RESERVES
START THE SEASON IN STYLE
Fixture:
Heyford Athletic Reserves V's Stanion Reserves
Venue:
Nether Heyford Playing Field
Competition:
Northants Combination Reserve Division 1
Result:
4:1 (Half Time: 2:1)
Heyford
Goal Scorers: Lee Wilkinson, Ian Grant (2), Paul McIntyre
Line
Up:
|
1.
|
Neil
Byrne |
|
2.
|
Ben
Nickels |
|
3.
|
Tom
Addison |
|
4.
|
Rob
Fairbanks |
|
5.
|
Paul
Farmer (C) |
|
6.
|
Simon Fairbanks |
|
7.
|
Tim
Foley |
|
8.
|
Rob
Addison |
|
9.
|
Lee
Wilkinson |
|
10.
|
Ian
Grant |
|
11.
|
Matt
Gernon |
|
SUBS
|
|
| |
Bradley
Sweatt (on for Simon Fairbanks)
|
| |
Paul McIntyre (on for Lee Wilkinson)
|
| |
Noel
Wright (on for Tim Foley)
|
Match
Report (Courtesy of Paul Hesketh)
Heyford
Athletic started their Reserve Division 1 campaign at home to
the team that narrowly missed out on promotion last season,
Stanion.
The
Heyford line up looked strong on paper with competitive Heyford
debuts for Neil Byrne, Tom Addison, Rob Fairbanks and Paul McIntyre,
which was bolstered by Lee Wilkinson and Matt Gernon who played
the majority of last seasons campaign in the 1st team plus the
welcome return to the Heyford fold of Ben Nickels and Tim Foley.
Both
teams started the game with a lot of determination and desire
and some heavy challenges were 'flying in' as the teams battled
for supremacy.
However
it was Heyford who drew first blood with some neat short passing
that presented Wilkinson with the first real opportunity of
the match on 17 minutes, one on one with the keeper he kept
his cool and slotted into the bottom right corner to give Heyford
the lead.
This
'stirred' the visitors who enjoyed their best spell of the match,
they pulled back a deserved equalizer on 25 minutes when a quick
throw in caught the Heyford defence napping and the Stanion
striker managed to somehow scramble the ball home between two
Heyford defenders and the keeper.
This
seemed to give Stanion more belief and Heyford were struggling
to get their passing game together.
Assistant
manager Hesketh, in charge for the day in the absence of Malc
Wincott, then decided to make a tactical switch by removing
the shackles from the irrepressible Ben Nickels and give him
a license to roam down the right hand side, asking Simon Fairbanks
to cover at right back.
This
very nearly paid dividends straight away when Nickels went on
a 'mazy' 40 yard run beating 4 players only to be denied a 'wonder
goal' by the outstretched legs of the keeper.
Heyford
were now in command and went in front just before the break
with a neat finish from the left foot of Ian Grant.
Half
Time: Heyford Athletic Reserves 2 Stanion Reserves 1
The
second half started much the same as the first with both teams
battling for possession. Stanion were enjoying their fair share
of the ball but it was Heyford who carried the greater goal
threat. 
After
55 minutes Heyford were 3-1 up when a trade mark 'lob' from
Ian Grant left the Stanion keeper 'flapping' at thin air as
ball sailed over him into the back of the net.
The
home team were now in total control and during this spell all
3 substitutes were introduced to add fresh legs to the fray.It
proved the great strength in depth of the Heyford squad when the
lively 'Macca' (pictured right) picked the
ball up on the edge of the penalty area and fired low past the
outstretched keeper to register his first competitive goal for
the club and seal an excellent 4-1 win.
Full
Time: Heyford Athletic Reserves 4 Stanion Reserves 1
Esky's
Match Summary:
It's
a good start, we looked solid throughout, had a nice balance
to the team and we always carried the greater goal threat. Only
criticism would be that we allowed them too much possession,
at times we need to put more pressure on the ball and keep it
better when we have it.
Man
of the Match & Winner of the Esky Pint (pictured):
Ben
Nickels 
Ran
from start to finish, tracking back, tigerish in the tackle
and passed the ball well all day.