Trinity 3-5 Norton OBC

Man of the Match: 16. Nick Lee

HENDERSON HEADER HAMMERS TRINITY

Marc Henderson scored the crucial fourth goal of the game bringing his tally for the season to 0 (after previously being on -1 as a result of his OG against Rollers Athletic before Christmas). Henderson powered in an excellent Steve Haynes corner to put the tie beyond Trinity in a game where Trinity took an early lead only for Joe Kubik to power home an earlier Haynes corner. Matt Belk put the OBC ahead after Leroy Donald had pressurised the full back in a mistake before whipping a perfect ball for Belk to slot past the keeper from six yards. Then a mix of poor defending and superb finishing brought Trinity level to 2-2 and then to a 3-2 lead before Alistair Jenkins levelled at 3-3 with a fine solo effort and impressive finish from the tightest of angles. Norton had much more of the chances and should have had two penalties but Norton reasserted their domination as Henderson headed home. Matt Belk capped the day with a brace and fine solo effort from the right wing to power the ball home from the edge of the area. Belk was denied a hatrick when the referee failed to play advantage and Belk rifled the ball high into the net but the referee brought back play and sent off their centre back. With Trinity’s 1^st team having their game postponed we played their reserves side who play in Division 1. If this performance is anything to go on OBC’s 2010 could be something special. The quarter final is against Battersea Reserves of Division 2 at Garratt Park.

After a long break from football as a result of the freezing conditions over Christmas and New Year Joicey was able to make a number of changes from the 3-2 defeat at Oakhill Utd. Matt Belk returned up front partnered by Alistair Jenkins who was also returning. Nick Lee came in for Mahf Chowdhury on the right. Jelle van der Zwet came in for Tom Simpson who was looking after his sick girlfriend and Simon Burbage came in for Alex McGreevy who is recovering from an ankle injury. With Chris Renouf set to go skiing he was replaced by Joe Kubik in midfield. On the bench were Josh Gill, Aled Walker and Chris Renouf. Mel Kenny made his 150th OBC appearence.

Trinity kicked off the game and within a minute their big number nine full back went in heavy on Leroy Donald with studs high. Referee Dave Hogan booked the full back. Alistair Jenkins thought that he had heard the Trinity players talking about taking Donald out of the game early. From the resulting free kick the ball was played up to Donald on the wing. Leroy put a low cross into the box but Jenkins could not get enough on it to put the ball past the keeper.

The first real chance fell to Trinity in the third minute when Simon Burbage was caught napping and out of position allowing the Trinity winger a run on Mel Kenny but Kenny made himself big and managed to palm a firm shot out for a corner to Trinity. The corner was cleared.

OBC should have taken the lead in the fifteenth minute when Alistair Jenkins forced the centre back to concede a corner. Steve Haynes whipped in an excellent ball which Joe Kubik powered wide of the post. On the touchline one of the Trinity players commented, “thank god for that mullet or he would have scored!”.

From the goal kick the keeper launched a ball straight through the defence and Jelle van der Zwet allowed the ball to bounce and the centre forward was able to race away from Henderson and van der Zwet to coolly slot the ball under Kenny it what was a calm finish. 1-0 Trinity.

OBC looked to get back into it as we had been on top. A Marc Henderson freekick from thrity yards was comfortably saved. But with OBC pressure Trinity conceded another corner. Haynes again whipped the ball in and this time Joe Kubik planted the ball firmly into the net for 1-1 on 18 minutes. Kubik’s 11^th goal of the season.

On the left wing Leroy Donald was electric and an excellent early ball into the box was met by Matt Belk who turned and shot in one move but the powerful effort went just wide of the post. On the other side of the pitch Nick Lee was having good spells running at the full back. Lee played Jenkins into the corner where he put an excellent cross to the back post where Leroy Donald headed over from six yards when he should have scored. Matt Belk was played in on goal by an excellent through ball from Steve Haynes but another fine drive was parried by the Trinity keeper and Kubik could not get there quick enough for the tap in. The OBC pressure was mounting.

On the 25^th minute Leroy Donald forced the full back into a mistake and robbed him of possession. An excellent ball across the box was tapped home by Belk to give the OBC a deserved lead. 1-2 OBC Belk’s 6^th goal of the season.

