Norton OBC 8-3 Oakhill Utd

Man of the Match: 29. Matthew Belk

OBC OUTSTANDING AS BELK BLASTS THREE PAST OAKHILL

Matthew Belk signed on in style with a stunning debut hatrick of goals and provided a hatrick of assists to end a miserable day for promotion contenders Oakhill United. Nick Lee and Joe Kubik provided the bullets from the wings and both got onto the score sheet with well taken goals. Ricardo Martins chipped in with a trade mark header and had another header controversially ruled out whilst Chris Renouf opened the rout within two minutes from close range. Credit though to Oakhill who on going 4-0 down brought the game back to 4-3 before Norton kicked on once more scoring a further four goals to end the game 8-3. A Norton OBC classic but it could have and should have been many, many more. Norton’s promotion push is back on as the OBC are back in business.

Joicey welcomed back Tom Simpson, Simon Burbage, Nick Lee, Leroy Donald to the squad. Experienced Oakhill were always going to be in for a torrid time as Norton fielded perhaps its strongest ever line up. Mel Kenny continued in goal. Alex McGreevy filled in at right back. Marc Henderson was partnered by Tom Simpson with Simon Burbage taking over at left back. In midfield Nick Lee finally got his chance in his preferred right wing slot. Steve Haynes and Chris Renouf continued in midfield after performing well against Sutton High and Joe Kubik was pushed out wide left after a barnstorming display from the left against Sutton in the second half. Leroy Donald was surprised to find himself on the bench but Ricardo Martins earned his place with a goal from the bench against Sutton and he was partnered by newcomer Matt Belk. Leroy Donald was joined on the bench by Aled Walker and James Ponsford. Joicey told the lads before kick off that he wanted everyman to win his personal battle with the opposition player as Oakhill are a decent side. Nick Lee was told; crosses; I want crosses for Matt and everything played through him. Joe Kubik was told to do the same on the left as Norton look to capitalise on great wing play.

Hold on tight, the game was a cracker!

With Oakhill late, kick off was delayed for thirty minutes and it was Norton who caught them cold. From the off Matt Belk showed what he is all about, a big fella with an excellent touch who can hold up the ball for the midfielders to run on to. Norton were buzzing all over Oakhill like a contagious rash. It was not long before the deadlock was broken as Nick Lee broke up an Oakhill attack and drove the ball out of Norton’s half. From the wing Nick slid the ball through to Matt Belk who powerfully shot goalwards forcing the keeper into an excellent reaction save but Chris Renouf was on hand to blast the ball into the back of the net from the rebound. Norton 1-0 2 minutes gone.

And in a flash Norton had doubled their lead. Marc Henderson brought the ball out of defence and played a neat through ball on the left hand edge of the area for Matt Belk to run on to and Matt thumped the ball diagonally into the low bottom corner with a superb finish that had Leroy Donald jumping for joy on the touchline. 2-0 Norton 6 minutes gone.

Two became three within ninety seconds as Norton pushed forward in waves. Chris Renouf won the ball in midfield and played a perfectly weighted ball for Nick Lee to run onto. Nick used his pace and power to escape from the defence and his powerful shot was enough to beat the keeper and give Lee his first ever goal for Norton. 3-0 Norton 8 minutes gone!

And then it was four. Matt Belk launched an exocet missile of a throw into the box where Ricardo Martins was able to steal in between the two centre backs and head the ball firmly into the bottom corner. Martin’s 4^th goal of the season. 4-0 Norton 16 minutes gone.

It looked as if it was going to be a case of how many more. A deep cross from Nick Lee was headed in by Martins at the back post but the effort was ruled out for offside despite Martins clearly running from deep.

Other chances went begging too. Tom Simpson had two powerful headers, one went narrowly over and another was pushed around the post with a fingertip save. Marc Henderson then looked as if he was going to score the goal of the season so far when he broke up an Oakhill attack and then dribbled through midfield and then outsprinted the centre backs. Henderson took a heavy touch to the right and was forced to narrow his angle which allowed the keeper to save Marc’s firm effort with a good flailing right hand to push the ball out for another Norton corner.

Then true of Norton’s recent past Norton gave Oakhill a lifeline. A ball from Steve Haynes was played to Simon Burbage who tried to cut inside his marker. Burbadge was easily muscled off the ball by the big number 14 and he could only get a strained challenge in but it was not strong enough as the Oakhill player held off the challenge and thumped a fine strike past Mel in goal. A goal out of our own undoing. 4-1 28 minutes gone.

And then they had two goals. Marc Henderson tried to head the ball back to Mel Kenny but Mel was slow to react and could not gather the ball. It was not clear if Mel actually palmed the ball onto the head of the onrushing forward and the ball softly ended in the back of the net. 4-2 32 minutes gone.

Norton angry with allowing Oakhill back into the game started to press once more. Matt Belk was played in on goal and Belk looked all but certain to score. He rocketed his shot over the keeper from six yards but the effort just went over the bar.

