Match Report - 25th March 2007

For the second week in a row Princes Park B took all the points against Headstone and yet again they thoroughly deserved the win. This was a much better performance by Headstone than last week’s but Princes Park were much more clinical in front of goal and much stronger at the back. Princes Park’s keeper has had a relatively easy time in these two games as he wasn’t tested or threatened as much as he should have been.

The conditons were excellent for playing good football. The weather was fine and the pitch was firm. Headstone were without striker Brett Swinton-Bland who had had a good game last week and they missed him. Nicholas Furquim took his place up front for the first time but struggled to make an impression on the Princes Park defence. Headstone also had George Moriarty and Luis Meneses Zerpa back in midfield.

There were some notably good performances from some of the Headstone players. Russell Butlin was, again, doing all he could to lead and drive the team on and scored to get the team back into the game. Behind him Daniel Lynch could do little with the shots that beat him but made some excellent saves to deny Princes Park further goals. Luis had a great game in the centre of midfield and later at right back winning possession time and time again from loose balls. He was well supported by Thomas Green alongside him. Kyle Giles-Brown for the first time showed what he is capable with a busy, feisty performance in midfield. He buzzed around winning tackles and used the ball very well.

These performances certainly helped lift the team but overall there was not enough team work, passing, determination and will to win from everyone to enable Headstone to win the game. Headstone won plenty of possession in the middle of the park but too often gave it away cheaply by hoisting the ball forward. The Princes Park defenders had no trouble dealing with these long balls and neither Conor McBreen nor Nicholas were able to make an impact on them. The Headstone midfield struggled to keep the ball long enough to build any threatening attacks. As a result Headstone managed only one shot in the opening twenty minutes from George.

By this time Princes Park were a goal up thanks to a high shot from inside the area after Headstone failed to clear a throw in. After this Conor and Nicholas managed a couple of shots but the keeper wasn’t tested. Kyle and George worked hard to make opportunities from the wings but neither Luis nor Thomas were able to get the chance to shoot from around the edge of the area.

Princes Park made it 0-2 in the 26th minute with a simple but well taken goal. One diagonal pass through the defence and a swift forward run were enough to put one of their players through and he calmly picked his spot in the corner beyond Daniel’s outstretched hand.

At half time Headstone were forced into a change as Tom wasn’t fit enough to continue. Nicholas took his place at right back, Kyle pushed forward and Ciaran McDougall came on in left midfield. Headstone made a great start to the half with a goal inside two minutes. From a corner taken by George the keeper parried a shot, Luis knocked it back in and from two yards out Russell made no mistake burying the ball high into the net. Headstone hoped to push on from this but, instead, Princes Park hit them on the break to restore the two goal lead. A ball played over the defence enabled their striker to outrun Joe Jordan and lob the ball over Daniel into the net.

Jordan Wright came on shortly after in place of Josh Street and played at right midfield. Ciaran took Josh’s place at left back. A little later Jordan had a chance to score when a good cross from George saw him racing in unmarked at the far post but he couldn’t connect and the chance went. But on 51 minutes Headstone clawed one back with a neatly finished goal by Conor. Set up by George with a pass down the left, Conor beat his defender, cut in and calmly shot accurately in at the near post.

There was still enough time for Headstone to get back into the game but they couldn’t take advantage. Shortly after Princes Park struck again to clinch the match. Headstone’s defence was leaving too much space behind them and another ball over the top left them struggling to recover. Princes Park’s striker surged through and his shot sailed over Daniel and dropped under the crossbar for a 2-4 lead. There was no way back after that for Headstone and Princes Park went home with the points.

Kyle was man of the match for the first time. He produced his best display for the team with good work down the right, competing and battling for every ball and moving and attacking well.