Weston Green Utd 1-2 Norton OBC

Man of the Match: 11. Tom Black

Norton OBC's first competitive win!

AT LAST! Norton Saturday stuck those points on the board - three for a win and no mistake. The day was entertaining right from the off - an off that didn't include Tatey, who was parting with Friday night's curry when the posse fled the Windmill. After a few phone calls and much laughter, the toilet fiend re-joined us at South Wimbledon.

This was a true six-pointer. Before the game Howard made the importance of a win very clear. Our opponents were immediately above us in the table, with four points to our zilch. We're still below them but instead of dropping off the face of the earth we're now one point behind with every chance of overtaking them.

Howard built on last week's display by sticking with a similar line-up and formation - Mel Kenny in goal. Max Marshall, Peter Joicey, Ricky Richardson and new recruit Elliot in defense. Across the middle were Tom Black, Ian Hunte, Andy Tate and Nathan Cook, with SteveFowers up-front and me, Marc Stewart alongside.

From the first whistle Norton created chances and competed all over the pitch. No-one had an off day, the workrate was first class and there were always options for the man on the ball. Defensive duties were shared throughout the team and we always seemed to have two players getting to any danger.

Possession in the opposing half eventually paid off when we took the lead. The number of corners and throw-ons we forced must be a Sat's record, with Steve Fowers' long throws and Andy Tate's corner-kick's causing havoc and it was no surprise the goal came from one of these. A corner from our left threaded it's way to Nathan Cook on the right of the box and he sent it back towards goal. As it came over I tried to get as much of my head on it as possible and divert it goalwards. Thankfully it went in for a deserved 1-0 lead.

Other chances were created before we scored a second. Pete Joicey powered an excellent header just over the bar and good shots were fired in from Steve Hunte, Ian Hunte and Tatey, among others. Tatey got closer still with a fine left-footed drive from distance. The keeper comically stood on ceremony and watched the effort hit his left post and shoot across the area. Steve followed up like a train and punished the error with conviction to make it 2-0 - another OBC's first!

Weston heads visibly dropped after the second went in and any chances they created were soon snuffed out with great defensive work. Our back four and keeper were excellent. Elliot, playing in his first game, was outstanding. Mel Kenny's performance was typified by a strong charge out of his box, reaching a 50/50 ahead of an onrushing striker. He got a throw in too... 2-0 at half-time.

H warned us of the inevitable onslaught after the break and we weren't disappointed. Weston came at us strong and at times, dirty. Their coach could be heard telling his team to try and wind us up. His instructions were carried out, especially by a hot-headed captain, but Norton wasn't having it.

Their goal was unfortunate on Mel. A superb display was temporarily hijacked when his goal-kick fell to a Weston player and was returned with interest over his head and into the net. 2-1

The rest of the game was hard fought with Weston pushing for an equalizer. They could have scored again and so could we. Curtis Roberts, Hassan and Paul Lewis came on for Tatey, Nathan Cook and Marc Stewart. Curtis Robert provided lots of problems and had good strikes on goal, Tom Black saw a peach of a strike rocket back off the cross-bar and I gave Kanu a run for his money with a miss from slightly further out: four yards...

Norton OBC battled to the end and it's great to record a final score of Weston 1, Norton Sat's 2.

Man of the match: Tom Black - great game topped with an effort that, if it had gone in, would have led to the most disgraceful celebrations yet witnessed in leafy Surrey.

And finally:
- this one's for Howard, Steve, Dave, Colin, Alex, Tatey, Mel, TomB, Max, Ricky, Nick, Nathan, Curtis, Matt, Leroy, Peter, Joseph, Ian, Ben, Elliot, Hassan, Paul and me.

Cheers,
Marc Stewart