BA Missed the chance to claim a win in the first game of 2011 falling 3-4 at home to Northolt Rangers.
The first blow of the day came in the changing rooms when regular shot stopper Andy Trigwell ruled himself unfit for the game meaning a selection headache for Kingy and Dazza.
The decision was made to play Stuart Trigwell in the sticks for the first half and a possibility of a swap in the second. The remainder of the team lined up as follows.... Gavin Long (RB), Mick Howes (CB, Richard Logan (CB), Paul Pidoux (LB), Tim Mooney (RB), Paul King (CM), Andy Garlick (CM), Lee Bishop (LM), Phil White (FW), Tyler Gibson (FW).... leaving Dean Collett as the lone sub.
BA started the match defending into the sun and found themselves under immediate pressure from a Northolt team that looked up for the game. After only 3 minutes BA were behind, Northolt attacked from the left wing and after a couple of clearances the ball fell to Northolt’s Midfielder who volleyed the ball over the top of Stuarts head and in to the back of the net. A half chance effort that was taken very well by Northolt’s midfielder. The response from BA was instant from the kick off a ball from Tim to Tyler found the striker through on goal after taking the ball past the defender Tyler saw his effort from a tight angle trickle wide of the far post. Play started to settle with counter attacking football from both teams setting the tone of the game.
After 15 min BA thought they had equalized when Kingy struck a superb shot from 25 yards which had the keeper beaten, unfortunately the ball cannoned off the underside of the bar before being cleared. It wasn’t long before BA got a deserved equalizer when a shot from Bish was parried wide by the keeper, Phil was first to react picking up the loose ball and swivelling back to goal before slotting the ball into the open net.
With the game level BA started to take control and on 25 Minutes Kingy picked up the ball 30 yards out before letting rip with a shot that found the wrong side of the post, Moments later good passing play led to a chance for Tyler, Bish lifted a superb pass over the top of the defender to Tyler who found himself 16 yards out one on one, Tyler’s volley beat the on rushing Goal Keeper but struck the bottom of right post before going out of play for a goal kick.
Football can be a cruel game and this was proven minutes later when a long ball found Northolt’s left winger who took a touch past Gavin into the box, Gavin’s desperate lung was miss-timed leading to an easy penalty decision for the ref. Northolt’s number 7 stepped up and despite hitting a weak and poorly placed pen managed to wrong foot Stu to put Northolt 2-1 up.
Confidence was back with Northolt as the away team controlled possession but created few chances. On 38 minutes Stu was called into action with a good strike from the Northolt centre midfielder which was tipped wide for a corner.
With half time approaching BA managed to find another equalizer when Tyler latched onto a pass from Gavin, The centre forward got the better of the Northolt centre back before striking a 25 yard shot toward goal. Northolt’s goalkeeper could only parry the shot back towards Tyler who followed up with an equally well struck shot back at goal that found the back of the net with the Northolt keeper only managing to get his fingertips to the ball.
Half Time BA Sunday 2 - 2 Northolt Rangers
The Half Time team talk focused on upping the work rate 10% and taking the game to Northolt. BA were high in confidence and knew that they had a good chance of getting 3 points from this game.
However it seemed that the team talk hadn’t worked for BA, within 5 minutes of the restart Northolt regained the lead. A defensive error led to Northolt’s forward through on goal, his shot was tipped onto the post by Stu with the Northolt’s strike partner first to react slotting into the empty net.
Northolt again pilled the pressure on BA and on 62 minutes another break led to a good chance for the Northolt front man; however a good double save from Stu before an offside decision kept the score at 2-3. It wasn’t long before Northolt found another breakthrough with a long ball played over the top of the BA defence, the Northolt front man took a couple of touches and slotted past Stu for his second and Northolt’s 4th with 72 minutes played.
Dazza decided to make a change bringing Deano on replacing Paul Pidoux at left back. Dean was straight in the action setting away Bish on the left who won a corner of Northolt’s right back. Phil took the in swinging corner which was meet by the head of Bish and fell just wide of the left hand post.
A revived BA started to pile more pressure on the Northolt team and were rewarded with a goal in the 78th minute compliments of Kingy. The best spell of passing led to a cross from Tyler that was meet by the head of Phil, the shot was blocked before falling to Kingy who took his shot on the turn finding the bottom left hand corner. 3-4 and the game was back on !
With 12 minutes remaining BA started to show the football that had been missing for the best part of the second half with chances falling to Phil, Tyler and Richard all of which were blocked by a resilient Northolt defence. Richard had a chance in the dying seconds of the game which was blocked and cleared to the sound of the full time whistle.
BA will feel that this really was points dropped and that a draw would have been a fair result, a real chance to win against a team who were relatively average but took their chances. The stop start season has restricted the team to settle and fitness after yet another break proved to be the difference. The team can take positives from the game and the chances that were created. A weeks break from competitive matches before a home game against FC Yeiwsley and a chance to kick start the disrupted season !