Belk then should have been awarded a penalty as he was kicked in the area but did not go down even though everyone including the referee heard the contact. Belk held his ground who rolled the ball to Jenkins but he was smothered out. The referee said that he had played advantage despite it being a foul in the box.

But just as OBC were in control a soft freekick was given away by Burbage on the edge of the area. The ball to the back post was headed down by the Trinity player as Henderson struggled to deal with it and the knock down was bundled past Kenny for an equaliser on 31 minutes. 2-2

Then the day got worse for Henderson as he was robbed in possession and the striker thundered in a finish from the edge of the area to give Kenny no chance and from being 2-1 down, Trinity now found themselves 3-2 up on 35 minutes.

OBC were not having it though and continued to apply pressure on the Trinity back four. A fine save from another Belk drive was palmed around the post. Then Leroy Donald tried to slide one in from a Nick Lee centre and the keeper did well. Belk then was denied when he was brought down in the box whilst just about to shoot but the referee failed to give it.

OBC were not to be denied as like Henderson at the back for the Trinity goal, Alister Jenkins did the same on the Trinity centre back. Alister won the ball and rounded the keeper. A heavy touch looked to have taken the ball to wide but from the narrowest of angles Jenkins squeezed the ball home from an impressive finish. 3-3 on 41 minutes. Jenkin’s 7^th goal of the season.

Joicey at half time said that the OBC were our own worst enemy as their heads had dropped every time we scored but were then lifted through costly errors. Trinity had four clear chances and scored three. We had about twelve clear chances and yet we are level. Joicey said keep doing what we are doing but make sure we continue to pressurise their back line as they looked nervous at the back and also OBC had to be stronger at the back.

OBC started where we had left off from the second half with us putting pressure on their back line. Nick Lee played the ball to Matt Belk who drive a shot against the keeper and Kubik forced the keeper into a fine double save as the ball went out for a corner. Steve Haynes whipped the ball in and this time Henderson rose to power home his first goal for the club. 3-4 OBC on 47 minutes.

Trinity tried to get an instant response as an excellent ball was crossed from the right but the Trinity player could only drive the ball wide of Kenny’s right hand post. This was to be Trinity’s last significant effort on goal. Trinity started to have the better of the play and Josh Gill was brought on for Steve Haynes to try close that gap and Aled Walker was brought on for Simon Burbage at left back.

OBC appeared to be back on top again. Matt Belk put Nick Lee through on goal and a fine finish was ruled out by the flagging Trinity manager. Matt Belk had a number of chances in the second half. Alister Jenkins forced a smart save from the keeper from a tight angle.

The killer goal came in the 70^th minute when Josh Gill rolled the ball to Belk on the right hand touchline. Belk beat two defenders cut inside and unleashed a powerful drive from the diagonal of the box into the far corner in what was the goal of the game. 3-5 OBC Belk’s 7^th goal of the season.

Steve Allison did a good interchange of passes with the hard working Nick Lee but Allison fired just wide of the right hand post when maybe he should have opened his OBC account. Moments later Matt Belk managed to put a point blank effort over the bar from six yards out and also Joe Kubik tried his luck from long range that threatened the cows in the next field more than the Trinity keeper.

Matt Belk with a couple of minutes to go had a hatrick controversially ruled out as the big centre back tugged at Belk on the edge of the area but Matt refused to go down and blasted the ball high into the back of the net. The referee blew for the foul and sent the player off.

The game ended up OBC in complete control with every player playing his part. Nick Lee was named man of the match for his constant threat and excellent link up play with Belk and Jenkins. Lee also worked hard in defence helping out the excellent Steve Allison at right back. Steve Haynes was creative in the first half and Josh Gill did the bits and pieces work in the second half. Aled Walker also provided quality cover at the back when introduced. Joe Kubik worked his socks off box to box in central midfield and got another deserved goal. Well done lads bring on Tolworth next week in the Surrey County Cup what should be another difficult game but the winner will play
Howard’s Norton Saturday side at Garratt Park in the Quarter Final.

Second Division Battersea will be the next opponents at Garratt Park in the Intermediate Quarter Final.

Other results in Division 3

Park Boys1-4Epsom Athletic
Rollers Athletic1-14Pilgrims

For pictures please visit www.oldboysclaphamfc.co.uk <http://www.oldboysclaphamfc.co.uk> and click on the match report.

Peter Joicey
24.01.2010