HWFC Sunk By Late Goal
FA Greater London League Division 3
HWFC 2 Garston FC 3
Sunday, 22 April, 2007
A great start from HWFC almost created an opening goal on 45 seconds when a great through ball from Freeman sent Deeple Patel bursting through the middle but her 25-yard drive went wide. Garston recomposed themselves quickly and were pressurising HWFC down the left and right hand side of the pitch and a quick move on 11 minutes got Garston the opener.
Breaking from the back they pushed the ball around well and cutting into the area from the left hand side the Garston striker was not put under any pressure and was able to pick her spot at the near post just beating the HWFC goalkeeper.
HWFC seemed a little shell shocked and whilst they were trying to recover another quick move, this time down the right hand side brought a second goal. A free-kick from deep inside their own half had the Garston left winger turning one way and then another and when she got down to the corner flag she lifted a beautiful cross into the penalty area and unchallenged the centre forward was able to header Garston into a 2-0 lead with only 27 minutes on the clock.
HWFC were not playing their natural game and seemed very rushed when on the ball and as a result were not creating many chances. Their solid back four were not having the best of times and it took some strong challenges from Berks and Roberts to make sure the lead was not extended. It was on 39 minutes that HWFC sprung into life and a succession of corners finally had the Garston team under pressure. Freeman banged in two good corners that were met well by Berks coming up from the back, but the headers were off target. Some sustained pressure kept the ball in the Garston penalty area and the breakthrough came on 43 minutes.
Grayston floated a great corner to the near post and Deeple Patel, popped up to head the ball in from close range. Going into half time at 2-1 left the match well poised and it was now going to need two more goals for HWFC to win this match and have a chance of winning the title.
HWFC started the second half brightly and to be fair had Garston camped in their own half for much of the first 20 minutes. Five corners and a free kick were all wasted but the team from north London were in the ascendancy and Garston seemed to be tiring.
The well deserved equaliser came on 75 minutes after some excellent work between Patel and Green on the right hand side. Patel working tirelessly upfront exchanged some good passes with Grayston and Freeman and then played in Green who turned her player and ran into the area. Turning her second defender inside out, Green was able to get to the ball before the keeper, stroking it past her into the net and with 15 minutes to go it was 2-2.
After the restart, HWFC came out stronger and Garston were rattled. Two more corners went begging, the best opportunities falling to Berks & Grayston who both rose well to head the ball just wide from only 10 yards out but with HWFC pressing for a winner they were slightly exposed at the back. A long ball from deep within the Garston half left a three-on-three at the back and as the approaching forwards moved towards the HWFC goal the Garston striker was able to toe poke the ball beyond the reach of Mifsud in the HWFC goal.
The time on the clock said 91 minutes and this was a killer blow. 3-2 in injury time and there was only enough time to take the kick off before the referee blew for full time. This victory gave Garston the title and left HWFC needing three points from their last game next week against Fulham FC to win promotion as runners up.
HWFC coach Brad Solomon said after the game that he felt for his players: “They had a poor start but scored at an important time which lifted them for the second half. They showed grit and commitment to come out and score again in the second half and it was only because of their desire to win the game that they had pushed so far forward when Garston broke free and scored the winner.”
“I believe we can win next week”, said Solomon who praised Green and Patel for their excellent work and Bard & Marcus for a good second half. Claire Lewis, returning after four months out with a back injury also played well in defense and linked up soundly with Green and Grayston in midfield.
“We will need to be at our best next week to beat Fulham but we have beaten them already this season and I trust we will do the same next week and be celebrating promotion in only our second season in the league. Losing today was tough and my players are not only disappointed but exhausted, but we have a week to recover and make sure that whatever happens we gain the 3 points we need next week” said Solomon.
TEAM:
MIFSUD, ROBERTS, BERKS, GRAYSTON, BARD, LEWIS, MARCUS, FORBES, GREEN, FREEMAN, PATEL
SUBS (UNUSED): YOUNG, MEILLMANN, JONES
Player of the match:
Deeple Patel
