2008-09 Reserve Team Match Reports
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Syresham Reserves 2 Great Horwood 4 Scorers- Chris Knight (1) Adam Armitage (3) The team had the good fortune to have the lads back from Uni. Neil Cox, captain and manager for this game, called them up when others dropped out, thus enabling Terry Archer to play in the centre of mid field with both Ridders and Chris Knight; with Jake Hilliard playing at the back along side Trevor Slade and Nick Shearman. The weather was good with a slight wind almost straight down the pitch which was at our teams back in the first half. The goal mouths were both muddy and poor which made it difficult for defenders and the goal keeper. We started a little hesitantly but soon started to play some attractive football with quick inter- passing. The midfield was working well and creating a lot of opportunities to score but the power was lacking in the finishing. Eventually on one attacking move Terry Archer was brought down in the penalty area and awarded a penalty. Unfortunately, the captain, Neil Cox, just missed placing it wide of the right hand post. Never mind within a couple of minutes Adam Armitage made up for it with a glancing header at the near post, which just crept over the line. Syresham still pressed but did not look that dangerous and we went even further ahead with a goal that came from some good interplay starting from midfield who laid the ball to Chris Knight who with a good one two found himself racing through to poke the ball passed the advancing goalkeeper. Late on in the first half they scored a soft goal when Nick Shearman found himself as the last defender and in the difficult conditions miss judged the ball which resulted in it finding possession with their attacker behind him; this is a really shame as up to and for the rest of the game Nick had him in his pocket! Score at half time 1-2 and we deserved to be in front by much more than this with good build up play through the mid field and a host of chances going begging. The second half was a bit more scappy but we still made some good passing moves at times to threaten their goal. They had chances too but failed to get their shots on target. Adam Conn replaced Rory Adams after about 15 minutes as left mid field. Eventually, we broke through with a second goal from Adam Armitage, to make it 1-3 but soon they scored a second when an attack down our right was met with two rash challenges allowing the striker to hit the ball across the goal from close range which hit Adam Conn on the arm and ended up in the back of our net. Scott Wilson replaced Ridders centre of midfield with about 30 minutes of the second half gone, captain Cox took himself off to be replaced by Sid who had a couple of opportunities which he added to the number of players that had failed to convert chances into goals. This was not the end because after a series bad tackles by the opposition and the game becoming very ‘end to end’ as players tired, Chris Knight blasted a cross in for Adam Armitage to complete his hat trick when he threw himself at the ball, managing to make contact and sending the ball into the back of the net. We should have made more of our chances and beaten this team by a greater margin Final score was 2 – 4 and it was a great end to a very good first half of the season for the reserve team.
Great Horwood 3 Marsh Gibbon 1 Scorers: Bradie Walker x 2, Scott Wilson Not be outdone by The Chairman of GHFC, Mr. Eddie Collins…………………please be upstanding for the Great Horwood Reserves Match Report. A complete volume to date, currently in its 12th Addition and a box set will be available from June 2009 only from www.greathorwoodfc.co.uk To the action and fresh off the back of a impressive second half performance against Stewkley last week, the team that finished the half in their given positions were set to start this game with the odd change her and there and we knew that if we played as we did week previous then we are good enough to pick up another 3 points. With the usual build up to the game; such as collecting players money and filling out our team sheets came a constant interruption by the opposition manager, who it came abundantly clear was struggling to field a side. The game was near to being called off when the Manager explained that he couldn’t provide a linesmen, so up stepped boy hero Tom (Vinnie’s lad), who frog marched himself into the referees changing room and asked if he was old enough to run the line for them……………………..the ref agreed and thanks to Tom we had a game of football to play (a drink or three is owed to the future star of Luton I believe lads, dig deep) although from the kick off you would struggle to see that!!! I’m not going to rant on anymore than what I did in the changing room after the game as it is done and dusted now but in general the performance wasn’t good enough and too much attention was paid to the fact the March Gibbon only had 10 men but I just hope that EVERYBODY CONCERNED KNOWS THIS AND IS WILLING TO PUT IT RIGHT ON SATURDAY AGAINST ROYAL BRITISH LEGION!!! Two goals scored in the first half, Bradie started proceedings after a solid interception from the Shearmanator (Nick, like that needed clarifying) started the move before carrying the ball deep into the opponents half before laying the ball into Ridders who with the deftest of touch, lofted the ball over their centre half where Nick took the ball down allowing Bradie to slot the ball home with a fantastic finish into the bottom corner. Second came from the spot, where Scott Wilson although against the instruction of the Manager managed to slot the ball home in the bottom left corner………………..well