Northwood Reds 1-1 Hinton & Finchley Revolution
Player of the Match Rayyan
On a perfect morning and over at Merchant Taylors the boys resumed their league campaign after the exit from the Spring Cup.
The match started and both sides were both trying to play a passing game which did seem to cancel each other out a bit. However Northwood were creating a few good chances and our Player of the match Rayyan was up to all that came his way in the early exchanges. The Northwood defence again was solid with some good tackling and great positional play that stopped most of the early H&F chances. The midfield quartet also getting back and helping out when needed which helped the overall team performance with Ben B having a great game in front of the back 3 of Lewis Ryan, Daniel & George. The first goal of the game did not come until the 22nd minute when a good break from H&F found the Northwood defence outnumbered and without anyone closing the ball H&F went 1-0 up to what was quite a soft goal after all the hard work previously put in by the team. The goal did spur the boys into life again and some fresh legs were introduced which nearly straight away resulted in an equaliser with both Joshua and Ashley going close as they had all of the half. Frankie again was having a good solid game . Just before half time we lost George after he had blocked a goal bound effort from H&F, so the pack was shuffled with Saihaan coming on as striker and Joshua slipping into the back 3. The boys came in 1-0 down at half time but were confident that they were still very much in the game.
Again at half time more fresh legs were introduced with Ben F coming on to add his style of play to the mix and he combined well with some great passing to set Saihaan and Lewis Reid into good attacking positions with them both coming close The game very much ebbed & flowed from end to end with both goal keepers playing well and keeping shots out. The decision was made to bring Ben B back onto the pitch in an unfamiliar centre back role and to push Joshua back up front. Within a few minutes of the change Lewis Ryan struck and magnificent pass that found Lewis Reid who played in Joshua who finished in fine style to make it 1-1. Again the boys played their passing game well and were combining well, from one move Frankie found himself through on goal but unfortunately his shot came off the outside of his boot and spun agonisingly wide.
H&F were now beginning to throw everything forward putting the Northwood defence under all sorts of pressure. H&F were getting corner after corner and the pressure was telling but an in form Rayyan somehow stopped everything that came at him with 2 outstanding save which just tipped the POM in his favour up until then it was very much between Lewis Ryan & Ben B. But as well as Rayyan’s fine form the whole of the team were defending like demons and stopping all that H&F threw at them .
This was very much a game of 2 halves which I think Northwood edged the first half but H&F did come back into the game well and on another day they might have sneaked a win but I think that a draw was a fair result.
This week, as for the 2 previous weeks John & I were very happy with the overall team performance and attitude of all of the boys, we are sure that they boys have turned a corner but we need now to kick on in what will be a difficult game against Bushey Rangers next week. .
Line up : Rayyan, George Daniel Lewis Ryan, Ashley Ben B, Dec, Frankie, Joshua, Lewis Reid, Ben F. Saihaan, Callum
Well done boys.
