Windsor & Eton vs Holyport

Match Report

On a cold, crisp Saturday afternoon, Stag Meadow welcomed fans and players back for their first home game since the 9th of December.

With games across the country cancelled due to icy pitch conditions, it was great to see the match going ahead, props to the grounds team for doing such a fantastic job.

Captain Luke Appleton led his side to a triumphant 5-2 win over his former team Holyport this afternoon as they look to push for promotion once more.
Windsor fought back from going 1-0 down to respond with five straight goals, three of those coming in the second half.

Striker Jabir Laraba scored two brilliant goals, with his substitute replacement Nick Thumwood coming on and putting the game out of sight and midfielder Leo Decabo scoring the fifth.

The pick of the goals was the screamer from midfielder Tahir Carmichael, whose left footed effort from 25 yards nearly took the net off.

Windsor started brightly, with winger Isaiah Chase-Kelly getting a lot of joy down the right flank and causing some problems for the opposition.
It was a cagey first fifteen minutes with neither side having any clear-cut chances, but Windsor dominated possession.

Leo Decabo swung in a dangerous corner which was punched away by Ryan North only as far as Aiden Payne-James, who couldn’t keep his shot down.

Chase-Kelly continued to get some freedom on the right wing and tested North with some crosses into the box early in the first half.

On the 22nd minute, the away side struck first with a great finish from striker Lucas Surpanu, his volley on the turn finding the bottom right corner, as Holyport found themselves ahead against the run of play.

Only seven minutes later, Carmichael found himself in space and let rip an absolute rocket of a shot with his left foot, arrowed into the back of the net. 1-1!

Chase-Kelly was once more on the charge down the wing before being tripped right on the edge of the box, but no foul was given by either the referee (who was standing five yards away) or the linesman, causing uproar from the bench. It looked like a nailed-on foul and potential penalty. Webb’s side were right to feel aggrieved.
It did not matter however, as the Windsor & Eton number 7 continued to cause chaos on the right flank, chopping one defender before putting in a quality ball across goal which was cleverly flicked towards goal by Jabir Laraba deflecting off a Holyport defender, five minutes before half time.

After a nervy start, Windsor & Eton found themselves ahead at the break as the ref sounded for half-time. 2-1.

The hosts started the second half as they ended first, as only nine minutes in, Laraba fired in his second of the game after a brilliant bit of play to set him up from Payne-James.

A fine strike from the number 9 as his half volley found the top right corner and gave his side some breathing space.
Laraba was replaced shortly after by fellow striker Nick Thumwood who managed to score with his first touches of the game.

His attempted first time shot managed to inadvertently set up another right-footed effort which was blasted into the bottom left corner.

Barely a minute later, Leo Decabo added his name to the scoresheet. After some brilliant work from Chase-Kelly, his cross found the Windsor midfielder, who finished brilliantly past the keeper from just inside the box.

Windsor & Eton continued to control the game fairly comfortably with subs Sam Hutchings and Ross McKernan in particular helping to keep possession and control the game in midfield.

Holyport hardly threatened in the second half, yet managed to get a consolation in stoppage time as Surpanu got his brace after a calm finish into the bottom corner past Finley Purcell.

This win takes Windsor & Eton to 39 points from 18 games, with five games in hand on first place Burnham who have a poorer goal difference.

Webb’s side have a huge game next Saturday, the 17th, as they face Fisher in the FA Vase Fourth Round which will be a must watch for fans of the club.

– Samuel Scrace