that was at least the intended target, the ball travel down the centre of the goal, fortunately the keeper had read the intentions…………………either a fantastic penalty or extremely cr@p..................answers on a postcard please??? Second Half was so poor, a long ball undone our defence who owing to the dominance of position due to the extra man held a high line, too high for their quick forward who out sprinted the defence to score their first of the game. Marsh had more and more chances as the game went on, leaving the manager with no choice but to bring on his subs. With fresh players, Horwood seemed to settle in the last 10 minutes of the game but not without a scare along the way. Horwood conceded the softest of penalties which owing to the Ridders and his ability to read the mind, he correctly predicted the outcome of the resulting spot kick by verbal announcing to the taker not to hit his car which is due north east of the framework……………………not quite the clairvoyant you thought you were ay Ridders, as he hit my car to the right of yours…………………score still 2-1 Horwood. Promptly after the proverbial kick up the ass we needed, Horwood controlled possession and with a lot of simple passing found themselves in a goal scoring position when Adam Armitage played a well weighted ball into the path of the second half sub Coxy who pulled the ball back between the edge of their six and eighteen yard box wide right to cross to the patient Bradie who calmly and confidently slotted home his second and Horwoods third of the game!!! FULL TIME and 6 points from two but not the performance we would of wanted!!! Next week we play Royal British Legion for the second time and I remind all the players that if we take away the two soft penalties they scored, it was an even performance and this should be a close game if we play to our capabilities………………. VINNIE DIXONS BARMY ARMY!!! Report :- Coxy
Great Horwood Reserves 3 Stewkley Reserves 1 Scorers: Vince Tuffour, Bradie Walker, Neil Cox Well, well, well………………………..what a response, the boys certainly didn’t disappoint but it wasn't as plain sailing as the score suggests. Off the field, with the build up to the game, there were a lot of problems which left the respective managers pulling their hair out and yet again, the teams don’t know how close they were to only having the bare eleven. With stolen cars, the first team manager missing through illness and the normal last minute players pulling out (THIS IS NOT GOOD, NOTICE IS NEEDED PLEASE BOYS, although no culprits in the Reserves this week I have to say……..thank you) this made for a very hectic start but with both sides starting with a squad of 13, all connected with Horwood were left hoping that this wouldn’t be an unlucky omen. First half started slowly, it seemed that Horwood minds were still in the changing rooms which if Stewkley converted their chances early on then this report may of taken a slightly different course but fortunately Horwood managed to ride their luck and Stewkley chances seemed to find the allotment as opposed to the back of the net. Horwood started to settle and had a few good periods of pressure , of which the best opportunity came from a speculative 30 yard effort from Simon Ridgeway that went just over. It was during this period of pressure that Horwood won a free kick from 25 yards out which Simon Ridgeway (count them, this is the FIRST assist mentioned) took with great effect, as his curling cross found Vince unmarked at the far post who leaped well to head the ball home for his first. The Opponents seemed to be in uproar about a suspicion of offside which to be fair was probably valid but nevertheless the goal stood and thereafter many decisions seemed to go against us to balance up the version of events. With half time looming, the last thing Horwood wanted to do was concede and during the half Time break, Horwood took the moment to reflected on exactly that………………………’the last thing we wanted to do was concede at half time but here we are, it has happened now 1-1, let’s go out second half and win this game of football”………….. Second Half was a fantastic response from the boys, they all listened to the Gaffers inspirational team talk and the change to drop Knighty into midfield and push Bradie upfront worked to magical effect as Knighty, strong as ever, won a throw on which Ridders took quickly to Coxy who laid off an overweighted pass (in body as well as ability) back to Ridders who could do nothing but play a through ball to Bradie (Count them, this is the SECOND assist mentioned - knowing Ridder’s Vision this would have been the ball he would have played anyway), who latched onto the end of it only to conduct some weird Irish river dance on the edge of the six yard box, not happy to beat his man seven times as that’s an uneven number, he went for the eighth before calmly slotting the ball in the bottom left. The flood gates then opened and chances were presenting themselves with what we thought was only the keeper to beat, we forgot about the offside with both Bradie and Knighty ruled off despite being played in by Coxy from behind play. However the third came when a good spell of football came played at a high tempo left the Stewkley defence overrun with advancing Horwood players…………….with the ball slotted through to Knighty with only the keeper to beat, he hit the bar, this in turn fell nicely for Coxy to slot home for the third and his fourth on the season. With chances created a plenty and the defence in complete control for the duration (solid game boys!!!), Horwood can be proud of this victory and must carry over this effort to next week’s must win game against Marsh Gibbon.
