(29-Mar-14) vs North Warnborough Knights (A): 0-2

Blood and Iron

There was no getting away from the fact that the match on Saturday was going to be BIG. I think all of the parents were a mixture of anxiety excitement and aggression in varying degrees as the enormity of the task ahead of the boys unfolded. Beat North Warnborough ( who bestrode the League like a colossus ) and we could just start to begin to dream …..The disappointment we can live with, it’s the hope we can’t stand!!

Arriving at the pitch even the goals looked bigger. The North Warnborough management were dressed identically, they officiously checked the player’s list, it was obvious that this game mattered and the opposition were just as ramped up as we were. I felt nervous about running the line – can we really trust a bulky man in glasses to be up to the mark? Everyone, team, management, parents and support would have to play their part in this one and there would be no place to hide.

At times like this I always look to Otto von Bismarck’s famous Blood and Iron speech. I delivered it to the boys, in its original German ( although I may have been ordering pretzels I can never quite get the hang of some of the words ). To paraphrase, the big questions are settled on the pitch. They were suitably unimpressed, most asking what Hitler had to do with the game that day. Don’t they learn anything at school!!

And thus it started.

The pitch was exposed and there was quite a strong wind that would play its part. North Warnborough were strong in all parts of the pitch and the battle swung to and fro. This was the time for the defenders who, as always these days, held a strong firm line with the redoubtable Oscar behind them to pick up anything that might get through. Special mention to Euan here who was clearly struggling but very bravely kept coming back on to soak up the attacks. Ollie was excellent, and Max ST all class. But ( as Nev said ) this was above all a team performance and every man would in turn play his part. Noah, Charlie Morris, Max I all did their stint at the back and did it brilliantly.

Slowly but surely the midfield got into gear and the passes started to flow. Charlie Beeson was threatening them down the wing with Charlie Morris and Noah bursting through from midfield when they weren’t doing a shift at the back, Ryan playing the anchor role that he does so well, Jack and Rowan making their presence felt and holding the ball up and passing brilliantly and Joe and Max I generally being a nuisance in around the goal mouth. Joe managed to create for himself probably the first real chance in a tight game and shot narrowly wide ….. would the cupboard under the stairs be required for his correction?

Half time and 0-0. I think everyone at the game ( from both sides ) would have picked this as a fair indication of the way the game was going, two very good sides fighting to get the upper hand.

What would the second half bring……….more tension than is perhaps healthy for a Saturday morning.

North Warnborough had the wind behind them and their substantial goalkeeper was using it to good effect as the goal kicks and clearances rained down on us like arrows at Agincourt ( close analysis reveals that this is a pretty rubbish similie as the guys getting the arrows on them lost ….). However, many of these went beyond the touchline and this gave us a chance to play the ball on the ground. Good football should be its own reward, but its also good to see it actually win a game ( Arsene, take note? ) and we started to get some excellent passing moves going with Ryan and Noah and Joe and Max and Charlie Morris working the ball around their midfield.

And then it happened. Joe was played through into space on the left and he played a wonderful ball ( I am aware of the nepotism here ) with the mystical “outside of the boot” and it landed just where Noah needed it to. But the bullet is only as good as the gun that fires it and Noah fired it straight and true. We were ahead.

But much as the Scots became suddenly afraid when David Narey opened the scoring in Scotland v Brazil in 1982 ( “hold on, I think we’ve angered them…”) North Warnborough poured forth and the second half of the second half began. Runs from deep and midfield started to finds gaps, the high balls were relentless, the pressure was constant. Wave after wave was either snuffed out by the excellence of our backs and midfield or foundered on the rock that was Oscar. Save after save of the highest quality kept North Warnborough out.

This is where the supporters should take a bow as they were enormously vocal and encouraging and it felt more like a home game than an away fixture.

Still with the ref beginning to glance at his watch now and again we sensed that at any time the home side might burst through and finish us. To our credit we kept attacking and in the last few minutes we were setting up camp in their half – the best place to be when you are 1-0 up. Corner after corner wound down the clock. Then Noah played a very high ball back into the maelstrom and in it went off post and keeper. Just what we needed. Surely that was it? A very very anxious couple of minutes followed and then finally the relief for us all that came with the final whistle.

What a game.

Everyone from Headley played their part and they should be proud. The game was played in an earnest spirit given its importance but an excellent one. The coaching staff made all the right calls and the substitutions worked brilliantly.

Once again a day when anyone could get man of the match including those watching but the decision was unanimous – Oscar deserved it he was incredible on a day of high standards.

Well done to Charlie Beeson for getting trainer of the week

Top of the League.

Squeaky Bum Time……..