Match Report - 10th September 2006

Makes a nice change to start with a win and it was thoroughly deserved. It's always good to play at Greenford, whatever the result, as they are such a welcoming club. But having lost twice to them last season and often starting the season so slowly it was good to see the players hit the ground running. There are still plenty of cobwebs to blow away but there is more strength to the squad this term and today it showed not just in the result but in the performance throughout the team.

On a baking hot afternoon and a rutted, rock hard pitch it was not going to be easy to play attractive football. But the boys combined to produce many neat passing moves. Headstone were encouraged by a cracking start. What is the record for earliest goal in the season? Whatever it is Conor McBreen's must be a good contender. Straight from the kick off the ball was played wide to Federico Jaramillo who played it inside to Thomas Green. Thomas knocked a neat pass through the defence and Conor nipped in and tucked it past the keeper. I timed it at 13 seconds.

The boys kept their heads and worked hard to force Greenford back. The midfield combined well with the defenders to deny Greenford many clear cut opportunities on goal. At the centre of defence, Russell Butlin, back for his first full game after his broken leg, and Nicholas Furquim, got really stuck in to frustrate the Greenford Celtic strikers. Ahead of them Joe Jordan and Thomas Green also combined well to smother opportunities. The two full backs, Tom Wrigley and Ciaran McDougall, were also very strong throughoout the match in defence and supporting the attack. In goal Daniel Lynch didn't have any shots to save in the first half but had to be alert to balls played through the defence.

Headstone regularly looked to build from the back and Daniel found his full backs and wide players well. There were some neat combinations involving Tom, Ciaran, George Moriarty, Thomas and Federico Jaramillo. It was encouraging that throughout the match Headstone had so many shots on goal. It wouldn't have been unfair had they scored six or seven. Conor, Thomas, Federico, George and Luis Meneses-Zerpa all went close in the first half. George had a header from an in swinging corner that was inches wide. He also had a goal disallowed for offside that looked a rather dubious decision as he looked to have timed his run well.

But it was Nicholas who doubled the lead with an unexpected goal. On eight minutes Headstone were awarded a free kick on the left wing about 35 yards from goal. Nicholas curled a high ball goalwards and all the defenders missed it and it dropped into the net. It was his first goal for the club and with his ability to strike from distance it should be the first of many. Nicholas also took four corners and Greenford found it hard to deal with the high swinging balls he delivered. On 26 minutes Headstone were awarded a penalty completely out of the blue. It appeared to be for handball though most people missed it. Russell stepped up and sent a powerful shot into the corner. But the keeper made an excellent dive and flicked it onto the post. Conor won the race to the loose ball and slammed it goalwards but incredibly he hit the bar when it seemed impossible to miss. 3-0 might have been game over but instead there was to be a late twist.

The referee blew for time 5 minutes early thinking that it was 30 minutes each way. After a brief discussion play resumed but with a minute left of the half Greenford sent a high ball goalwards that caught Daniel off his line. The ball bounced high off the hard pitch and sailed over him into the net. So instead of 3-0 at the break the teams went in at 2-1, too close for comfort.

One of Headstone's main problems last season was starting the second half too slowly and getting caught conceding early goals. To their credit the boys worked hard to ensure that didn't happen. Headstone's biggest danger was too much indecision at the back between the defenders when there was a loose ball to be dealt with. No-one wanted to take responsibilty and the players were all too quiet. Fortunately Greenford were unable to take advantage. Having had a quiet first half Luis started the second with four shots on goal. Conor also was really alert, showed some neat skill and determination and went close with several good shots. They were fed by George who never stopped running, played some excellent passes, battled for every loose ball and tackled superbly. Federico worked very well on the right but found it harder in the second half than he did in the first when he created many good opportunities.

Midway through the half Russell had to come off as he had run himself into the ground. Brett Swinton-Bland came on up front, Luis went into midfield and Joe took over Russell's place at the centre of defence. Brett was put through almost immediately but stabbed his shot wide. On 59 minutes Nicholas gave Headstone the breathing space they wanted with another goal from a free kick. This was 20 yards out and again his shot was missed by the defence and the keeper and drifted in at the near post. A minute later Brett sealed the points charging into the area and shooting powerfully but accurately into the corner.

Headstone made two further changes. Francis Nkhoma replaced Luis in the centre of midfield and Jordan Coleman replaced Federico on the right. Both quickly got involved. Francis made some good challenges and had a shot that went just wide. Jordan got stuck in on the right had a shot saved by the keeper and delivered a couple of crosses that were just too close to the keeper. As the minutes ticked by Headstone looked to have made it five. Conor and Brett found themselves bearing down on the keeper. Conor took the ball and tucked it neatly past him into the net. But before it crossed the line Brett stretched out his foot and diverted the ball over the line. As he ran away to celebrate he missed the linesman's flag. In his eagerness to reach the ball Brett was caught offside, had he left it to go in it would have counted. Moments later at the other end Headstone's defence was breached by three Greenford players who looked suspiciously offside. But they played on tucked the ball home and the goal stood. The game ended 4-2.

There were lots of positives to take from the game and plenty also for the players to learn and work on. Choosing man of the match was very difficult as there were so many good performances. Thomas, Conor, George, Ciaran and Russell all had particularly good games. But Nicholas grabbed the award for a sound performance capped by those two important goals.