Great Horwood Reserves 0 Westbury 4 I am a great believer in; if you have nothing good to say, then say nothing at all…………(I’ve said this once before this season, I am forced to say it again……………let’s make sure this is for the last time) I’m sure the lads know how disappointing the performance was and I’m sure all concerned will pick themselves up and give 100% more next weekend!!! Let’s get some points boys!!!
Hanslope Reserves 4 Great Horwood Reserves 4 GOALS = OG, Simon Ridgway, Rafal Brzezinski, Chris Luff Saturday 1st November 2008 WHAT A GAME, it had everything for the neutral observer with great joy and great anger for both teams and all those connected with them. We arrived in high sprits knowing that in recent years, games here had been close so we had every chance of getting a decent result. The team was strong with a new face, Rafal our Polish international, with Tank released from the first team to cover our absent keeper and returning old boy Mr Adam Conn set for his first appearance in a while due to concussion, lined up to be super sub. Early set backs meant we lost Adam before the start of the game to cover the firsts who only had 10 players turn up (tut tut tut poor commitment lads), quickly followed by el capitano losing the toss resulting in us playing with the wind in the first half, not a major issue at the time but could have repercussions for the second half. Kick off came and confidence oozed from the mighty ‘wood with good possession, control, passing and vision coming from all over the park. The main threat came from diagonal balls played from the centre of the park by Bradie and Ridders (aka Huddlestone as nick named by fellow Spurs supporting team mate Luffy) into the corners for the wingers to chase. It was from a set piece however that the first sprinkling of magic arrived, taken by our very quiet but seemingly talented Pole, Raf. He lofted in a “homing missile” of a ball curling in towards the near post where a flash mob were waiting to greet it and bundle the ball towards the top corner where it eventually ended up seemingly off the head of a defender named OG, (Perhaps he is Polish too). At Horwood, a goal is a goal and we’ll take what we can so after the initial surprise of scoring so early on in a match had worn off we were away and flying. Goal two and more magic from the centre of the park, after a sustained attack, (well pretty much most of the half so far was played in or around the opposition penalty area). The ball is repelled from the area and arrives near the feet of “Huddlestone” just outside the line of the Left post, with large numbers rushing out of the area, a cool and collected Ridders looks up and strokes the ball over the top of oncoming rush of players and the seemingly paralysed Keeper to nestle neatly in the back right of the net, 2 – 0, (nice back post cross Ridders known this season as a Luffy and last season as an Inchley). Goal 3 came from a combination of great passing and link up play but more importantly an individual piece of yet more magic from our Polish silent assassin! Bradie plays the ball to Inchley who returns the favour back to Bradie and then on to Raf 35 yards from goal. Darting runs continued all around him but he chose to take on the defence single footedly skipping through challenges weaving between lunging centre backs before arriving in the middle of the box and calmly slotting it under the pouncing keeper before turning and jogging back to the centre circle. 3 – 0 and it’s not even half time yet, although that is how the score stayed until the 45minute whistle was blown. Lots of excitement around the changing room at half time, 3 nil up away from home, but beware came the warning from the skipper, “this team will not lay down and will come back fighting” “we must not go out and switch off”. Unfortunately ‘switch off’ is exactly what we did and just minutes into the second 45 it was 3 – 1. I forget how they scored it but to great credit from the boys the 3 goal cushion was restored almost from kick off. The ball came squarely out from the middle of the park on the halfway line to Inch who was privileged enough to spot a rare sortie up field from Simon Ridgeway