Windsor & Eton vs Broadfields United

Match Report

It was a first appearance for our captain Ben Hutchings since September and was great to see him back on the pitch and lead the side out today.

Here’s how the game played out…

We had a free kick early doors which Luke Phillips swung in and we registered the first shot of the game with a Ross McKernan header which looped over the bar.

Bruno dos Santos put in a brilliant tackle to spoil the Broadfields attack. Their winger posed a threat down the left and cut in inside the box to let fly but Bruno’s last-ditch tackle meant the ball found it’s way into the gloves of Finley Purcell in goal. Danger averted.

Another brilliant set piece routine saw us go ahead as we continued to score from dead-ball situations this season. Phillips’ ball in found the head of Luke Appleton who headed across goal for Enzo Pashaj to poke home for the opener, a very good poacher’s goal.

After a Broadfields’ corner, we break with Pashaj who skipped past one defender before being scythed down in an extremely cynical tackle from the defender. Somehow no card is shown.

On the half-hour mark, Broadfields levelled it up after a long range strike from Abdirhaman Sharif Mohamed found the back of the. The away side picked the ball up in midfield with Abdirahman Ahmed who then laid it off to Mohamed who found the top left corner.

At 38 minutes, it was Purcell to the rescue after our goalie made a sublime save to keep the scores level. Purcell had to pluck one out from the top corner after former Windsor and Eton player, Jabir Laraba had a shot from about eight yards out which Purcell reacted well to and saved with his left glove.

The first half ended 1-1 in a feisty 45 minutes that saw plenty of fouls.

Ten minutes into the second half the visitors had a long attempt at goal that few right into the gloves of Purcell.

A few minutes later, another strike from midfield failed to trouble Purcell who caught the volley fairly comfortably.

Laraba fired high and wide as our former striker turned and shot, which sailed past Purcell’s goal.

Appleton made an acrobatic clearance in the box to clear the danger after a wicked delivery from the Broadfields winger looked to be destined for their striker for a tap in.

Pashaj looked for his second as he forced goalkeeper Finn Rushton into a save. Appleton played Pashaj down the wing, our striker then cut in and shifted the ball onto his left foot and fired a shot that Rushton stopped but couldn’t hold onto, before the ball was finally cleared.

We restricted the away side to shot from distance, as another effort on goal came from outside the area, this time from first half goalscorer Mohamed, whose left-footed attempt was straight at Purcell in net.

Substitute Morrison Hashi played a good ball over the defence to Phillips down the wing. Darcey sprinted down the right, and anticipated the cross but was pulled down just as the cross came in. Somehow nothing was given by the reff.

In the last few minutes a free-kick is awarded to us right on the edge of the area. It looked close to being a pen and everyone in Windsor colours thought so too.

Phillips stepped up and tried to whip the ball into the corner. His attempt cleared the wall but unfortunately just flew too high over the bar.

– Samuel Scrace