick had chances, Nick had a shot from a free kick but it didn’t look as though they would break through. Then in the 52nd minute Bessingby hauled themselves right back into the match with a goal that came from a throw in on the right. The ball was knocked into the penalty area and fell to an unmarked Bessingby player on the edge of the box who placed his shot just inside Daniel’s right hand post. Now the home team looked like they may get the game back and on a couple of occasions Daniel had to be at his sharpest to keep them at bay. Ciaran also came to the rescue clearing a shot off the line.

Headstone made a couple of changes to their line up. Francis Nkhoma came on for Luis. Nick took over at right back and Francis played in the centre. Then Fed Jaramillo came on for George. Fed went up front and Brett switched to left midfield. Francis was involved from the minute he started winning possession and using the ball well. He helped to re-energise the midfield that had gone a bit flat.

Fed’s impact was more dramatic with a goal a minute after he came on. The goal was made superbly down the right wing. It started deep in Headstone’s half and Thomas Green, Jordan and Fed combined with some neat passing. Jordan released Conor who took the ball into the box and crossed. The ball came straight back to him and his second cross was fumbled by the keeper. But Fed had continued his run and stabbed the ball home from the rebound.

After this Josh Street came on in the centre of defence, Joe switched to right back, Nick to midfield and Jordan came off. Fed should have had a second when he was sent through one on one with the keeper. He did his best to side step the keeper but was foiled at the last.

Fed’s goal was the sucker punch that sealed the win though Francis had the final say with a goal in the last minute. It came from another of Nick’s corners. The ball wasn’t cleared by the defence and as it bobbled around Francis shot and a defender tried to keep it out with his hands but failed and the goal was given.

It wasn’t easy to pick a man of the match as no-one really stood out. The five goals were shared by five scorers, Russell, Joe, Ciaran and Thomas were equally impressive and Nick caused the home team plenty of problems with his passing. But Francis took the award as he gave the team some energy when they appeared to have run out of steam and ideas and this ultimately sealed the win.