Norton OBC 4-3 Fetcham

Man of the Match: 99. M McEwan

NORTON OBC GO TOP OF THE TABLE WITH LATE BARNES PENALTY

With Alexander Forbes not playing today a win or a draw for Norton OBC would put us top of the table for the first time in our short history. In a week where Michel Platini criticised Arsene Wenger’s youth policy. Peter Joicey backed the fellow manager by stating that “a successful youth policy is critical to the success and development of the OBC and the wider Norton football structure.” Peter introduced the latest OBC recruit, 18 year old, Mark McEwan to the team who was asked to play in central midfield with the returning Jelle van der Zwet as both Liam, Tom and David were unavailable. Steve was welcomed back to the heart of defence. Mark Stewart was asked to play at right back for the injured Ally who is likely to be out until the New Year. Joe Muvunyi, D Barnes, D Barrett, Max Marshall and Peter Joicey kept their position from the 3-1 win away to Croydon Greenside the week before. Nick Stephenson, Neil Sobers and Paul Lewis were on the subs bench.

Deputising in goal was newcomer Gary Nice who commendably offered to play between the sticks at short notice.

Joicey at the teamtalk said to the Norton lads that is was important that everyone work hard and do their bit today as Gary in goal needed to be protected and this could only be achieved by everyone carrying out their defensive duties when Norton did not have the ball. If we could frustrate them and restrict them to long shots then we could win the day.

Norton got off to a great start and could have been a goal up within the first minute as Joe was put through one on one with the Fetcham keeper by Jelle but Joe managed to pull his shot wide. Norton piled on the pressure from the off as Mark McEwan and Jelle van der Zwet showed some really good early touches and both Ben and Dean Barrett worked hard on the flanks. Ben in particular doing his best to force an opening for the OBC.

Dean Barnes, Joe Muvunyi and Jelle van der Zwet all had good chances saved in the first twenty minutes as the OBC machine seemed to be wasting key chances. The breakthrough came midway through the first half as Dean Barrett raced down the left and found himself in the box, where he laid of a short pass in a congested penalty area to Dean Barnes who in turn found Joe at the left hand post for a tap in from two yards out. This was Joe’s 4^th goal of the season, his first goal since 22^nd September against Woodmanstern.

Norton came close to adding to the score thanks to a great solo effort from Ben on the right. Ben collected the ball from Mark Stewart and dribbled his way to the edge of the Fetcham area where a leathal shot looped onto the top of the cross bar. Norton had lots of possession in the Fetcham half and created many half chances. There were many corners and long throw ons. Peter managed to flick one ball on from Steve to Dean Barnes who was six yards out but a Fetcham defender blocked the effort. Norton could not get a vital two goal cushion.

At the back Marc, Steve, Peter and Max dealt with the Fetcham attack with little difficulty as Fetcham were restricted to long shots. Gary was left a bystander for much of the first half as their midfield could not cope with high energy performance of Jelle and Mark McEwan. At half time everyone was pleased with the performance despite not being more goals to the good. Peter hoped for more of the same in the second half and would look to bring in Nick for his first appearance of the season for Mark after 55 minutes should all be well.

However, things were not to go well and events took a bad turn for the worse. Norton who had the kick off lost possession straight away and a slight foul by Mark McEwan on the left gave Fetcham the opportunity to cross the ball in from wide. The ball was swung in and the Fetcham forward powered home a header within a minute of the re-start and with their first effort on goal of the game. 1-1.

This lifted Fetcham’s spirit and they grew in confidence. With Norton OBC unable to clear their lines, the OBC were soon 2-1 down as a good through ball put their young striker through on goal as Peter chased back. Gary stayed on his line and presented the forward with the easiest of finishes to make it 2-1. With not five minutes of the second half gone, the OBC were now going to have fight their way back into the match and they did so. Neil replaced Mark Stewart to partner Dean Barnes up front, Ben dropped to right back and Joe went wide right. Peter’s half time plan was scrapped.

