Norton OBC 2-1 Tadworth

Match Report by Peter Joiceyan in-depth biased, one sided analysis of Norton OBC’s match

Match Rating out of 10: 9.27

ALLISON IN WONDERLAND!!!

Steve Allison hit a 90^th minute winner to send Norton OBC into the Surrey Intermediate Final at Corinthian Casuals on Wednesday 14^th April. Allison put OBC into the final after a sublime piece of skill from Nick Lee as he weaved past one then two defenders in the box and squared it back from the touchline for Allison to bundle the ball home. Allison had earlier given OBC a first half lead when he headed in a sublime Steve Haynes corner. Tadworth managed to equalise after an excellent dipping shot from twenty five yards flew into the top right hand corner of the Norton net. Man of the match Dean Woodruff was excellent at the back providing leadership and purpose at the back. Tadworth huffed and puffed but could not blow the Norton house down in an evenly contested game.

Norton lined up with Mel Kenny in goal. Tom Simpson was asked to play at right back with Dean Woodruff and Marc Henderson making up the centre backs. Alex McGreevy was left back. In midfield Nick Lee returned to the right wing. In the middle of the park Steve Haynes was partnered by Joe Kubik. Leroy Donald continued at left wing. Max Pumphrey was joined up front with Steve Allison. On the bench were Simon Burbage and James Ponsford. Matt Belk discovered that he had fractured a hand so could not play while Chris Renouf had a knee problem and Mahf Chowdhury had not overcome a calf strain in time for the game.

The early stages of the game were fairly even as both sides battled for supremacy. A lot of the play on both sides was down the flanks. Tom Simpson made a good start at right back and made some telling tackles to keep Tadworth at bay. On our right Nick Lee was troubling their full back and a deep ball to the back post was cut out by the Tadworth defence. Max Pumphrey also showed some sublime skill and touches to glide past several defenders on the right but his pull back for Allison was cleared by the Tadworth defence.

The deadlock was broken on twenty four minutes when an excellent Steve Haynes corner to the near post that was met by Steve Allison and he directed his header into the far corner of the net to give Norton a deserved lead. Allison’s 2^nd goal of the season.

Efforts on goal were few and Max Pumphrey was unlucky not to add to the score line as he beat the centre back and then unleashed a thunderous dipping half volley goalwards. The keeper made an excellent save to tip the corner over the bar.

Joe Kubik tried playing a through ball for Max Pumphrey but the defender cut the ball out and it fell nicely for Steve Haynes who tried to lob the Tadworth keeper from thirty-five yards. The dipping effort dropped just over bar.

At the other end Marc Henderson cleared the ball off the goal-line as Mel Kenny was rounded by the skilful number nine. It looked a certain goal but Henderson got back to clear the ball off for a throw. The Tadworth number 3 who had caused Norton some problems in a fixture at Garratt Park last season with his long throws had no joy in the game as a mixture of Dean Woodruff, Marc Henderson and Tom Simpson were always able to get under them.

The half ended and Joicey said at half time that the commitment and energy shown by the players was excellent and that we were containing the opposition well.

The second half started with Norton on top. Leroy Donald cut inside on the left but his shot was comfortably saved in the first minute since the re-start. Nick Lee and Steve Haynes also had efforts on goal from the edge of the area but they failed to trouble the keeper as they were both straight at him.

Tadworth struggled to create many chances. The number nine did manage to twist and turn his way past Henderson and Woodruff in the box but the strikers turn and shot thankfully curled just past Mel Kenny’s left hand post.

The midfield started to tire as Tadworth brought on an extra midfielder in the closing stages. Tadworth were rewarded when a dipping effort from twenty five yards out beat Mel Kenny as the ball sailed into the top right hand corner of the net. Kenny said later that he was wrong-footed and misjudged the swerve of the dipping effort and he might have got a glove to it had he reacted quicker. 1-1 74 minutes gone.

Norton were not to be denied and continued to push for the winner on both flanks. Leroy Donald was put through with an excellent scooped ball by Pumphrey but Donald with only the keeper to beat could not find his footing and shot weakly at the keeper. Donald had been involved in most of Norton’s attacking play in the second half but he could not find that killer ball from good positions on the left. Joicey moved Donald onto the right and brought Nick Lee across to the left.

It did the trick as Lee wrong footed one defender then used his skill and sublime touch to beat another defender and get to the by-line and he simply rolled the ball to the grateful Steve Allison to turn home the winner with just twenty seconds of normal time to go. 2-1 Norton, what a time to get a goal. Allison’s 3^rd goal of the season.

Joicey then subbed Steve Haynes for James Ponsford to put an extra body on the field to run the clock down. Haynes reacted badly to being subbed and wanted to know why he was being pulled off. Joicey told Haynes to get out of the way as instructions were being frantically given out. Haynes felt hard done by and stormed off to the changing room. Further un-pleasantries were exchanged after the match and Haynes has left the club.

Whilst all that was going on Alex McGreevy was starting to suffer from cramp and Simon Burbage was brought on to help run the five minutes of injury time down. The back four remained solid with Dean Woodruff and Marc Henderson making sure any high balls were headed out and cleared. Norton had the chance to add a further goal when four blue shirts broke free into the half. With only the keeper to beat James Ponsford lost his footing at the important moment and his shot stumbled past the post when the goal was at his mercy.

A great day for Norton OBC, the final awaits. The final is set to be played on Wednesday 14^th April at Corinthian Casuals. In the other semi-final Kerria Knights who beat Westside 8-0. Kerria Knights are currently second in Division Two and have not been beaten since 7^th November when they were beaten by Tadworth 1-0.

Next week as a result of there being no league fixture a friendly game with Howard’s Norton Saturday’s will take place at Garratt Park.

Well done lads.

Peter Joicey
21.03.2010