Home league match played on 05 April 2015.
Kicked off at 10:00 AM
Facelad went into this home fixture with a real buzz around the side after a great result on the previous week, players returning and the biggest reason of all... a return to Oak Hill Park Facelad's old home ground.
With J.Clynes leading the side into battle for the first time in his career, he won the toss and Facelad kicked off. From the offset facelad settled into the game well with good possession stats and a confidence defensively in their 3-2-4-1 formation.
The deadlock was broken after some real good play by Scott and O’Brien to win a free kick on the edge of Highgate's box. O’Brien stepped up and from a difficult angle bent the ball round the wall nestling into the bottom corner, what a free kick!
Facelad didn’t have the game all their own way though. They say you're most vulnerable when you've just scored and this was proved true when the ball was won inside the Facelad half and the wide midfielder of Highgate struck a decent lob from distance to catch out C.Saxby as Highgate drew level.
The equalizer was cancelled out almost immediately as J.Clynes took advantage of a breakdown in communication between 2 Highgate defenders. He got a toe to the ball as they both hesitated both seeming to assume the other would get their first and J.Clynes was brought down by the Highgate captain to win a penalty. Pressure on alderman who had missed the last 3 games for facelad, also he's missed his last penalty costing facelad a vital point in their title campaign, after a slight delay.. And who knows what thoughts racing round his head.. Relief as Alderman strikes and sends the keeper the wrong way, he can put it to his right!
Half Time 2-1 Facelad
With a couple of squandered chances by J.Clynes shooting wide just inside the box, Scott missing from the edge off the back the chance came after some patient build up play where the ball eventually found its way to clynes who’s perfectly weighted pass into O’Brien’s path set the facelad boys stretching there advantage just after the break, Darren’s second of the game. Great goal and link up play from the pairing that looked dangerous all game.
O’Brien’s hunger for more and more goals showed as some good work again from the wee man led to him being pulled down and the referee awarding another penalty for the facelad boys. Alderman steps up, same way same result from the young man to score he’s 11th goal of the campaign.
The main talking point of the game after an eagerly awaited return of Mathew Saxby who has missed a lot of football for the side this season comes off the best to score a memorable goal, celebration for Saxby who can now silence the fans questioning he’s commitment to the team,
All in all a great day for facelad who were well worth a 5-1 victory today but its onto the next one in faclead’s promotion push as they take on top of the league JRL this weekend.