himself heading for the right hand corner flag, so the ball was rather unceremoniously smashed in that general direction and collected by Ridders who quickly skinned his man and lobbed in a cross to the centre of the goal where the shortest man on the pitch Chris Luff, leapt above his marker to head home past a spread eagled keeper. I’d like to say that was that but unfortunately I think the team got greedy, lazy and complacent Inchley being one of the main culprits and they managed to score 3 goals over the remainder of the game, which could have been more had Tank Ashby not been on fine form between the sticks as per usual. Full time 4 – 4 with 60 minutes of excellence from the mighty ‘wood and my man of the match although it’s not official would be Bradie Walker who battled, jumped and ran his heart out in the middle of the park resulting in an early departure due to injury. Sadly the frustration of the result all came out in the changing rooms afterwards, which was possibly biggest group of angry naked men I have seen in my life. Never the less if you look at the game as a point away from home in a fixture we usually lose 1 – 0, containing 60 minutes of excellent football and 4 goals in one game there are actually a lot of positives to be taken away. Next up sports fans is the start of 3 home ties in a row with the visitors Westbury having a very strong start to the season, so everyone needs to be fully fit and ready to make some hardcore challenges. I have nothing more to say but... “VINNIE DIXONS BARMY ARMY” “VINNIE DIXONS BARMY ARMY” “VINNIE DIXONS BARMY ARMY” Report Tom Inchley
Great Horwood Reserves 0 Great Linford 1 Saturday 25th October 2008 Well the answer is a bit of both……………the game had extra spice as two new Horwood players were formally valuable members of the opposition, so an invested interest as if any extra was needed to get a good result rung through the home changing room and everybody was fired up!!! When taking to the blustery field, with the wind blowing from end to end, the first half would see Horwood going with the wind and from the moment the whistle blew Horwood were on the attack. Possession was kept in a plenty and every member of the team were involved, from back to front Horwood looked good on the ball and the football played in spells would of caused most teams problems. Unfortunately Horwood lost their Daddy Walker early due to injury; queue the veteran Steve Bennett making his return and what an impressive return it was, especially considering the fact he was playing out of position. Possession + Good Football = Chances on Goal……………..of which there were a few, none as good as that what fell to Chris Luff who is referred to affectionately by Tom Inchley as Bum Fluff Luff, which is quite apt in this instance, as this shot into an empty(ish) net was FLUFFED wide!!! Missed chances seemed to be a theme during the first half and what with the opposition seemingly celebrating their inevitable victory owing to surviving the first half without conceding, would Horwood be able to press their dominance and claim all 3 points…… With the wind dying down, Horwood continued in the same manner and work rate was upped, so it wasn’t long before chances fell our way…………..notwithstanding the solid defensive display by the back three against two of Linford’s nippiest players. However, it appeared that with 70 minutes on the board, thoughts turned to whether or not it was ‘going to be one of those……………. and before anyone could finish their thought, a long ball over the top that fell between the defence and goal keeper was not dealt with; one missed kick later Horwood were one behind and the whole team were deflated!!! One last effort on goal resulted in a top draw save from Linford’s keeper but all in vain as the final whistle blew and a game that should have been buried first half was a bitter pill to swallow indeed for Horwood and their supporters alike!!! Next week pits the Reserves up against Hanslope who too are suffering from a poor start to the season, so one team can kick off their season come Saturday but who will it be, tune in next week Horwood Fans for another exciting addition of…………………… so close, yet so far!!!
