Norton OBC 5-1 Battersea FC

Man of the Match: 11. Leroy Donald

BATTERSEA BATTERED BY OBC AERIAL BOMBARDMENT AS SEMI FINAL AWAITS

Norton are a playing mix of Stoke and Arsenal at the moment as Battersea failed to cope with the aerial threat created by Matt Belk’s long throw ins. Marc Henderson headed a first half brace to put Norton firmly on the road to victory. Max Pumphrey was on hand to get his debut goal after he pounced on the rebound after Tom Simpson was denied by the keeper. Leroy Donald produced a birthday man of the match performance an excellent early cross to the back post was turned in by Matt Belk to give the home side on unassailable 4-1 half time lead. Norton continued to dominate after the break and pressure was rewarded when Donald was brought down in the box as he was just about to shoot. Henderson was relived of penalty duties and up stepped skipper Steve Haynes to tuck away our first penalty since the end of last season. Dean Wood roof was twice denied by the cross bar for a debut goal and Steve Allison had a header palmed onto the post. Norton will face the winners of Tadworth v Ashtead, both of Division 2, in the Semi Final at Garratt Park in March.

After last week’s 5-1 win over Trinity expectations were high that Norton could book their place into the Surrey Intermediate Semi-Final. Dean Wood roof made his debut at centre back as Jelle van der wet was away in Holland. Max Pumphrey came in for Alistair Jenkins. Mahf Chowdhury, Chris Renouf and Ricardo Martins came on the bench for James Ponsford and Joe Kubik who both had course work to complete. The team lined up with Mel Kenny in goal. Across the back was Steve Allison, Tom Simpson, Dean Woodroof and Alex McGreevy. In midfield Nick Lee and Leroy Donald continued on the wings and Marc Henderson was pushed into midfield to partner Steve Haynes. Up front Matt Belk continued and Max Pumphrey was given his first start.

Norton got off to a good early start as Leroy Donald raced down the left wing and delivered a good cross for Matt Belk at the far post but referee Phil Condon ruled that Belk had fouled the keeper in the challenge for the ball. Belk then launched the first long throw of the game which Henderson rose to meet but the effort was closed down at the feet of the goalkeeper.

Max Pumphrey looked to make an early impression as good shot on the break was deflected inches wide of the far post by the covering centre back. From the corner the ball found its way to Matt Belk from just inside the penalty box who had a drive that went narrowly past the near post.

The post and cross bar came to Battersea’s rescue as Tom Simpson rose to meet another Belk throw then rebound fell for Pumphrey who smashed a shot against the post and cleared for another throw in. Belk this time found the agile Pumphrey who had his header well saved by the goalkeeper.

Norton made the breakthrough in the tenth minute when Dean Woodroof headed down to Max Pumphrey in the box from a Belk throw on. Pumphrey smashed a shot across the centre of the goal and the keeper palmed the ball back up into the air and Henderson rose highest to head the ball into the net for his 4^th goal of the season. 1-0 Norton 10 minutes gone.

Pumphrey was unlucky not open his account when a dipped shot from the edge of the area dropped just over the bar. Norton appeared in complete control as Steve Haynes and Marc Henderson were breaking down every Battersea move in midfield and at the back Dean Woodroof and Tom Simpson looked really dominant with both full backs Steve Allison and Alex McGreevy looking really solid.

Against the run of play Battersea equalised for a fortunate deflected goal that had Mel stranded. A effort that would have been comfortably saved was deflected of Woodruff on the edge of the area and the wrong footed Kenny in goal was beaten. 1-1 16 minutes gone.

Norton were not disheartened though as OBC got back on their game. Matt Belk had a shot that was blocked by the Battersea centre back. Henderson restored Norton’s lead as a result of another long throw on as Henderson out-jumped his marker to plant the ball firmly past the stranded keeper in goal who was caught in no mans land. 2-1 24 minutes gone, Henderson’s 5^th goal of the season.

