Headstone Manor YFC

LNER tournament 15 July 2007

A team manager David Prendeville tells the story of how the As finished the season in style with their second tournament win in two days.

The LNER tournament was an early start for a number of the boys following the draining Kodak tournament the day before. I went into this tournament thinking that the boys had won so much this year that this may be a tournament too far. Last year they had won this tournament and they were keen to retain their title.

LNER 0 Headstone 1

The first game saw us drawn against our hosts, LNER had a number of boys guesting for them and although they were a very physical side Headstone were in no mood to be intimidated. When Michael was taken out by a poor tackle I feared the worse but the boys responded so well with Ryan Hayes and Riyad Lucy handling any physical battle. Headstone got the goal they deserved.

Wealdstone 0 Headstone 1

We had played Wealdstone at Kodak the day before and they came on the pitch in a defensive mood putting three at the back. Headstone were camped out in the Wealdstone half and got the goal they deserved to win.

Old Isleworthians 0 Headstone 2

Old Isleworthians are a premier team and had to be the biggest team we had faced for some time. Headstone though played some of their best football and the link play between Liam Coles and Michael Prendeville was first class and there was only going to be one winner.

Bedfont Eagles 1 Headstone 3

Bedfont are from the Hayes and District League and had no answer to our passing game. It was a pleasure to see Ryan Hayes running the ball out from the back to James Brophy in midfield and the link play between them and the forwards was outstanding. There was one lapse in the game where we gave away a goal through poor marking, but this was to be the only goal coincided all day.

Quarter Finals: London Tigers 0 Headstone 2

At this point I was wondering when the boys were going to run out of steam since they had played two tournament over this weekend. The passing football though meant that they were preserving their energy.

Another huge physical side but Headstone were up to the task. To be fair they never allowed the opposition to settle and two superb goals by Liam Coles finished the game off before half time. The boys know how to sit back on a lead and hit the opposition on the break. With a bit of luck the score would have been much higher. At the end of the game the Tigers manager was full of praise for our boys.

Semi Final: Isledon Wolves 0 Headstone 1

This was a game of very little skill. Headstone looked tired and were not up to their normal passing game. The boys experience of being in the semi was the difference and they secured the win.

Final: St Andrews 0 Headstone 3

We have played St Andrews many times this season and know what a quality side they can be, I had seen the boys in the semi and felt before the start that they had run out of steam. Yet again this group of boys did the opposite. Riyad Lucy had been exceptional all day and when he picked the ball up at the half way line and unleashed a shot the goalkeeper had no chance. 1-0 after 2 mins the boys though showed what a good tournament side they were. They retained possession and hit St Andrews on the break time and time again. Michael P was unplayable up front with his movement causing their defenders so many problems, Ryan Hayes was walking through the tackles and his distribution from the back allowed James Brophy and Liam Coles to run amock, Jack Morrison was dominating in midfield and his surging runs caused endless problems. Babak in goal handled anything thrown at him in a calm and confident manner while Rory Carolan’s tackling was too strong for St Andrews.