Great Horwood Reserves 1 Royal British Legion 5 Saturday 18th October 2008 Well all the players appeared sprightly ahead of this game and certainly in high spirits with all things considered from last week’s performance, so from the kick off it was apparent that our referee for the game was not in the same frame of mind………………..in fact we was party to the same ‘Cricket Club Dinner and Dance’ and was very hung-over indeed!!! This may go some way to explaining the countless yellow cards issued to both teams and two penalties award to the opposition; God love BIG AL!!! After that, Horwood’s confidence was destroyed and two additional goals were conceded before half-time, however we have to concede begrudgingly that these two goals conceded were no more than what we deserved with some poor football at times which was rightly punished!!! Second half was a matter of damage limitation and the team talk at half time was not about getting a result, it was about restoring pride and starting a blank for the next 45 minutes……………….and boy did we not disappoint!!! Horwood finally put themselves about and was first to the ball, hitting tackles hard and in-between times played the kind of football that wins games……….all of which if we take into next weekend’s game against Great Linford, we can chalk up our second win and move up to mid table!!! Second Half result was 1-1 and it just goes to show that with this second half performance and the fight this side showed against Charlton, we are more than capable to win games!!! Chris Luff scored Horwood's only goal with a calm finish; I think for a fleeting moment most of the Horwood team thought the mighty Luff had been missed?!!! Bring on next week!!!
Saturday 11th October 2008 I am a great believer in; if you have nothing good to say, then say nothing at all………… However, we have to concede that our opponents were superb; Horwood could do well to take stock of our opponents approach and use that in next week’s game where we should be looking to put things back on track!!! One special mention should go to a very brave Tank ‘The Monk’ Ashby who without him, the score line could have been a lot different…………..ohh and Chris Knight with a gilt-edge chance to score a consolation, proving that too much time can be costly!!! Much to deliberate ahead of next week……………
Saturday 4th October 2008 After last week’s fantastic win against Syresham, albeit it a nervous affair for the last ten minutes of the game……………..could Horwood do the same again this week opponents Charlton with an away game played over at the Valley?!?!?! The weather conditions on Saturday could not be compared to the last two weeks and with absolutely no protection from the wind, there was a danger the game could become farcical. Winning the all important toss before the game (oh urr misses) would be crucial to the outcome of this match but it became apparent that with the wind as it was and the fact it took the ref three attempts to catch the coin before deciding to ask the Home Captain to call it in the air and let the coin hit the ground, that it was going to be a long afternoon……………………..fortunately the Charlton captain chose to go uphill and against the wind to begin with which proved to be costly for the home team…………. Straight from the off Charlton hit the ground running and showed why they had started the season in winning ways, putting Horwood under pressure early!!! However it was on the break that Horwood looked threatening and with Chris Knight showing willing to make a run he was found with a slightly overweighted pass that gave a Charlton defender on the cover time to get across and put the ball out for a corner. Chris Knight to take the corner after 11 minutes. Last week, Chris introduced some prearranged signals he would give ahead of distributing the ball, so prior to this particular corner kick the arm went up meaning the ball would go front post where the unmarked Cox took up his position to head home the lead. A spell of dominance again from the Home side went unpunished but boy were they close……………………..it was 25 minutes into the half when Horwood passed the ball well and with some positive football down the right the ball fell to a debutant, Adam Armitage who cut across the edge of their 18 yard box where Horwood players were queuing up square to receive the ball but Adam had other ideas, with a left foot curler that seemed to move in slow motion before the ball rippled into the back of the net with the keeper well beaten, Horwood make it two without reply. At this point it is fair to say that these were the only two shots had by Horwood and the attention should focus on the defence, with the two centre backs winning everything in the air and the large majority of any through ball, with Stuart Lancaster mopping up behind when needed. The pressure thrown at Horwood was intense and it’s a credit to the team how hard each and everyone worked to keep the home side out. It was only when the hard working Bradie Walker pulled up with a suspected pulled hamstring, the player left over who would have been tracked used this to his teams advantage and ran the ball up the flank, cutting in to give the angle to strike the ball across the goal which managed to find a team mate to pull the score back to 1-2. Half time (no refreshments provided…………not good) Horwood defended for 44 minutes……………..rarely managed to get the ball out our half, Horwood were pinned in…………………..Charlton however could not take advantage of their dominance and were forced into making the wrong decisions at moments that could of changed the game owing to dogmatic defending. Ridders and Steve were solid in the middle of Midfield and Mick and Trevor winning everything at the back………………awesome boys!!! It was with 10 minutes to go that the home side finally got the equaliser with a good cross met by the head of the 6ft forward who forced the ball home……………………at 2-2 could Horwood hold out!!! With Tom Inchley’s fresh legs, Horwood could of won the game with their third and final shot when Coxy picked up the ball in the middle and with the willing forward run he picked out Tom who decided to take an extra touch (if only he hit it first time) and forced wide took a shot but at a difficult angle the keeper saved with the ball rebounding towards Chris Knight the tracking defender managed to get a vital block in, keeping the score at 2 a piece………………. With 6 minutes plus stoppage time to go, Charlton carved out what seemed like another 20 chances but Horwood held out for the draw, which if were offered this result at halftime we would of taking it!!! Great grit and determination…………………..well down the boys!!!