Dean Barnes and Neil continued to menace up front and were able to force a number of corners and throw-ons high up the field. It was the effective throw-ons that were to be Fetcham’s undoing. Peter and Jelle lined up at the near post and it was Jelle who opened his OBC account by powerfully nodding in off the underside bar to bring the game back to 2-2 mid way through the second half.

Although Norton levelled, it was Fetcham who again restored their lead as the Fetcham right winger was able to counter attack and put a cross in as the OBC defence raced back into position. The cross was met by the Fetcham forward 10 yards out whose first time shot was buried right into the corner of the net giving Gary no chance. A good finish, 3-2 Fetcham.

Three efforts at goal, three goals for Fetcham. The OBC would have to stage a remarkable fight-back to win with just twenty minutes to go, and to everyman’s credit they did. Norton were offered a way back when Steve was fouled from behind whilst trying to set up Neil in the opposition box and the referee Rory Ofori-Atta pointed to the spot. Joe looking for his 5^th goal of the season stepped up, waiting for the keeper to dive, but the keeper stood his ground and was able to save and push the ball out for a corner from an unusually weak penalty from Joe. The OBC forced a thrown on after the corner. Steve’s through to Peter was only cleared to the edge of the penalty area where Joe scooped a looping pass to Dean Barrett, who steadied himself before acrobatically volleying home for 3-3 with an overhead kick. The goal is captured on facebook at <http://www.facebook.com/video/?oid=4580739999>. Now could Norton go on to win it?

The OBC continued to press forward to look for the winner. Steve came close as a volley from the edge of the area bounced off the top of a cross bar. Jelle was put through by the industrious Mark McEwan but shot wide, with Neil unable to latch on to the wayward ball. But it was the long throw ons that cost Fetcham dear as Jelle was held down by the Fetcham centre back as he looked to head in his second. Again referee Rory Ofori-Atta blew his whistle and pointed to the spot signalling for a crucial late penalty.

About five or six arms went up for volunteers to take the penalty. Dean Baranes was allowed to take it and stepped up to slot home low into the bottom left hand corner for his 14^th goal of the season, scoring for the 5^th consecutive game, an OBC record he now shares with Joe. 4-3 up with five minutes to go. Jelle was put through for another chance, one on one with the keeper but instead of shooting, Jelle tried to pass the ball to Neil and Dean Barnes and the chance was gone to put the game beyond doubt.

Nick replaced Dean Barrett for his first appearance of the season (claiming to the ref that he was 8. Johan Baker which could be a disciplinary offence if the ref reported the wrong name, Nick forgot his own top). The ref played an extraordinary extra 11 minutes. Nick conceded an avoidable corner as Gary was unable to deal with a through-ball that he should have held onto rather than kick. The kick bounced off Nick and he allowed the ball to go off for last ditch corner instead of clearing his lines. Fetcham threw everything at the OBC, even their keeper came up for the last corner. The corner that came in was a wicked one and appeared to be going directly into the roof of the net, but cometh the hour, cometh the man. A big gloved fist from a raised green arm punched the ball clear and Gary saved the day at the back when it mattered. Joe and Ben were able to race the ball up field. Dean Barnes managed a shot that the keeper parried and Neil did his best to turn in the ball to kill off the game but was denied by the post. After some more assured defending from Joe and Ben, the referee finally blew for full time. 4-3 to Norton, we go TOP! This was our 4^th win in a row, a new OBC record. Next week we are away to FC Maurice who lost 11-0 at home to Norton. The fans expect nothing but a victory.

At the end of the match one Fetcham player said of the OBC performance to Paul, “you can see why Norton have scored so many goals, they just kept coming at you, it was none stop attack. We did not get a breather at the back in the second half.” At FIFA world headquarters in Switzerland, Michel Platini said last night “as Mr Joicey has decided to side with Arsene Wenger we shall we be watching the OBC’s results very carefully”.

COMMON THE NORTON! By Peter Joicey, 04.11.2007