North Greenford United vs Windsor & Eton

Match Report

We suffered our first defeat since September at the hands of North Greenford United which ended an unbeaten streak stretching 22 games! A brace from North Greenford’s Morgan Cooper was unfortunately the difference maker.  

Our striker Nick Thumwood got us back into the game thanks to his penalty to continue is goal scoring run, but it sadly wasn’t enough. 

Here’s how the game played out… 

The home side put the pressure on us early with a wicked delivery from their No.7’s free kick which we dealt with well. The clearance fell to a player in blue who whipped another cross in which caused problems in the box before their striker somehow put his shot wide from six yards out.  

North Greenford didn’t stop there as just minutes later a long ball up field was half-cleared and fell to their No.10 who fired just over the bar.  

We almost opened the scoring through new signing Morrison Hashi after he was played through by a brilliant ball from captain Toby Bridges after carrying the ball into midfield, Hashi attempted to lob goalkeeper Ryan Lehane, but his effort went just over. 

It was the home side that went 1-0 up thanks to Morgan Cooper. Cooper squared the ball across the face of goal to teammate, Leonard Farhall whose effort was tipped onto the post by Finley Purcell in goal only for the ball to bounce straight into the path of Cooper who had an easy tap in for 1-0. 

The home side seemed comfortable with a 1-0 lead and were compact and to break down making it a scrappy game at times for us. 

We started the second half with a wicked delivery from Luke Phillips into the box from a free kick in a dangerous position. The danger was cleared by the team from West London. 

We started the second half well but it wasn’t long before The Blues doubled their lead as at the 50th minute mark, Cooper’s first-time effort was rifled home, no keeper was stopping that strike. 

Nick Thumwood got us back into the game to make it 2-1 through a calmly slotted penalty. It was goalie Lehane’s first mistake of the game as he completely took out substitute Luke Appleton as he was played through, leaving the referee no choice but to award a penalty.  

We came so close to an equalizer after an absolute flurry of chances, as we kept knocking on the door. Phillip whipped in a brilliant corner which was begging to be gotten on the end of, which caused Lehane trouble and only cleared as far as Bridges who set up Ben Catt who has his shot cleared off the line. There was no time to breathe as Aiden-Payne James picked up the pieces on the edge of the box before he turned and let fly which was destined for the top corner but palmed over for a corner by the man between the posts.  

We dominated possession in the second half and had numerous chances including one in the last minute which was saved off the line by Lehane in goal.  

An intense watch but not the result we would have wanted but the Royalists fought hard until the end. 

We go again on Saturday, away to Ashford Town in the league. 

 – Samuel Scrace