Saturday 27th September 2008 With last week’s performance fresh in the minds on the players, Castle Fields was yet again the stage for Great Horwood Reveres to host a Saturday afternoon of football under a sun filled ski which if we were honest, seemed all too familiar to the one it proceeded………………so would it be the case of dejarvou or the much needed chance to put right the wrongs of last week’s thrashing at the hands of Grendon. With a new look starting line-up owing in large to a few players missing, this gave the opportunity to bring in new players but the pack had to be shuffled as the large majority of players we were missing were defenders. This meant the trusty 4-4-2 fell to the wayside and 3-5-2 was adopted, which in truth seemed to work quite well but after the first 5 minutes, I don’t think anyone associated with Horwood would have thought that as Syresham managed to get some freedom down the flank, cutting across to slot the ball effortlessly in at the front post……………….NOT a good start!!! For the first time in a long time, Horwood seemed completely unperturbed by this and with great believe, went about the business of playing football and believing in our own ability really turned on the style with some moments of simply great football. This football had all the promises of goals but it was actually the resulting corner that paid dividends when a well placed cross from Chris Knight was met by the 6ft+ Vince who steered the ball towards goal, with both defender and goal keeper trying to clear, the big lump they call Coxy out muscled the pair of them to scrambled the ball across the line with the aid of his gut…………(the final touch was with my boot by the guys found it so funny that I’d scored with my fat belly, I didn’t have the heart to tell them) At one a piece, Horwood really had the bit between their teeth and were pushing to score more goals and with Inchley and Luffy offering width and Bradie making useful runs through the centre this pathed the way for a good few chances to fall our way. This however was by no means without reply, as Horwood were concentrating on attacking this left the door open a few times for Syresham to attack and with the run up to half time, the game was stretched…………..at least until super Tom Inchley put pay to that with another stunning………………………………………..cross!!! What’s the, you expected the cross to find the head of an attacker who headed home the second, we’ll that’s not the intention of super Tom’s crosses, they invariably go in the allotment or as they did last season (twice in one game as an example) float nicely into the top corner, fortunately for Horwood it was the latter, 2-1 Horwood at halftime. Second half started as usual, quite shaky for Horwood and they could consider themselves fortunate not to have conceded early but with some impressive tackling by Daddy Walker, Vince & father to be (that is commitment, playing football with baby expected any minute………….REPECT) Nick and then a fine tip over save by Stuart Lancaster. Horwood then went through the gears and attacked with great threat which resulted in the third after a great spell of position, the ball was played into Coxy with back to goal managed to hold off his defender to thread a pass through to his strike partner Chris Knight, who in turn laid the ball out wide to the Tom Inchley who run tirelessly against arguable Syresham’s best player and to our surprise got forward to support the attack, after wriggling to make half a yard for himself, he whipped in a cross into the danger area and much to everyone’s surprise it found the head of the awaiting Chris Knight who with a pin point accuracy found the back of the net to make it 3 for Horwood. With the sun beating down, 80 minutes played and Horwood with a 2 goal cushion, we seemed to take our foot of the gas with the view to play out what we had got, which could of ended in tears after a spell of play by Horwood was broken down and Syresham quick on the counter scored after 10 seconds of winning possession and only 2 passes later, very impressive but a huge warming to Horwood. The guys battled hard in the last 10 minutes, this typified by the performances of both Steve Bennett and Simon Ridgeway who worked their socks off and helped carry Horwood across the line for their first win of the season. Good day, great win and hopefully the start of things to come……………………. (Report by Coxy)
