Match report
Gordon Youth Club 3 - 2 Hawthorne Rangers
by Eddie Bernard
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Hawthorne Rangers battled hard but were extremely unlucky not to come away with anything in this first game of the Mini League and the first of 2009. The two sides were evenly matched for most of the game, and perhaps a draw would have been a fair result, but nevertheless it was an encouraging performance after three weeks out of action.
The game started cagily, with both sides unable to exact any real pressure on their opponent. Hawthorne got forward a couple of times, but the Gordon Youth defence was equal to it. At the back, the reconstituted Hawthorne defence, with Eddy and Adam B filling in for absent players, were a little nervous at first, but grew in confidence as the game wore on.
Before that, however, there was just enough time for a setback. Darren had made a great save after 11 minutes, but it soon became clear that the pressure was building on Hawthorne. Eventually, a simple corner was floated across the box, helped goalwards by the wind, and though there was some debate as to whether the initial header crossed the line, the referee gave the goal, and fair enough to him he was in an excellent position to give it. 1-0.
After that Hawthorne started to struggle. The ball spent most of its time in their half, and they were unable to win anything of any significance in midfield. Jay and Charlie up front were starved of chances, and in any event were kept occupied by good defending.
The stress on the back four eventually took its toll, when a routine drop kick from Darren was wickedly held up by a strong gust... bringing the ball back on itself. When it finally dropped, a Gordon Youth player was first to it and slotted home a simple finish. 2-0.
With just a few minutes left to go in the first half, Hawthorne finally got a chance worth writing about. A good break down the right reached Charlie, who got forward well but was forced out wide in the process. He still managed to get a good, fast cross through the box, but a Gordon Youth defender was first to it. At half time, 2-0 was probably fair on the balance of play, though Hawthorne were, as usual, left ruing their luck.
It had to be a better second half for Hawthorne or the score was probably going to end up something of an embarrassment. Fortunately, that was exactly what happened. Now with the wind on their side, Hawthorne were sure to be in with a chance if they had a crack at goal from anywhere near the penalty area...
And that was exactly what happened when after two minutes of the second half Mark scored a great goal from 18 yards, an excellent left footed strike from the right side of the area, curling in to the top corner. At 2-1, the game was now up for grabs if Hawthorne could show enough determination.
But first there was a little consolidation to do. It's always important to keep up the concentration levels after a goal, and never more so than today in order to keep in the game. Gordon Youth immediately tried to hit back, but Warren and Josh both had very good games at centre back to deny the Gordon Youth attack on a number of occasions.
Sometimes you can't keep them out for ever though, and inevitably the defence was undone by an excellent swirling cross from the left, where it met the unmarked head of a Gordon Youth player at the far post. 3-1.
Despite the setback, Hawthorne kept going. A few tactical changes seemed to breathe a new lease of life into the team, releasing Eddy from defence into midfield, and bringing Adam B back to the left side. They were getting further forward, getting corners too, and a sense began to grow that Hawthorne had more goals in them.
It nearly happened when a long range speculative effort from about 30 yards from Danny flew at the goal, dipping downwards and hit the bar. If Hawthorne would have been quicker on the rebound they might have scored at the second attempt, but it wasn't to be.
The opportunities kept developing, for both sides, as when Hawthorne attacked Gordon Youth were quick on the counter. But still the defence held up and that allowed Hawthorne to keep forward.
Eventually, Hawthorne made their chances count. Ray whipped in a good corner and Adam B got his head to it. The ball went up and over the keeper, and at 2-3 it set up a nerve-wracking end to the game.
The last five minutes were tough to watch as the seconds ticked away, wondering, hoping for the third Hawthorne goal to split the points. It nearly came right at the death when Hawthorne's final corner went right into the crowd in the middle of the box. It could have gone anywhere, but a Gordon Youth player got their head to it first, and that was the final whistle.
It was a shame to end at 3-2, but Hawthorne have to be positive about the result considering their second half performance, the players missing today, and the fact that the last time Hawthorne played Gordon Youth the score was a 6-1 defeat.
Man of the match today was Ray for his tireless contribution throughout the game, intelligent passing and good corners. Let's hope for more of the same from everyone next week.
| Team for the game | |||
| Darren (GK) | |||
| Adam B | Josh | Warren | Eddy |
| Ryan | Ray | Danny | Mark |
| Charlie | Jay | ||
Subs: Luke (25 mins)
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