HEARTBREAK
AT HARBOROUGH
Fixture:
Harborough Town V's Heyford Athletic
Venue:
Harborough Leisure Centre
Competition:
Northants
Combination Premier Division
Result:
3:4 (Half Time: 0:2)
Heyford
Goal Scorers: Bruno Nyamudzadza (2), Daniel Woods
Line
Up:
|
1.
|
James
Stirling (C) |
|
2.
|
Ben
Nickels |
|
3.
|
Matt
Gernon |
|
4.
|
Nathan
Lacey |
|
5.
|
Steve
Hair |
|
6.
|
Nik
Maund |
|
7.
|
Thomas
Whittaker |
|
8.
|
Nick
Moore |
|
9.
|
Bruno
Nyamudzadza |
|
10.
|
Paul
Currier |
|
11.
|
Ryan
Grant |
|
SUBS
|
|
|
|
Matt
Morrisey (on for Thomas Whittaker) |
|
|
Daniel
Woods (on for Nik Maund) |
|
|
Nick
Inwood (unused) |
Match
Report (Courtesy of Mick Butcher)
For
the visit to the early Premier Division pace setters, Tom Butcher
was sidelined to form part of an ever growing injury list causing
concern for the Management Team. Ben Nickels came into the starting
lineup at the back and veteran Heyford stalwart Matt Morrissey
was back on the bench.
The opening period of this match was a fairly even affair against
a technically skillful Harborough Town side giving no clue as
to the drama due to unfold later on and whilst the Heyford attacks
were somewhat spasmodic, the rearguard generally dealt comfortably
with the Harborough approach play.
Chances
began to fall to both sides, firstly on 7 minutes, a rare Steve
Hair stumble let in a Harborough attacker on the Heyford left,
his attempted lob clearing James Stirling and his bar before
on 15 minutes, Bruno almost got to a short headed back pass
at the Harborough keepers feet.
On
17 minutes the Harborough No10 made dangerous sliding tackle
as James Stirling gathered a through ball which brought the
two players together like rutting stags. The referee moved in
to wave a yellow at the Harborough player.
On 26 minutes, the injury gloom continued, Tom Whittaker retiring
with a hamstring injury, likely to sideline him for a few weeks,
being replaced in midfield by Matt Morrissey.
Persistent pressure brought Harborough the lead on 26 minutes.
A ball played in from the Heyford left being volleyed in past
James Stirlings left hand with an overhead kick. Harborough
were now pushing Heyford back with some good approach play with
James Stirling and his back line gamely holding on. During this
period the Heyford attacking threat was minimal but not absent
with a Ben Nickels driving run and shot on 42 minutes which
hit the Harborough cross bar.
Harborough went further in front just before the break via a
diagonal ball played in, again from the Heyford left. James
Stirling came out to gather but was just beaten to the loose
ball, which was clipped past him into the net. Desperate times
now and as Harborough continued to press, the team were relieved
to hear the half time whistle.
Half Time: Harborough Town 2 Heyford Athletic 0
The second half initially brought little relief before another
injury, this time Nik Maund came off the park on 50 minutes
with a side strain to be replaced by Daniel Woods who took his
own place in the front line, Paul Currier dropping into the
back four to cover for the now absent Maund.
Despite some heroic defending and James Stirling making great
stops with both hands and legs, Harborough went further ahead
on 67 minutes, a tiring rearguard caught by a driving solo run
through their ranks and although forced wide by James Stirling
closing him down, the player was still able to find the net
from an acute angle.
Two minutes later came the start of a terrific fight back A
deep cross from Ryan Grant on the Harborough left found Bruno
on the far post and his looping header found the far corner
of the net over the keepers head. The celebrations for this
goal were strangely muted, appearing almost like a consolation.
This
was to change dramatically three minutes later (72). A long
goal kick, picked up by Daniel Woods on the Harborough left
was crossed into the path of Bruno, who volleyed in past the
groping left hand of the Harborough keeper. Hope..............the
whole team lifted.
Harborough
players looked shell shocked, their bench quiet. On 73 minutes,
Bruno, out on the Harborough right, returns the favour and plays
the ball in to Daniel Woods, who twenty yards out from goal
unleashed an even more powerful volley past the left hand of
a helpless Harborough keeper, his face a picture as he peels
away with a roar.
We could have gone on to win the match firstly on 81 minutes,
Matt Gernon on the left, played a great ball inside the Harborough
defender to Bruno who, driven wide, could not find the desired
angle and hit the side netting. Then on 83 minutes Matt repeated
the feat with another great through ball releasing Daniel Woods
for a clear shot on goal which unfortunately was hit tamely
at the keeper.
The Harborough team were on the back foot now as Heyford pressed
on with a new found confidence only to be cruelly denied at
the death. On 87 minutes, Nathan Lacey was beaten on the Heyford
left, the resultant cross being met by a soaring header into
the net past the despairing hands of James Stirling.
The
whole team (including Stirling) pushed forward from the restart
but it was too late. A great comeback denied. What was said
in the dressing room after I cannot say but the team has to
take heart on another spirited display for which they can be
proud.
Full
Time: Harborough Town 4 Heyford Athletic 3
Match
Summary:
It
was a good game of football which was lost to a very good side.
No shame in that but to have won a point with a great comeback
and have it snatched away is cruel in the extreme but what goes
around comes around and with this spirit, the results will come.
Man of the Match: Paul Currier
My
man of the match today was a player not really mentioned in
the report. Paul Currier as usual, worked his socks off in the
front line and when called upon to revert to defence, stepped
quietly into that role and formed a solid partnership with the
other defenders whilst facing a very mobile and skillful Harborough
front line. He gets the nod today.
Managers
Postscript: An extremely disappointing result given the fact
that we'd fought back from 3-0 down against a good side to level
at 3-3. From 60 minutes onwards the commitment and performance
was excellent, it was just a shame that we had to wait until
we were 3 goals behind before we started to play with some belief.
At
3-3 there was only one winner in my eyes and it wasn't Harborough
Town.
I
would also like to pay special praise to Nick Moore today, who
both Smithy and I thought was excellent today, non stop running
and some nice touches on the ball - a lot closer to what we
expected from Mooro when we signed him at the start of the season.
On
the injury front, I am not too sure where to start...........we
just don't seem to be having any luck at all. In terms of an
update on the injuries we are hopeful Paul Curley will be available
for selection this Saturday following an ankle injury plus we
are hopeful of adding Joe Gartland, Adam Midson, Paul Farmer
and Nick Brown back into the mix.
It
looks as though we may still be missing a number of key squad
members with Tom Butcher (ankle), Dave Drinkwater (ankle), Tom
Whittaker (hamstring), Pete Gajdos (groin), Nik Maund (side
strain) and Paul Currier (work) all doubtful for the weekend.
Added to this Ryan Grant has picked up a knee injury, playing
for United, which will be assessed later this week.
