Norton OBC 5-3 Trinity

Man of the Match: 14. Dean Barnes

3-0 DOWN AFTER 15 MINUTES BUT TRINITY BLASTED AWAY BY NORTON FIRST HALF FIGHT BACK

With three goals conceded in the opening fifteen minutes you would not have been forgiven for thinking this was a game out of Norton’s past. Steve Fower’s chip against Mel from the edge of the area gifted the opposition an early lead. A mixup between Max and Joicey allowed the lead to be doubled almost instantly and then a free header from a corner hit the post and the rebound was tapped in for three. Then back game Norton, Dean Barnes scored a rare soft goal, then Jesse thumped in a second, Dean did his Thierry Henry impression by waltzing around the Trinty defence to finish off a superb solo effort before unleashing the finish of the season to blast Norton into a 4-3 half time lead. The second half was a more quiet affair as Trinity only mustered one shot at goal but Norton were in firm control and Jesse finished the job with another super strike from the edge of the area to wrap up all three points for Norton.

Mel Kenny continued in goal. At the back Ben Ssebatta started at right back. Steve Fowers came in for Gary Nice at centre back. Peter Joicey made his 100^th Norton OBC appearance at centre back. Max Marshall continued at left back. In midfield Joe continued wide right. Mark McEwan returned to the heart of midfield after being away. Nick Hudspith continued in the absence of Jelle who was seeing Portsmouth booked their place in the FA Cup final in May. Leroy continued wide left. Jesse recovered from a knock at Wandgas to play in behind Dean Barnes who continued up front. 4-4-1-1 seems to be working well. On the bench was Neil Sobers, Dean Barrett and Barry Jones who was looking to make his final OBC appearance before heading off to China.

The game kicked off and Norton dominated the first five minutes. Norton forced three early corners. Joicey managed to get a shot away on the six yards box but could not turn the ball goalwards and the effort went just wide. Then after looking dangerous Trinity found themselves a goal up. A long ball over the top was raced onto by their pacey number five. Steve looked to have the measure of the small striker but Mel came off his line but could not get out quick enough to clear. Steve, running towards his own goal looked to put the ball out with his left foot but managed to get under the ball and ended up chipping Mel with a finish he would have been proud of in his striking days. This was Steve’s first ever career own goal. 0-1 Trinity, seven minutes gone.

1-0 quickly became 2-0 as the next attack brought another goal. Max looked to headed the ball clear and Joicey moved behind Max in case Max missed the ball. Max got his head to the ball but only knocked it backwards. Joicey who was in a better position should have made a call for it. Max’s flick took the ball over Joicey and it landed nicely for the Trinity forwarded who was able to square the ball and the other striker put a firm finish passed Mel as chaos ensured.

It was then soon 3-0 as Joicey blocked a shot from twenty-five yards out which deflected for their first corner of the game. The ball came over and unmarked, the Trinity striker was able to nip passed Max and toe poke a shot onto the right hand post. The ball rebounded back to the striker and he had a simple tap in for 3-0. Trinity were rampant.

Three chances, three goals. It did not bode well for Norton. Norton kicked off and started to dominate possession Mark McEwan and Nick Hudspith were getting on top in midfield. Ben and Joe were working hard on the right to create chances. Norton forced another corner on the left as Leroy was put in one goal but rather placing the shot low to the keeper and certain goal. Leroy opted for power and keeper was able to get a glove on the ball and force the ball out for a corner.

Mark McEwan swung in another dangerous ball and it found Dean Barnes at the back post. Dean scuffed a shot low and goalwards but as the keeper looked to gather the Trinity defender got ahead of the keeper and deflected the shot just past the keepers grasp and ball crawled into the back of the net for Dean’s 34^th goal of the season. 1-3 Trinity. Joicey said to the lads, “you see they have a dodgy keeper too!”

Norton continued to dominate the second half. At the back the defence had got themselves organised and managed to deal with any threat and offered a more solid platform from which to build. Max won the ball by intercepting a through ball and knocked a good ball across the back four to Ben. Ben rolled the ball to Joe who put a delightful ball over the defence for Jesse to run in behind beat the defence with his pace and thump a fine finish past the keeper high into the net for 2-3. Norton were back in the game.

Then Dean decided to his Thierry Henry impression. The ball was won at the back by Max and Leroy. Dean came to the half-way line, left touchline to help out. Did a little trick and was away running down the left hand touch line with their full back struggling to catch up. Dean advanced into the area and calmly finished passed the keeper to level the game up at 3-3. Trinity were shell-shocked.

Trinity could offer nothing in response and so they were put to the sword when Joe put a through ball in for Dean Barnes to chase but this time he was on the right hand side of the box with a narrow angle and twelve yards out thumped a super finish high into the net giving the Trinity keeper no chance to put the OBC in front for 4-3. Dean’s 7^th hatrick of the season and 36^th goal. The half finished 4-3 with Norton back in control.

The second half started with Trinity trying to battle their way back into the game. Their best chance came when a good through ball was played between Steve and Joicey at the back and the nippy striker was able to get a shot at Mel from the edge of the area but his shot went wide of the post. With their pace looking to be their main threat Joicey substituted himself and moved Nick Hudspith to centre back to add some pace at the back. Neil Sobers moved up front and Jesse dropped into central midfield with Mark McEwan.

Joe had a good opportunity to extend the lead when he was played in by Mark McEwan but the shot went just over the bar. Joe also was unlucky when Neil Sobers won a header in the box and Joe tried to back heel it in but the shot was cleared off the line and put out for another Norton corner.

Neil himself was unlucky when he raced through on goal and Dean put an excellent ball in but Neil’s powerful shot was pushed around the post by the keeper. Another goal was coming as Norton looked dangerous every time we got the ball. Good work by Neil and Joe on the right of the box allowed Jesse to be teed up for a shot from the edge of the area. Jesse in fine form ran onto the ball and smashed the ball home for 5-3. Jesse’s 8^th goal of the season.

Dean Barnes was replaced by Dean Barrett up front and Barry Jones came on Joe wide right. Barry and Leroy were told to defend deep and hold their position so that we see out the game.

Dean Barrett did have one last chance to extend the lead when he was played in by Jesse one on one with the keeper, but again the keeper saved well and the game ended 5-3 as Trinity failed to create anything of note.

The last game is against Fetcham on Saturday 26^th April. A 2^nd place finish is looking unlikely as Wandgas have FC Maurice and Woodmanstern to play and only require a win from their last two games. Alexander Forbes are away to Old Bristolonians and have FC Maurice yet to play.

Peter Joicey
06.04.2008