A good team performance from Norreys was not quite enough to come away with a point from the game at Burghclere.
There was a make shift midfield on show for Norreys this weekend with a number of players missing due to injury and availability, with Niko & Stoney stepping in. It was a rather slow start from Norreys, with the early pressure coming from Burghclere who were looking to take full advantage of their early dominance.
It took just 5 minutes for Burghclere to take the lead with a header from the six yard box. Burghclere then were on the front foot and looking to build on their early goal.
Norreys were under a lot of pressure from Burghclere and the defence were being kept very busy but were coping well from the threat with some work from all of the back four.
The good work however was undone after 15 minutes with one of the luckiest goals you will ever see. A cross from the right hand side into the Norreys box saw Tyrone tip the ball onto the crossbar only for the ball to roll along the bar and drop onto the on rushing Burghclere forward and into the back of the net!!
Burghclere were still applying the pressure and required some more good work from Tyrone and the back four. The mounting pressure on the Norreys goal was compounded when Tyrone picked up an injury whilst thwarting a Burghfield attack. Tyrone eas unable top run off the injury and the manager was forced to come on and play in goal after 27 minutes of play.
Luckily the new keeper did not have much to do for the rest of the first half as Norreys were looking to get back into the game and applying some good pressure all over the pitch to contain Burghclere.
The format for Norreys so far this season has been some good second half performances, and this second half was no different with Norreys looking to get an early reply. Norreys were applying pressure to Burghclere all over the pitch, and there were some good balls put into the box from Karl & Stretch that Burghclere were having to work hard to defend.
Burghclere were being kept at bay and had to resort from shooting from further out, and the stand in keeper had to make a good save stopping a top-corner bound effort by pushing it on to the bar, followed by a 'silver-sticker' save low to the keepers right!
Then the Norreys break through came after 78 minutes when Brad played a one-two with Stoney outside the box and calmly slotted home to make the score 2-1.
Norreys then were on the front foot and good chasing from Brad & Ali up front was putting the Burghfield defence under mounting pressure, however were unable to create any clear cut chances for an equaliser.
All Norreys effort over the pitch was nearly undone when a last minute long range effort from Burghfield was well saved from the stand in keeper to keep the score line as a true reflection of all Norreys hard work.
The score finished 2-1, but was another good performance for Norreys to build on.
There were some great other highlights during the game such as a strange corner/throw in decision from the referee, a drop ball due to the overhanging trees and reference to the ball hitting a pigeon in the Premier League!!!
Another good team performance that will hopefully start to pay dividends.
Managers man of the match was Matthew 'Zippy' Parlour (only just beating the stand in goal keeper!!)