Saturday 20th September 2008 After a long wait, the day had finally come………… the day we had all been looking forward to since the last kick of the ball for 2007-08 season over at Grendon of whom just so happened to be the first visitors to Castle Fields for the opening game of the 08-09 season for Horwood Reserves……………..let’s play football!!! However, it appears that in all the excitement of the long awaited day, the promise of playing football seem to have been forgotten by the large majority of GHFC who right from kick off were put under extreme pressure, with Grendon creating half dozen good chances that lack the final product in front of goal. Despite Grendon’s dominance it was GHFC who opened the scoring, with the only spell of meaningful Horwood possession, with good build up play down the left that saw impressive triangle give and goes between Adam Conn who started the move and Ridders that finished it off with a lovely weighted ball through to Coxy who beat his defender with only the keeper to beat from 20 yards, slotted it bottom left beyond the advancing keeper (mainly because he is toooooo fat and old to have run any further)!!! With only 15 minutes until halftime, Horwood were hopefully that if we could end the half with the score line in hand, we could assess the problems and put them right for the second half……..unfortunately Grendon had other ideas!!! Due to some extremely woeful football from the large majority of the side that saw far too many sliced clearances, missed tackles and loose passes, Horwood found themselves trailing 2-1 at halftime which certainly was not against the run of play!!! The team talk at halftime is certain not for repeating on here but let’s just say a few strong words were had and it seem to have done the trick for the opening 10 minutes of the second half the balance of play had completely shifted and Horwood found themselves with a few early half chances that could well of changed the game if converted. However the spell didn’t last long and with the momentum shifting back in Gredon’s favor, with Horwood resorting to arguing amongst themselves on the pitch, with team mates off the pitch and even Horwood spectators, this only gave Grendon all the encouragement they needed to put the game beyond Horwood who had launched the self-destruct sequence and a further two goals conceded without reply. A thoroughly disappointing end to a game of which we were all looking forward to…………………let’s hope this can be put right next week against Syresham!!!
Thursday 11th September 2008 Answer……………YES…………..15 in fact and what a mighty 15 at that!!! Unfortunately the same couldn’t be said for Oving who really struggled to field eleven players, a linesman or even a referee!!! However that said, Oving were determined not to be a push over and despite GHFC dominance from kick off, chances were not converted into a sizable goal tally and a hat full of chances went begging inside the first twenty minutes. Two Horwood goals were scored in the first half by new recruits; Bradie Walker getting the scoring underway with Chris Luff making it 2 nil moments later with an attacking cross come shot which curled its way into the top right hand corner. GHFC desire to get forward unfortunately led to our conceding late on in the half with a fine breakaway goal. Second half lead to a few forced substitutions and others more tactical by the Gaffer, like replacing the donkey (no mentioning names Skip) who missed chances, with the young Dougie who returned the Gaffers faith with a finely finished goal. Luffy doubled his lead (apologies, I missed the goal so if you pay my subs next week I’ll say it was a 50 yard screamer) and with the home team having a dubious penalty awarded which was duly converted, the light started to fade and the game was brought to an end; 4-2 the final score. Good performance all round, nice to see old faces back and especially nice to see new faces, I sincerely wish to see all those involved today along with other who were unable to make it for the duration of this season………………..let’s get our league campaign off to a winning start next Saturday, see you all there!!! Report by Coxy
Tuesday 5th August 2008 Terry Cronin, Chris Luff x 2, Andy Mayne (Pen), Gareth Edwards, Dougie Conn Great Performances also came from Steve Fazakerley, Mick Walker and Broadie Walker. For the record, Rory Adams played really well putting in some good crosses resulting in 2 goals, Steve Bennett turned the game around in midfield when he came on, Nick Shearman was solid in defense before being blood subbed, Tank Ashby had a rubbish day in goal and should defiantly be left in the reserves ;) and Adam Conn had another consistently good performance. Ohh and I did not score an OG!!!!!
I am now massively motivated to get my injury
sorted as all being well, regarding keeping players, I'm gonna
struggle to get off the bench!
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