WELDON
HOME RUN ENDED BY HEYFORD
Fixture:
Weldon United V's Heyford Athletic
Venue:
Weldon
Competition:
Northants Combination Premier Division
Result:
3:2 (Half Time: 3:2)
Heyford
Goal Scorers: Luke Abrahart, Thomas Whittaker, Matt Hogg
Line
Up:
|
|
Colin
Johnstone |
|
|
|
Elliott
Ryan |
|
|
|
Paul
Curley |
|
|
|
Joe
Shirley |
 |
|
|
Nathan
Lacey (C) |
|
|
|
Steve
Hair |
|
|
|
Nik
Maund |
|
|
|
Luke
Abrahart |
 |
|
|
Thomas
Whittaker |
|
|
|
Matt
Hogg |
|
|
|
Rob
Addison |
|
|
SUBS
|
|
|
 |
Duncan Woods
on
for Thomas Whittaker
|
|
|
Nick Martin
on
for Rob Addison
|
|
|
Tom Addison
on
for Matt Hogg
|
|
Match
Report: (Courtesy of Stuart Lathan)
If
I could have chosen my first game in charge it would not have
been a trip to title contenders Weldon, who were the only unbeaten
side at home in the league.
Getting
14 players to a game had normally been a tough job however we
were strong despite having 7 players missing. With a 5 minute
warm up followed by a rushed team talk we went out on the pitch
looking like a side who had 1 win in 12.
We
lined up 5-4-1 with Hogg, Shirley, Martin, and Woods stepping
up from Reserves. There was also a return to action for Rob Addison,
Luke Abrahart and Paul Curley.
Within
a minute we were 1-0 down as Chong went past two players before
drilling it into the back of thenet, ‘Oh no’ was the
cry morale was low and players were lookingat each other for inspiration.
Slowly but surely we began to play with Hogg and the midfield
4 getting to grips with the game, causing the slow Weldon line
problems. A
corner was whipped in by Abrahart (pictured)
(who will say he was shooting) which saw the keeper make a mess
of things and in it went 1-1 a great corner never the less and
fully deserved.Packed full of UCL Prem players Weldon where always
dangerous and a free
kick was given outside the box in the corner, a superb delivery
was headed home by the Weldon midfielder 2-1 down another a test
of character.
Whitty
(pictured) was a constant pain
in the backside for the Weldon defence and a late challenge
led to himgoing into the refs notebook however this only served
to get the lad wound up and he went upthe other end from a long
goal kick from Johnstone and coollylobbed the keeper 2-2 great
finish. With 30mins gone we were 2-2 with Weldon so whatever
happened we had given them a game for 30mins and made them work
that was 
all
I asked.
You
could not have written this as a cross was headed home by Hogg
3-2 to Heyford and Weldonwherestunned. HT 3-2 up and the guys
still did not believe they could do this, I go to every game lookingfor
3pts and I had 10mins to get these guys believing.
Half
Time: Weldon United 2 Heyford Athletic 3
2nd
half up the slope and hard work and team spirit had every man
closing down putting their bodies on the line. In truth it was
not until the 88minute when Weldon’s Johnson turned on
the 6yd box and Johnstone pulled out a top draw save getting
down sharply stopping a certain goal. We did look dangerous
on the break and played the better football on the day. The
referee who I felt had not helped us allot played an extra 5mins
but when that whistle finally ended the longest half ever the
sense of relief was amazing one side jumped for joy the other
looking like their title dreams had died.
Full
Time: Weldon United 2 Heyford Athletic 3
Match
Summary:
Today
was not just about 3pts. Many friends and people in the game
thought I was crazy for taking this job on however in truth
when you look beyond the fog the club wants to do well and today
proved what I already knew it has the potential to succeed.
I have been welcomed with opened arms having spent so long at
a previous club which I will always care about but in the game
you have to move on and in truth today I did. It’s been
a number of years since I have sat down in a pub with players
and family and had a laugh.
Man of the Match: Joe Shirley
As
for Man of the Match it of course goes to a player but Lee Arnold
was a massive help and has been all week, Esky again top draw,
Cliff again I have never had the opportunity to sit down after
a game and not text the result or fill in the team sheet etc
thanks. Many of you will always see the non-emotional side but
when the Chairman texts to say good luck and after the game
the welldones etc from the club as a whole nearly made me cry
(missus will say I did) never have I had such support.
But
it is about the players and they deserve this and earned it
so for 7 days relish in it as next Saturday I expect another
3pts. Johnstone was solid when called upon, Ryan worked his
socks off, Curley made it look simple, Lacey gave a true captains
performance, Hair rolled back the years, Rob Addison ran his
heart out, Maund ran the middle of the park, Whitty never a
moments peace, Abrahart was a constant threat and like all good
players has that attitude, Hogg maybe would have preferred to
stroll around but proved what a danger he is, Wood/Martin/T.Addison
gave all they had, don't forget it’s a squad game.
However
my MOM is Joe Shirley who on his 1st team debut playing against
top strikers never gave them a sniff along with the other defenders.
