Winchmore Hill FC vs Norsemen FC

Winchmore Hill vs Norsemen

Saturday 24th Spetember

3.00pm

The Paulin Ground

Not Winched To Safety

Another Saturday, another away trip for the blue giants. This week it was just around the corner at Winchmore Hill, our local rivals. We were reliable informed by the skipper in one of his midweek motivational texts that we’ve been waiting 7 years to play them in a competitive fixture, so we all had to make sure we were up for the game. As people arrived it was clear to see that everyone had taken Tadd’s words seriously and were focussed on what was surely to be a very close and hard-fought game. Gav and TT’s inability to use the TFL website meant that Tadd, Joe and the gaffer were late as they had to take a diversion to go and pick them up from Bush Hill Park. Despite the 5 of them turning up 25 minutes after the meet time, they still weren’t the last ones there, as little Leroy loves to make an entrance. Besides, this gives Phil the chance to say “Leroy would be late for his own f-ing funeral” just as he has done before the previous 35 first team matches.

After getting ready, whilst listening to a bizarre mix of Ibiza classics, RnB and the beatles, we went out for a gentle warm-up, before the team was named – after a fantastic performance last week, and with Leroy and Tajae passing late fitness tests (well, James made them run up and down whilst occasionally shouting a number out) only one change was made, with Muzza making way for Joe to come in at left-back, and James Alexander on the bench in place of the unavailable Pearson. The simple message was ‘more of the same boys’ as the previous week’s win against Salesians and the second half comeback against Nottsborough the week before left us knowing that if we worked hard off the ball, and played our football when we had it, then we’d have a decent chance against anyone in this league.

The game started very evenly, as both teams worked hard off the ball but were a little bit too rushed in possession. Winchmore set up with one up top and a deep-lying forward trying to feed off scraps, and they had a couple of half chances off the back of this. Norsemen gradually started to get used to the bumpy surface, and began getting on top. Just as the away side were starting to dictate the play, Winchmore took the lead. They forced a corner, the initial delivery wasn’t cleared properly, and after some good work by the right-winger the centre forward had a relatively easy task of knocking it in from inside the 6 yard box. This seemed to galvanise Norsemen, and the blues then largely dominated the rest of the half. After about 5 minutes the scores were all level – some good work from Os and Gav down the right led to Reg being played in inside the box – Norsemen’s answer to Red Rum took a touch to control it, and as he was about to shoot was brought down by a rash challenge from the Winchmore centre back. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Despite the keeper doing his best to put Hemps off by arguing with anyone who’d listen for a full 5 minutes, the Northern winger tucked the penalty into the bottom corner.

The next 20 minutes saw Norsemen create many chances, without really testing the keeper. The best chance fell to the normally deadly Leroy, who fired wide after a fantastic run and cross from Tajae. Another chance fell to Leroy, as they did to Reg and Ross, but none were converted. To be fair to Winchmore they looked dangerous on the break, and had a goal correctly disallowed for offside (although it was very tight), and another good chance that Anthony was equal to. Just before half-time there was another shout for a penalty to the blues as Reg again looked like he was brought down, but the referee didn’t look interested. When the half-time whistle went it was slightly disappointing to be level, as on the balance of chances we could have been 1 or 2 up.

No changes at half time, and after a shaky 5 minutes, Norsemen were soon on top again. There were no real chances until on the hour, when the away team took the lead. A free kick wasn’t dealt with properly and fell to Tadd close to the by-line. Some neat footwork and a great cross found Gav free at the back stick to side foot home – 2-1 to Norsemen. Tadd celebrated like a kid who’d just been told he could stay up to watch Match of the Day, and scared the life out of most of the watching crowd. To say he loves Norsemen is an understatement.

At this point the game got a lot more open, and Winchmore upped the tempo of their play. Norsmen had a let off when a shot through a crowd of players was parried by Anthony, with the rebound knocked in by the home side’s deep lying forward. The celebrations were cut short when the linesman raised his flag – I have no idea whether it was the correct decision as I was up the other end, but the Winchmore faithful definitely didn’t agree with the linesman.

At this point substitutions were made – Leroy made way for James, and Reg – who had been brilliant all day and had put a hell of a shift in – came off with cramp to be replaced by Mark.  A few minutes later, we were all square again. Winchmore’s left back had been substituted after being given a torrid time by Gav, and in an attempt to get back in the game they had moved their left winger back to full back, and brought on a more attack minded player. The new full back produced an overlapping run that was never tracked and his cross was spilled by Anthony to the same player who had seen the linesman’s flag deny him a few minutes earlier. This time the flag stayed down and it was 2-2.

To the credit of the away side, they responded well and nearly snatched the lead again – James had a chance that was blazed over, and Os saw his deflected shot creep just the wrong side of the post with the keeper beaten. However Winchmore kept pushing forwards, and with 2 minutes to go their centre forward, and their best player on the day, rose to head a corner low into the net and grab all 3 points for the home team.

The final whistle went and Norsemen were left to reflect on what could have been. From the sideline it seemed a harsh lesson that missed chances and individual errors will be punished at this level. However, we have now played 3 of the best teams in the division and have more than held our own against all 3 of them. Winchmore are a decent team and were more clinical on the day so fair play to them. Next up is a tough trip to Old Wilsonians where we’ll need to be at our best to bounce back from the disappointment of this defeat. We need to make it happen because a Saturday without a victory willy dance in the showers just isn’t the same.

Walk tall.