Norseman vs Winchmore Hill
SAL Div 1
7 September
Weather: Baking
Winchmore Hill opened their Centenary Season with none other than newly promoted Norseman across the A10. Biggest derby in North London.
Having had a successful season last year, Norseman were looking to build on that success in the top flight and there can be few tests bigger than an opening game against The Hill!
The Winchmore side stayed strong from last year and with the addition of some hearty midfielders are looking like a team that this year will be looking to challenge for silverware .
Last minute injuries meant a shuffle around and Lewis Swarbrick found himself settled into left back… where he was still offside on no fewer than 4 occasions from open play. Branners came back out of retirement for the third season running to play alongside Tome Corfe with Sam Jennings at right back.
The Midfield was missing K. Pearce but was ably filled with Alex Bexon, Josh Taylor and Sam Russell. We welcomed Jamie back from another U23 sabbatical, pushed Tom King out where he could work on his touch and Jenkins up top. Support from the bench came from Chapman, Barney and new boy Barrel.
The Hill took the charge in the first half. All the prematch talk about getting at the oppo and staying on the front foot was taken straight onto the pitch.
Utilising the wide men and keeping the ball in good areas the Hill got an early foothold in the game and fashioned some half chances. The best chance of the half coming when the ball was flashed across the edge of the box to Jamie Doyle who was unlucky to see the keepers outstretched foot push his shot wide of the post.
Norseman had an early chance saved by the Beaver in goal after a decent curling effort looked like it was heading for the top corner but the first half didn’t see many clear chances with neither keeper in any real trouble.
Sam Jennings had a fantastic display at right back – his work rate and support going forwards was superb. We can only see him growing at this level and providing some fullbackery that we’ve not seen since the like of Mattie Knights.
Taking his lead from Branners, Lewis was calm on the ball, able to feed TK and the midfield three. Between them they nullified the fluid Norseman front line – discipline and communication was key. We couldn’t quite fashion that telling chance in the first half and we went in at half time 0-0.
With our right hand side looking dangerous we targeted this for long period of the second half and were rewarded with a number of dangerous set pieces. Corfe and Bex somehow thwarted on the line before the breakthrough. The introduction of Barrell had Norseman in a panic and before he’d even touched the ball Barrell was manhandled to the ground in the box. Clear Pen.
Winchmore and Norseman and Penalties are a haunting that needs not repeating but commeth the hour, commeth the man. Barrell stepped up and coolly flicked the ball through the keeper’s fingers into the bottom corner. 1-0 Hill with 25 to play.
This clearly rattled the oppo and before kick-off there was the first Sin Bin of the season. Norseman right back choosing to explain his views to the referee in an unseemly manner and he was gone for 10.
There was no panic in the ranks of the Hill. 1-0 up away from home can be nervy but we have a confidence this year throughout that allowed us to keep our mentality. But perhaps just a little too naively. With nearly 15 minutes to go, after some initial good defending the ball ended up in a classic amateur league goal mouth scramble. Refusing still to just hoof it, the ball was tangled between all manner of legs. The end result was a swing of the boot from Will Deamer which saw the ball crash into our own player and nestle discreetly into the bottom corner. 1-1 with all to play for.
Refreshingly, still no panic. It was only 90 minutes, but to see the way we reacted to situations throughout this game means a very exciting season ahead. We’ve set a standard for ourselves and for the club that means our 100 Year anniversary could be a good season to watch.
We continued to play to feet. To use the ball and work it into good areas. The introduction of Barrell and Barney helped us to hold the ball up and we’ll learn how to use this to keep advancing in the final stages of games.
The equaliser gave Norseman an extra wind and the back four had a lot of work in the dying moments to deal with what was being thrown at them but did so through sheer desire not to be beaten – a quality sometimes lacking in some games over the last few years.
The game finished 1-1. In truth, I think Norseman will be happier to have rescued a point from a game that we feel we had the better of for large periods.
Opening day, a point away from home against a side that look like they’ll be taking maximum points from other opposition? A performance that has set a high bar? It’s a good result and a great platform to build on.
Onwards and Upwards
MOM: Sam Jennings (only played 65 minutes, it’s gotta be a fix)
DOD: Branners. Too nice for his own good. Stop hugging the oppo pre KO.