Match Report

League, 13^th January 2008

Final Result – Bulls Head FC 1 (Home) vs. FC Brimington 2 (Away)

Venue – Woodburn Road Stadium, Stadium Way, off Woodburn Road, Attercliffe, Sheffield.

Managers View

The weather was mild today with a strong wind the ground was soft but not saturated, some games were cancelled in Sheffield and many in Chesterfield due to the rain fall over the past few days. The pitch was wide and flat which suits the way we play. The Stadium venue we loved with the big grand stand and running track around. The changing rooms were superbly big with plenty of space for all with excellent Showers. We knew today a win was important to keep our title hopes alive we anticipated a tough game but we have an inner belief that if we play to our potential then a victory is possible. Bulls Head’s victory against top of the table Oughtibridge Village last week showed that this league is wide open and anyone can beat anyone on their day. Team formation today 4-3-3

The starting line for today's match was as follows:  

Match day reporters – Tom Simpson & Sam Taylor

Photographer – Mrs Kealey

First Half

The game kicked off at 10.57am, Bulls Head win the toss and decide to kick against the wind first half. First action saw a Christie cross just go past the on coming Kealey in the box. 3 mins and FCB win first corner of the game Collier takes and delivers a great ball into their box Hirons rises above all but heads over. Kealey races down the line on the right and delivers a cross, Bulls Head defender heads out for another corner. Gartlan receives the ball from Leversidge and races up the left wing Gartlan delivers a cross but again no one got on the end of it.

At this time FCB are already dominating possession and have kept Bulls Head in their own half. 10 mins Gartlan gets put through again by Crossland and fires a shot at Bulls Head goal but their keeper saves. Kealey then receives a pass from collier and crosses into the box the ball falls to Bath who shoots wide. Gartlan goes through again with a ball from Leversidge and he shoots wide view it here. After 20 mins Crossland plays a ball into the channel for Christie who turns the defender and crosses into the box but the cross is hit to powerfully and it overshoots the area and goes out for a throw in. Collier crosses into the box towards Christie but he failed to get on the end of it.

35 mins an FCB corner Collier delivers the cross Bath heads wide view it here. FCB continue to dominate the game with Bulls Head not troubling the FCB back line. Then an error first in the clearance by Newton then a failed second clearance by Hirons hits the Bulls Head striker and rebounds over Simpsons head to the other Bulls Head striker who takes a touch and shoots some 16yds out and scores 1-0 Bulls Head. Totally against the run of play we find our selves behind. We did not panic as we knew we were keeping the ball really well so we continue pressing for the equalizer until half time.

Half time

At half time we spoke about the errors we were making in the conditions with strong winds we needed to cut out the long balls and go back to the neat passing keeping the ball low and playing the angles we work on every week. We made substitutions at half time with Hirons coming off and Towers replacing him at centre half.

Second Half

2^nd half kicked off and we immediately pick up the tempo again and start to pressure Bulls Head in their own half, we played at a high tempo moving the ball from wing to wing Collier, Crossland and Bath kept the ball well in the middle of the park feeding the wide men brilliantly Crossland and Bath winning headers from Bulls Head goal kicks superbly.Leversidge overlaps and receives a ball from Gartlan he delivers into their box and the ball hits Crossland’s head but Bulls Head keeper saves.

52 mins and Christie runs into the box from a pass from Collier, the Bulls head keeper races out and takes him down and a penalty is awarded. Crossland takes the penalty but Bulls Head keeper guesses right and saves view it here. Another chance and Kealey receives the ball from Crossland and runs at their defence his shot goes wide with a deflection corner is given view it here. Collier takes the corner Crossland runs and meets the cross and just heads over the bar. Crossland attitude after the penalty miss is superb he seems to take it on himself to make amends as quickly as possible.

Some neat play by Bath to Crossland in the middle some 40 yds out Crossland then hears Brooke calling for the ball on the right wing Crossland then plays the pass with the outside edge of his foot inch perfect in behind the left back Brooke runs on the blind side from our right back position and catches the Bulls Head defence off guard, Brooke takes two touches and drives the ball across the keeper who comes across to cover his near post and the ball nestles into the far corner of the net goaaal 1-1 FCB.

Brookes first goal for the club could not have been timed better we did not deserve to be behind in this game as we had the most possession and all the chances so it was just reward for the team endeavors. I must say at this point with all the misses and possession we had I thought it might be one of those days when we kept missing our chances but this goal put a different slant on things. FCB now sense we could go on and win this game and step up the pressure.

The next 5 mins see a barrage of shots from the three strikers but to no avail. FCB are now boxing Bulls Head in their half searching for the winner FCB are first to every ball and fitness levels start to show. A late challenge by Christie earns him a booking. Free-kick to FCB bath takes the kick some 27yds out and chips over the wall to Christie who heads towards goal but is deemed to have fouled the defender with a nudge in the back, free-kick awarded bulls head.

82 mins a Crossland pass over the top finds Gartlan making a run in the box Gartlan chests the ball away from the oncoming defender but the Bulls Head defenders try to kick the ball away but kicked Gartlan in the chest bringing him down in the box, the referee blows for the penalty and sees if Gartlan is ok as it was a full bodied kick not intentional but a last gasp challenge. Kealey having scored a penalty last week takes the ball and assumes the duty Kealey duly dispatches a great penalty goaaal 1-2 fcb view it here.

84^th min substitution Gartlan off Fadiga on. Brooke overlaps down the right and crosses but no one near as we have one eye on not conceding with only 3 minutes left. Substitution Kealey off Wragg on. A neat one-two between Christie and Fadiga sees Fadiga going through on goal but a tackle from the defender just as Fadiga enters the box puts out for a throw in. Another neat trick by Fadiga beats the defender at right back and puts him on his way to goal when the final whistle is blown.

Full time

Summary

The team showed a different quality today we came from behind to win a game that looked at times we would not do but we kept doing the things that were working and bided our time. Good performance by everyone good attendance by the squad today and although not everyone got a game and some only a few minutes the spirit was good.

Thomas Brooke man of the match he was up and down the right wing today albeit he was at right back. He was run close by Gartlan who had a tremendous game. Center of the park is looking good clever play and strength. The team must progress and with players coming back from injury squad selection will no doubt be a welcomed headache. Thanks to Brookes parents and Leversidge’s dad who came to watch. Thanks to Phil & Isabelle at Brickmakers arms for the post match food.

Cliff Thomas