Report

The match kicked off and with Wealdstone kicking uphill to start, it was them that produced the first attack down the right within the first minutes. A strong player shooting just wide of the post thanks to Joe forcing the player to go wide making the shot difficult.   It was a warning of the threat their No. 16 was capable of.  Headstone Manor showed their determination and straight away hit back with a through ball from Jonathon to Liam whose break was halted but turning and laying it off to Tiernan, he hit a fine cross in but with no one on the end, it was claimed by the keeper.   The drop kick up field led to the first goal as it bounced through the defence and was collected by the No. 16 who finished well.  We had had the warning moments earlier.  The fast pace of the game continued and in what was to be the general way the game was played, a through ball to Liam allowed him to run onto the ball and slot past the keeper to level the scores.  Jonathon nearly put us in the lead when the through ball from Matthew Cranny left Jonathon 1 on 1 with the keeper but the shot from Jonathon brought a great save and the follow up also from Jonathon brought a second save, this time the keeper holding onto the ball. The through ball move was used a lot today and Headstone Manor timed the runs very well and made it count.  90% of the time the Wealdstone defence was beaten by the speed of the break.   It was the reason for Liam's second goal when Matthew C again put Liam through and although, the keeper made a good save, with the ball just in front of the goal line near the post, Liam (Balotelli) Rawson did a cheeky back heel flick to put Headstone Manor 2 - 1 up.  (The talk on the touchline was that it was just as well it went in!)  Wealdstone battled back into the game but strong defending from Matthew C, Matthew S, Hamza and Oliver would stub out any attack.  Tiernan helping in defence made a big challenge in the box bringing cries for a penalty but he clearly got the ball and the referee waved play on.  Wealdstone were always a threat and they again came close when a cross come shot hit the crossbar and from 4 feet out a shot was excellently saved at point blank range by Jamie. The ball fell to Ben who played the ball on to Tiernan to set Headstone Manor on the attack again. This resulted in a corner for Headstone Manor.  Matthew C crossed in a perfect ball and with Jonathon attacking the ball at the back post, it went just wide.  Daniel on the right was also in form and showed his resilience and determination going on a tantalising run taking on and beating 3 players but the pass to Liam found Liam just offside. The Wealdstone No. 16 still was causing problems and had a good turn and speed to him but Ben and Alex were holding well in the middle and overpowering him on the ball.   Jamie was also having a great day and another low shot heading inside the post, was pushed away safely. Wealdstones keeper was a match for Jamie and a shot from Tiernan after a run onto a well weighted pass from Matthew C, saw his shot also pushed around the post.   With minutes to half time there was hope of 1 more goal and it did arrive. A clearance from Wealdstone was cleanly volleyed straight back up the pitch by Hamza and again, from just in the onside position Liam turned, ran onto the ball and chipped it over the oncoming keeper.  A great goal to get his hatrick and end the first half 3 - 1 in front. It had been a very intense and fast first half but one that Headstone Manor deserved to be winning. 

The second half kicked off with Marcus and Matthew on the pitch. Within a couple of minutes Wealdstone clawed one back to make it 3 - 2 when somehow among a scramble on the right side of the box, a shot creeps in on Jamie's near post.  Was this the start of the Wealdstone fightback.  Headstone Manor again set about attacking and a through ball from Marcus to Liam again split the defence for Liam to run onto and tuck away. Now 4 - 2, the game swayed for a while but it did not have the same pace as the first half.  Headstone Manor again set off on a break and Alex took good control of the ball bringing it up the pitch and out on the left to Jonathon.  A ball across the box to Liam and out onto the right to Marcus, sees Marcus shoot and Liam get on the end of it in the box which sees the ball hit the keeper. The momentum carries the ball up and over the keeper and into the net.   5 for Headstone Manor and 5 for Liam.  Marcus with 2 more shots came close with both hitting the side netting.  Wealdstone were not finished by a long way and piled the pressure on for the final few minutes of the game. A goal kick was picked up easily and taken back into the box and fired home. 5 - 3.  The pressure continued but Joe and Matthew S were strong on the left standing up to the attackers where most of the breaks came from forcing them wide with no where to go.  Matthew C was then injured in a tackle bringing Tiernan back onto the field.  Straight awayTiernan with another strong tackle in the box, brought more shouts of penalty as did a Wealdstone player falling over after standing on the ball! Again the referee stood by his decisions under pressure and allowed play to continue. Oliver also strong to the end, denied another opportunity right at the end and the game ended 5 - 3 to Headstone Manor.

A good game and vast improvemnt on last week  The team worked hard throughout.  Also a mention for the referee who played his own game and stood by good decisions when under pressure.

Scorer: Liam Rawson (5)

Man of the match - Liam Rawson

Team - Jamie John, Oliver White, Matthew Cranny, Hamza Ahmed, Daniel Kitto, Joe Barnard, Ben Brown, Tiernan O'Kane, Alex Muller, Liam Rawson, Jonathon Ruddell, Marcus Shortland, Matthew Sheehan.