Joe Kubik was then denied when he raced clear on the left and deftly chipped the ball over the onrushing keeper from the wide edge of the area. The ball was goal bound but the defender managed to scoop the ball off the line and out for a corner.

Oakhill refused to give up and were trying to make a game of it. Mel Kenny made two excellent saves to stop Oakhill. One save was not to dissimilar to the Banks save from Pele in the 1970 World Cup as Mel got down low to push the ball out for an Oakhill corner. However, with four minutes still left to go Belk was played through on goal but the referee blew up four minutes early. What was that all about?

At half-time Joicey said that was probably the best half of the season as our attacking play was exceptional but we had made two mistakes and had give them a sniff of chance despite being 4-0 up. Joicey said the important thing was not to concede early in the second half.

Norton conceded early in the second half. Simon Burbage lost the ball on the left. Chris Renouf looked as if he had recovered the situation but was too slow in getting the ball away as Oakhill won the won the ball back. Burbage again tried to get back but he was outmuscled and a ball was squared along the six yard box and was tapped in ahead of Tom Simpson as Norton were pulled out of position. 4-3 Norton 49 minutes gone.

Not to worry though, Norton got themselves ahead by two goals again within a couple of minutes. Matt Belk lauched another Delapesque long throw and this time Joe Kubik flung himself at the ball to plant the headed effort firmly into the back of the net. Joe’s 8^th goal of the season. 5-3 Norton. 51 minutes gone.

Joicey brought Aled Walker on for Simon Burbage with the excellent Alex McGreevy moving to left back and Aled Walker took up position at right back. Chris Renouf was replaced by James Ponsford with Joe Kubik being moved to central midfield. Both players were angry at being subbed but Joicey felt that the game needed to be firmed up and the points wrapped up. James took up a wide left position on the wing.

The substitutions did the trick. James Ponsford won the ball in defence and laid it off to Alex McGreevy. Mcreevy then played an excellent through ball for Matt Belk to run on to. With the central defender doing his best to outmuscle Belk, arms all over him, Belk kept his composure and fired under the keeper for his second and Norton’s 6^th. Game over. 6-3 54 minutes gone.

Norton continued to press. Ricardo Martins was played in by Matt Belk but Martins maybe had too much time and fired against the keeper when he should have scored. Martins was unlucky to add another as he acted as a decoy as Belk took the ball wide on the right and lifted the ball skilfully over the keeper. The bouncing ball looked as if it was certain to go in but it took a heavy bounce and the ball looped up and on to the top of the cross bar.
Leroy Donald was finally introduced on 68 minutes for the hard working and industrious Ricardo Martins. Leroy went up front to partner Matt Belk.

Matt Belk was played in from the left and a firm shot was parried by the over employed Oakhill keeper but Joe Kubik has burst into the box and shot low into the corner as he got himself a brace. Joe’s 9^th goal of the season. Norton 7-3 69 minutes.

Norton were incomplete control Aled Walker was doing a sound job at the back since coming on and the defence was rarely troubled. Leroy Donald was denied a penalty when he was man handled in the box. Donald was also denied a goal from excellent goal keeping as Belk played a perfectly weighted ball for Donald to sprint through the defence. The keeper raced off his line and smothered Donald’s goalbound effort.

James Ponsford could have opened his account when all he had to do was tap it beyond the keeper as James used his pace to get in behind the defence but James opted for power and blasted his shot over the bar with the goal gapping. All that remained was for Belk to get his debut hatrick and sure enough it came.

Steve Haynes played a pinpoint pass through to Matt Belk on the edge of the area and with a cool head Belk steered his shot wide of the keeper and into the far corner of the net for Matt’s hatrick and Norton’s 8^th goal of the game. 8-3 Norton 85 minutes gone.

With three minutes still left on the clock, referee Dave Sanford blew up early. Maybe he had somewhere to get to as Oakhill had delayed the kick off.

An excellent afternoon of football at Garrett Park, a day when the true potential of this team shone through. We have to carry this forward to bottom of the table Rollers Athletic next week.

Please confirm availability by Wednesday.

For pictures please visit www.norton-obc.com <http://www.norton-obc.com> and click on the match report.

Peter Joicey
29.11.2009

8-3 was not the biggest win or highest scoring game.

Past big wins;

Friendly (H) 23/08/200817-0 London Romans (Barnes6, Muvunyi3, Jumbo2, Mountain2, Roberts2, Martins2)

League Div5 (H) 13/10/200712-1 Ashtead (Barnes3, Ssebatta, Joicey2, Sobers, Barrett, Jumbo, og2)

League Div4 (A) 27/01/20079-4 FC Maurice (Barnes2, Muvunyi3, Doanld2, Brien, Sobers)

League Div5 (H) 22/09/20078-0 Woodmansterne (Barnes4, Muvunyi, Geaghan, Corbett, og)

League Div3 (H) 28/11/20098-3 Oakhill Utd (Renouf, Belk3, Lee, Martins, Kubik2)

League Div4 (A) 27/09/20087-1 Croydon Greenside (Donald2, Okolo, Barnes, Mountain, Jumbo, og)