Match Report - 4th February 2007

The start of the game was delayed due to heavy fog early in the day but by the end the sky had cleared and Headstone had produced a comprehensive and comfortable victory. But they made hard work of it and for three quarters of an hour Greenford were still in with a shout. The highlight of the game were two sensational goals by Russell Butlin and Brett Swinton-Bland but there were excellent performances right across the pitch and plenty of good football on a heavy, sticky pitch.

After four months out with two fractured wrists it was good to see Tom Wrigley back on the teamsheet again. Headstone started with Thomas Green and Francis Nkhoma taking the central midfield roles for the third successive match and they made life very difficult for their opponents. They snapped and battled for all the loose balls, won lots of headers and worked hard to set up attacking moves.

George Moriarty buzzed around the midfield showing plenty of neat touches and fine passes. But the strikers Brett Swinton-Bland and Conor McBreen found it hard early on to get away from the Greenford defenders. It was Federico Jaramillo who caused the most trouble with two shots this half that went close. Headstone won a corner from an early attack and from it took the lead after just 6 minutes. The ball was knocked back out to George on the right who neatly clipped it back into the box. Thomas nodded it on and Russell stretched, got a touch with his head and it looped high over the keeper into the far corner. It was Russell’s first of the season and with his strength and heading ability should be the first of many.

At the other end the four Headstone defenders produced their most assured performance of the season. Joe Jordan, Russell, Nicholas Furquim and Ciaran McDougall looked assured, confident and covered for each other to avert any danger. They also made very good use of the ball. So strong were they that, behind them, Daniel Lynch had nothing to save this half.

Headstone’s trouble was that they could not take advantage of their dominance. Conor had a couple of shots from distance but they didn’t worry the keeper and Headstone found it too hard to make the space for a shot. The danger was that Greenford would catch them on the break and make them pay.

Early in the second half this looked much more likely as Greenford came out with confidence and for the first time pressed Headstone back. On a couple of occasions they broke through but Daniel Lynch was alert and sharp to produce excellent, brave saves to deny them. Greenford were unfortunate when they managed to beat Daniel but saw their shot creep just wide of the post.

With the Headstone midfield under more pressure, Conor dropped a little deeper to help them out. George nearly scored with a fine run and left foot shot from wide on the right that curled just wide of the post. Then in the 46th minute Conor and George combined to put Brett through for the first time in the game. Brett took the ball into the area and shot accurately into the corner. It relieved the pressure and four minutes later the points were sealed and the team could relax a little.

The goal came from a well worked free kick on the edge of the box. George and Brett lined it up and as Brett dummied over the ball George tucked it into the path of Russell who thundered it home. It was a tremendous shot – powerful and accurate and gave the keeper no chance.

Shortly after Tom Wrigley came on for Nicholas. Tom took over at right back and Joe switched to centre back.

Seven minutes later and Brett came from nowhere to score the most unlikely but well taken goal of the season. It was created by a run from Conor deep on the right wing. Conor dribbled the ball then sent across a deep cross into the heart of the penalty area. Brett made a diagonal run into the box and unexpectedly rose above the defenders and headed the ball past the keeper into the back of the net. Had any of Headstone’s strong headers of the ball done it, it would have been superb. For Brett to do it was simply unbelievable. But, then again, Brett just doesn’t do simple goals.

Jordan Wight then came on in place of Federico on the right. With the score at 4-0 Headstone pushed forward more which allowed Greenford more space to attack. On the hour Ciaran suddenly found himself outnumbered and Greenford broke through on the right side of the area. Daniel charged out saved the shot but the ball rebounded back into the striker and went past Daniel into the corner of the net.

Kyle Giles-Brown came on to replace Conor who, unusually for him, hadn’t managed to score. But he had made a very good contribution especially the cross for Brett’s goal. There was still time for another goal which George and Ciaran combined to create. From a throw in deep on the left wing George laid it off to Ciaran who delivered an excellent low cross into the box. The ball curled across the face of the goal and was missed by everyone except Jordan Wright who met it at the far post and, with a deft touch, nudged it past the keeper into the corner. Jordan celebrated in style his first ever goal for the club. Having been with the team since the Under 8s, for many years as keeper, it was thoroughly deserved.

A good win for Headstone especially as Greenford have scored freely all season. Headstone defended well throughout the whole team and that set them on the way to win them the points. All the players contributed to the victory and should feel proud of what they did. Russell was the unanimous choice of the players and manager as man of the match. He was never beaten at the back and his goals, which have been a long time coming, were thoroughly deserved.