Match Report - 1st April 2007

This was no April Fool, just a well worked win against a talented Hendon team who have been in the top three throughout the season. Hendon came into the game with a depleted line up, only ten available players and their regular keeper out injured. Headstone came into the game on the back of two very disappointing defeats against Princes Park and with a lot to prove. Headstone were able to put out a strong line up and all the players dug deep and did themselves credit.

The pitch was in good condition and though the weather was bright and dry there was a strong wind blowing down the pitch that had a clear effect on the play during the game. Headstone started with two changes from last week. Striker Brett Swinton-Bland was back in action and Luis Meneses Zerpa started at right back for the first time.

The game began with Hendon looking strong and moving the ball around with confidence. Headstone competed well and worked hard to keep the ball and use their possession. Hendon had the wind behind them and on a couple of occasions the ball flew over the defence and Daniel Lynch had to be alert to high bounces and balls that flew just past the posts. But Headstone’s defence looked solid and worked extremely hard. Russell Butlin rarely missed a tackle and Joe Jordan won and used the ball well.

Headstone made good use of Luis on the right to get moves going and his passes to Kyle Giles Brown down the right flank created some good opportunities. This was where most of Headstone’s play came from. As the half progressed Headstone’s confidence grew and they worked hard to make good use of their passing. There were good touches from Thomas Green and Francis Nkhoma but despite this it was a struggle to get into decent positions to threaten. Brett looked the more dangerous of the strikers and used his strength well. Hendon’s stand in goalkeeper looked both confident and accomplished and he dealt comfortably with everything that came near and into his area.

Unusually as the half closed there had not been a single shot on goal at either end as both sides struggled to turn possession into chances.

With Hendon short of players it was possible that they would tire and Headstone could then take advantage. Headstone also had the wind behind them this half and both these factors helped turn the game. Five minutes after the restart Headstone took the lead with a superbly finished goal by Brett. The goal arose from a clearance by Hendon’s keeper that Kyle pounced upon and fed Brett with a diagonal ball to the left of the goal. Brett sprinted and collected the ball just in front of the goal line. From a really tight angle Brett produced a shot that beat the keeper and one of Hendon’s defenders couldn’t keep it out and turned it into his own net.

Shortly after, both teams had opportunities with direct free kicks in shooting range. First Hendon, from twenty yards sent their’s over the bar then Russell, from slightly further back, did the same with Headstone’s free kick. Hendon found it hard to overcome the wind that was in their faces and they struggled to get behind Headstone’s back four. Meanwhile Headstone were finding it easier to get behind Hendon with quick balls over the top and between their defenders. Conor was much more involved this half as was George Moriarty as Headstone started using Josh Street to launch some attacks down the left.

In the 53rd minute Brett gave Headstone some breathing space with another really good finish. This time he was set up by a well placed clearance by Russell. Brett put his head down, raced goalwards and tucked it past the keeper into the far corner. Headstone made a change at this point with Francis coming off, Tom Wrigley took over at right back and Luis played in the centre of midfield.

As Headstone pressed chances arose for Brett, Conor and Francis but Hendon’s keeper not only commanded his area but started to sweep up behind his defenders. On several occasions he raced out to collect and instead of panicking he confidently took the ball out and tried to set Hendon moving forwards. Once he dribbled almost to the half way line and Headstone came close to dispossessing him but couldn’t get a shot onto the unguarded net.

It was Conor who stepped up to clinch the win with another very good finish. George sent the ball through and, as one of Hendon’s defenders tried to shepherd it back to the keeper, Conor nipped in, took it off him and slid the ball past him into the net. Headstone made their last two substitutions, Jordan Wright for Kyle and Jordan Coleman for George. Jordan Wright had a shot on goal from distance but the keeper collected it well. At the other end Daniel had still not had much to do and it was only towards the very end of the game that Hendon came closest with a shot that crept wide and another that forced him into a double save.

The match ended with Luis taking the man of the match award. For the second week running he had looked very good at winning the ball and this time his distribution was particularly impressive. He had helped to strengthen the defence and the midfield.