HEYFORD
OUTCLASSED AT MEDBOURNE
Fixture:
Medbourne V's Heyford Athletic
Venue:
Medbourne
Competition:
Northants
Combination Premier Division KO Cup Round 1
Result:
1:7 (Half Time: 0:3)
Heyford
Goal Scorers: Nathan Lacey
Line
Up:
|
1.
|
James
Stirling (C) |
|
2.
|
Stanislav
Gavula |
|
3.
|
Paul
Curley |
|
4.
|
Steve
Hair |
|
5.
|
Nathan
Lacey |
|
6.
|
Ben
Nickels |
|
7.
|
Andrew
Shaw |
|
8.
|
Nick
Moore |
|
9.
|
Bruno
Nyamudzadza |
|
10.
|
Daniel
Woods |
|
11.
|
Ian
Grant |
|
SUBS
|
|
|
|
Matt
Morrisey (on for Bruno Nyamudzadza) |
|
|
Matt
Gernon (on for Paul Curley) |
|
|
Nick
Inwood (on for James Stirling) |
|
|
Peter
Gajdos (unused) |
Match
Report (Courtesy of Mick Butcher)
In
the first round of the Premier Division knockout Cup, and winners
of this Trophy in recent memory, the team visited Medbourne
FC, but with just three surviving players from that final and
a sizable injury list to which was recently added Tom Whittaker
and Ryan Grant. This was always likely to be a tricky task against
a more than useful Medbourne side.
From the outset, the team were struggling with the pace and
passing of their opponents and in spite of trying to play a
passing game were all too often caught in possession lacking
the sharpness required at this level.
Medbourne went in front as early as the fifth minute and it
was a foretaste of the drubbing to come. A diagonal ball was
played across to the Heyford right, where defender Stanislav
Gavula somehow got the ball tangled up in his legs, James Stirling
came out to assist but the ball ran loose to a grateful Medbourne
forward who passed the ball into the now unguarded net.
It was 17 minutes and four Medbourne corners before Heyford
got some grip on the game and may have scored. Andrew Shaw,
retrieving a ball out wide on the Medbourne left, put in a good
cross, the ball eventually cleared off the line from a Daniel
Woods header. This was the first of few chances to fall to the
Heyford front line in this match. A second came to Bruno on
30 minutes courtesy of long kick from keeper James Stirling,
the ball bounced invitingly in front of him with a clear route
to goal, sadly his first touch was not good however and the
chance was gone.
Medbourne scored their second on 40 minutes. Despite close attention
from Stanislav Gavula, a Medbourne attacker on the Heyford right
was able to play the ball in, to where the waiting scorer was
not closed down quickly and able to volley a great strike into
the top right corner of the Heyford net. An enraged Captain,
James Stirling walked off the pitch (more of that later) forcing
Manager Nick Inwood to replace him in goal. His introduction
to the fray was both swift and a foretaste of things to come.
His first act, to pick the ball out off his net from a soaring,
unopposed Medbourne header to close the half.
Half Time: Medbourne 3 Heyford Athletic 0
The second half was less than a minute old when new keeper Nick
Inwood, out of his goal, under hit his clearance only to watch
helplessly as the ball was volleyed back into the unguarded
net from about 25 yards. The threatened complete collapse continued
on 47 minutes, this time 'Stan' Inwood could not be faulted
as Medbourne cut through the Heyford rearguard like a knife
through butter whilst defenders ran around in confusion. 5-0.
Changes were due which commenced with Matt Gernon replacing
Paul Curley. This move failed to alter the flow of the game.
With a resigned look about the team and the Medbourne forwards
rampant, fears of a record margin of defeat were looming. Defensively,
the Heyford left was looking like an abandoned zone which required
some heroic play by Nick Inwood to defy the Medbourne forwards
who were now pouring into the space like sea water into the
Titanic. On 63 minutes he was down at an attackers feet to flick
the ball away and within seconds made a great diving save low
down to his left from a powerful diving header, the ball again
having been delivered from the Heyford left.
Matt Morrissey replaced Bruno on 65 minutes, the game by now
well beyond the reach of the team with pride the only target
left.
A consolation goal came to the team on 66 minutes. Steve Hair
floated a free kick into the Medbourne penalty area where, after
something of a goal mouth scramble, the ball was driven home
from close range by Nathan Lacey.
The goal proved only a minor setback for Medbourne who continued
their scoring on 72 minutes. Made to look very skillful, their
No.10 again exploiting the vacant area on the Heyford left,
cut inside Andrew Shaw, and drove a low firm strike into the
net giving Nick Inwood little chance to make a save.
Heyfords left side again provided good hunting ground for possibly
the goal of the game and Medbournes final strike on 84 minutes.
The Medbourne No.10 was again the player with a driving run
who, despite the best efforts of shadow Ben Nickels, cut inside
before unleashing a swerving left foot drive into the far top
corner of the net which had to be admired even by the most staunch
Heyford supporter, yes me.
The last notable action of this match came on 88 minutes (or
at the death if you prefer) the ball bouncing over two Heyford
defenders heads was sadly typical. The referee disallowed the
resultant eighth goal, I'm not sure why, maybe he felt sorry
for us. With three disallowed goals during the match, the defeat
could have been in double figures.
Full
Time: Medbourne 7 Heyford Athletic 1
Match
Summary:
Yes,
we were outplayed and outclassed by Medbourne and the reasons
were free flowing by players and officials alike after the game.
I personally believe that most of the team did their best but
were not, with some exemptions, good enough to play at this
level.
That
is not to say that they can't be a credit to the Club but the
appropriate quality was not available to Paul and Stan on the
day.
I
have been following Heyford Athletic for about nine years, I
have seen some inspiring moments and glorious successes, this
year may prove to be a long hard season - time will show the
real Heyford clubmen who will see us through.
For
whatever reason, no player can have an excuse for leaving his
team in the middle of a match, to be the Captain makes it even
worse. Whether or not it is forgivable remains to be seen. The
reasoning behind the decision to give this player the captaincy
will not be commented on by me here, but may be discussed at
another place.
Any
views expressed here are strictly my own and not necessarily
agreed with by team Management.
Man of the Match: No Award
In
spite of the result, I was impressed by the quality of both
Steve Hair and Nathan Lacey but after such a defeat, the Manager
felt it inappropriate to award a Player of the Match today and
I must respect that decision.