Norton quickly extended their lead as another Belk throw in was knocked down by Woodroof for Simpson to turn and shoot which brought out an excellent one handed save to deny Simpson but from two yards out Pumphrey was on hand to turn home the loose ball to give Norton a deserved 3-1 lead on 27 minutes. Pumphrey’s first goal for the OBC.

Norton kept the foot on the gas as the pressure was unrelenting. Leroy Donald worked his socks off all half and put in a brilliant run and cross to the back post where Belk was able to turn the ball into the corner of the net for his 9^th goal of the season. 4-1 Norton 31 minutes gone.

Battersea tried to make a game of it and tried to play good football around Garratt Park were always crowed out by swarming players in the Norton OBC blue. Woodroof was harshly adjudged to have handballed thirty five yards from goal. The resulting free kick was well struck and tipped over the bar by Kenny in goal. This was Battersea’s second effort on goal.

As the half drew a close Max Pumphrey took control of the ball in the six yards box but was scythed down in the box but referee Phil Condon denied Norton’s appeals despite the entire ground hearing the crack on Pumphrey’s ankle.

Nick Lee then attemped the goal of the season so far when he dribbled through the Battersea midfield and defence and forced a good reaction save from the Battersea keeper to push to the effort out for another OBC corner.

At half time Joicey said that the lads were playing really well putting pressure on all of Battersea players and felt that the penalty decision was incorrect and that had it been 1-1 maybe it would have given. (A comment heard by the wily Phil Condon).

The second half started with Belk and Donald combining well on the left. Belk rolled the ball across the six yards box hoping that Pumphrey would be able to use his pace for a tap in but Pumphrey arrived a fraction late and the ball was smothered.

Battersea tried playing an extra man in midfield which made it difficult for Haynes and Henderson but Simpson and Woodroof was able to soak up any Battersea advances and they failed to create any chances on note in the early and middle periods of the second half. When Norton broke forwards they always looked dangerous. Max Pumphrey played an excellent ball to Leroy Donald to run onto but the centre back had no choice but to haul Donald down and Phil Condon pointed to the penalty spot.

Henderson looked to Joicey for the penalty but Joicey shouted “Haynes!” and up stepped the skipper to put the ball into the net but the keeper got something on it but not enough and Norton scored their first penalty since Donald scored against Fulham in April 2009. 5-1 Norton on 58 minutes and Haynes’ 2^nd goal of the season.

Battersea were now getting frustrated. Their big number 4 reacted to an adjudged foul by Simpson by tussling Simo to the ground and got himself booked in the process. At the other end Simpson found himself denied once more as his point blank header was acrobatically saved, once more, by the Battersea keeper. Donald was put through one on one with the keeper by an excellent through ball from Belk but Donald hesitated and he could not celebrate his 26^th birthday with a deserved goal.

On 70 minutes Joicey made his changes bringing on Chris Renouf and Ricardo Martins for Steve Haynes and Marc Henderson and then brought on Mahf Chowdhury on for Nick Lee.

The fresh legs allowed Norton to keep on top. An Alex McGreevy corner was sung in for Steve Allison whose header was palmed onto the post by the Battersea keeper. Matt Belk then had an excellent drive from the edge of the area deflected wide as Battersea rode their luck. From the resulting corner Alex McGreevy was able to get a shot then went just wide of the left hand post.

At the other end Kenny was finally called into action as he made an excellent double save from the onrushing forward. Kenny got low and saved with his head to deny Battersea a further consolation goal.

Norton continued to look for further goals. A McGreevy corner was headed onto the crossbar by Dean Woodroof then Woodroof was denied by the crossbar once more moments later from another McGreevy corner.

Ricardo Martins worked hard in midfield and was unfortunate not to get himself on the score sheet as a result of an excellent sliding scissor kick that was well saved by the Battersea keeper at his near post.

Referee Phil Condon blew for full time and Norton OBC are through to our first ever semi-final. Let’s just hope it is inst the week of Belk and Henderson’s skiing trip. A good solid and combative performance where for the second week in the row, a five goal haul, aside from some excellent goalkeeping and the woodwork, the goals for could have been many, many more

Peter Joicey
14.02.2010.