Headstone Manor YFC

Match Report - 25th April 2010 (The Bs final match)

Four minutes. In the end, that was the difference between the Bs closing their up and down season in 4th place or finishing bottom of the table. With four minutes to play, the Bs led 3-2 having fought back from a goal down. With Wealdstone looking to run out of ideas they produced a swift break and a crisp finish to leave the points shared.

For the Bs one point was not enough, but the players had given their all and we could ask no more of them. Yet again the team was down to the bare bones, with Jay and Nick injured and supporting from the touchline and Josh stuck in Tunisia courtesy of the Icelandic volcano, there was no one else to call on. So the players battled to their limit, produced their best performance for ages and came within spitting distance of the win they deserved.

But, oh for the want of a striker. The story of the season was that, though they started with their strongest ever squad, the loss of five players was just too much. Especially when two of those losses were Sid and Adam. The problem is highlighted by the fact that Sid left in November, Adam left in January and both are still second top scorers. The team lacked a finisher of their quality and though Russ retained his top scorer title there wasn’t sufficient goals elsewhere. Luis though did make a vital late surge with 3 goals in the last 3 games.

This was a tight competitive game and Wealdstone are a difficult side to beat. But the Bs shooting was streets ahead of what they’d previously produced. They comprehensively outshot the visitors and forced their keeper into many good saves. In the first half though the Bs midfield was too slow tracking back and on several occasions Wealdstone raced into dangerous positions. Stephen responded well but on 15 minutes he was caught out by a good break and when the ball fell loose Wealdstone’s shot struck Joe’s arm. Their striker struck an unstoppable penalty.

The Bs came very close to equalising seeing two goal bound efforts rebound off the woodwork. Jordan also had two shots that left the keeper stranded but curled inches wide. Shomari also had a low shot that whisked past the far post, CJ saw a thunderbolt fly just too high, Russ and Luis also went close. But on 30 minutes Luis equalised with a bizarre goal involving Russ and Shomari which Wealdstone’s defender handled on the line. They claimed it hadn’t crossed the line but had a goal not been given they would have faced a penalty and the defender would have been sent off.

The Bs used Tom during this half giving Francis a rest and later brought him back to rest Kyle. Later in the half Wealdstone produced a fantastic strike that looked goal bound from the moment it left the striker’s boot. It dipped but fortunately for the Bs inched just over the bar.

Level at the break but the Bs could easily have had three goals. Kyle returned in place of Conor at the start of the second half. Disaster struck the Bs when, just three minutes in, they conceded another penalty when Joe fouled their tricky striker who fell to the ground theatrically. Again, his penalty was brilliantly struck – Stephen had no chance.

But the Bs showed loads of grit and fought back. Conor had returned this time in place of Shomari and went up front – for the first time in ages. On 53 minutes Russ chased down a through ball, beat the keeper, took a massive blow in the ribs, Conor followed up behind and prodded the ball home. 2-2 and all to play for. Quarter of an hour later and the Bs took the lead. Shomari had returned in place of Francis and he won a corner on the left. Kyle delivered a beauty and Russ headed firmly into the back of the net.

The clock ticked down and the Bs looked as though they’d get the points they needed. With the table so tight – 2 points covering 5 teams – the win would lift them from bottom to 4th. But then Wealdstone struck with a very well taken finish and it was level at 3-3. The Bs were then literally struck a major blow when Ali, who had been outstanding, went to head a clearance and was accidentally kicked in the face. His mouth and nose took the blow and he left the field in pain and bleeding.

The players looked drained at the end. Not surprising after what had been asked of them in the last few weeks. Only once in the last 6 matches were the Bs able to field more than one substitute. A lot has been asked of the same players and credit to them for the effort they put in.

There were many good displays today – CJ showed how much he’s settled in to the defensive role and looked strong, secure and very good going forward from right back. Tom was effective in midfield, Jordan showed good passing and a previously hidden eagerness to score, Francis kept things very simple to keep the play going and Luis showed huge hunger to link up the play and look for scoring opportunities. Russ was the driving force as he has been throughout the season leading so well from the front. But Ali was the clear man of the match. We may have lost 5 players but finding Ali made a huge difference as he commanded the backline and used the ball so well.