Match Report - 15th October 2006

As it was County Cup there were no league matches so this friendly was a good run out for both teams. In the past both teams have been fairly evenly matched though Headstone have had the better of the friendlies and Princes Park the better of the league games. We wait to see if that pattern continues. This was a good win for Headstone though for long periods the teams were much closer than the final score suggested. Both teams created plenty of chances but Headstone's better finishing made the difference.

Headstone used 15 of the squad for this match and there were good performances all round. The defence was most hard hit with Tom Wrigley and Josh Street injured and Russell Butlin unavailable. So it was a good test for them. Joe Jordan was captain for the first time and took the responsibility well. Alongside him Nicholas Furquim looked much better in the air than last week and got forward to good effect. Ciaran McDougall at left back combined superbly with George Moriarty getting forward and setting up numerous attacks down the left. Thomas Green stepped in at right back and kept things under control down his side. Behind them Daniel Lynch looked imposing and solid making several good saves.

George Moriarty was involved in much of the attacking play in the first half and set up a great chance in only the 3rd minute for Jordan Coleman. George sent over a tempting deep cross from the bye line and Jordan caught it on the volley but directed his shot wide. Federico Jaramillo was also attacking well down the right and he had a couple of great chances to score. He also used his speed well to get some crosses over but anything near the keeper was safely held.

On 19 minutes Headstone took the lead with a well taken goal by Conor McBreen. Yet again it was the combination of Ciaran and George that set up the chance. George laid the ball back to Ciaran on the edge of the box and he floated over a cross. Fed knocked the ball back to Conor who tucked it into the right hand corner of the net. The team were using the ball well. Francis Nkhoma worked very hard in the centre winning and distributing the ball and the defenders were passing the ball out intelligently from the back. During this half George also had a couple of shots that went close.

At half time there were a few changes to the Headstone line up effecting the midfield and forwards. Conor, George and Fed came off. Kyle Giles-Brown and Brett Swinton-Bland went up front, the two Jordans, Wright and Coleman, went on the wings and Luis Meneses-Zerpa teamed up with Francis in the centre.

Kyle and Nicholas worked goal scoring chances but early on Princes Park picked up the play and started to press Headstone more. Headstone found themselves more and more on the back foot and struggled to keep the ball as well as they had before the break. Then in the 44th minute Princes Park equalised with a quick break down the right. A ball played through the defence caught them square and the Princes Park attacker bore down on goal and slid the ball neatly past Daniel.

Princes had more good chances this half and won three corners. At times there was some desperate defending to keep them out and Daniel made a few good saves to deny them. Shortly after the goal George came back on in place of Jordan Wright. Six minutes later George and Ciaran combined again to set up a goal for Jordan Coleman. This time George sent over a low cross and Jordan arriving at the back post slotted the ball home.

Brett, who had struggled to make his mark on the game, then showed just what he can do. First Francis played a great through pass to send him racing through but his shot was parried. Then Luis sent him through and Brett fended off several chances before calmly passing it into the net. Luis and George had good shots that went close and Nicholas had a free kick from 20 yards that he steered over.

Princes Park looked to have got one back on the hour when they forced Daniel into a fine diving save and followed up to plant the loose ball home. But they were judged offside and the goal was ruled out. At the other end Jordan had two good opportunities down the right but both were well saved. Then with five minutes left Thomas Green got on the score sheet. Jordan took a corner from the left curling the ball into the box. Nicholas headed it on and Thomas arriving late tucked it home from close range.

Plenty of positives to take from the game. In particular, the goals the team are scoring and the number of chances they are creating. The also used the ball much better this week. George was man of the match for the contribution he made to the team and the effect it had on the outcome.