10 Man Vets show grit and endurance

Barry Parker • 15 September 2024

TEAM RESILIENCE AND CHARACTER SHINE THROUGH IN NARROW DEFEAT

Ockham Veterans 3-2 Headley Veterans


A depleted but determined Headley Veterans squad took to the field on Sunday for a hard-fought away fixture against Ockham Veterans, which saw them narrowly miss out on taking all three points. After a promising pre-season and a positive start, the Headley team battled through injuries, positional changes, and some questionable off-sides to walk away with their heads held high, despite the 3-2 defeat.


The game started brightly for Headley, with some clever link-up play between Oram-Tooley (OT) and Mario who created an assist for an early lead throiugh late arrival Larry. Mario’s slick through ball found Larry Fifield, whose confident finish gave Headley a deserved advantage. Despite the shuffled line-up, Headley managed to impose themselves early on, creating several chances that had Ockham on the back foot.


However, misfortune struck just 15 minutes in when Dan Sleater was forced off the pitch with breathing difficulties, disrupting Headley’s shape. Jason Liddle slotted into the role seamlessly, but the forced change altered the flow of the game. Ockham, dangerous down the wings, exploited space and created several goal-scoring opportunities, but a solid defensive display from the ever-reliable Tiger in goal and vocal direction from Darren Churcher kept them at bay. Churcher’s leadership, coupled with his aggressive presence in defence, proved vital throughout the first half.


In the 25th minute, controversy arose when an out-of-control Ockham player clattered into Richards with a knee high tackle. Remarkably, the offender escaped a red card, leaving the Headley bench and players alike in disbelief. OT almost doubled the visitors' lead shortly after when his long-distance strike rattled the crossbar, an effort that epitomised the growing energy from Headley as they sought to extend their advantage.


Sleater, after catching his breath, bravely returned to the pitch, showing his determination. His return sparked life into the team, and it wasn’t long before Barry Parker’s sharp through ball found Leigh Wilson. Wilson’s composed volley across goal was met by Richards, who executed a beautiful scissor volley to make it 2-0. It was a spectacular finish that will surely give 'The Kitman' confidence.


Before the end of the half, the out-of-control Ockham player did not retreat from a quick free-kick-shot he had conceded through another questionable tackle (just below the waist this time) which sparked the referee to question the game rules. After a debate, the player was not asked to leave the field of play and continued on the pitch to see the half out.


Unfortunately, Headley struggled to maintain control of the game as Ockham capitalised on a lapse in concentration just before the break, slipping in behind the defence to make it 2-1. Despite Churcher earning a yellow card for a robust challenge, the Headley defence worked tirelessly to see out the half, but Ockham’s pressure was building.


The second half began with some disruption as the attacking left wing threat Flash had to leave to catch a private jet, bringing Travis into the game at left wing-back. Sleater, playing his first-ever full 90 minutes of 11-a-side football, dug deep to keep his side in the contest. Headley began the half on top, with Richards continuing to trouble the Ockham defence, hitting the crossbar again after another clever interchange from Parker, Mario and OT.


The game’s momentum shifted dramatically as Headley lost two key players - Woody and OT - within minutes to calf injuries, leaving the visitors with just 10 men for the final 35 minutes. Ockham ramped up the pressure on Headley's tired and outnumbered squad, exploiting gaps in the defence. A low pass from the right wing resulted in a chaotic pinball clearance in the box, leading to an easy but scrappy finish for Ockham, levelling the score at 2-2.


Not long after, Parker, under pressure in the outnumbered midfield, was dispossessed, sparking a lightning-fast counterattack from Ockham. Tiger made a brilliant initial save, but the ball cruelly rebounded off the back-tracking Parker, who managed to get in-front of the Ockham striker, but the deflected save trickled into the net off Parker's knee to give Ockham a 3-2 lead. The own goal was a harsh reflection of Headley’s luck on the day, but Parker took accountability and continued to rally the troops, urging this capable but depleted team to press forward.


Headley, despite being down a man, refused to give up. Mario and Richards both had goals disallowed for offside decisions that looked highly debatable, with many questioning the accuracy of the Ockham linesman’s calls. The game’s closing moments saw a relentless barrage of pressure from Headley, with Churcher, Wilson, and Fifield all having shots cleared off the line during a dramatic final corner. An equaliser felt imminent, but it was not to be.


Despite the 3-2 loss, Headley can take pride in their performance, especially given the circumstances. With injuries, positional changes, and playing with 10 men for over a third of the game, the veterans showed incredible grit, character, and determination.


Post-Match Reaction:


After the game, Player Manager Barry Parker and Manager Chris Brown spoke with SSN's Kaveh Solhekol:


“Today was just one of those games, lads, but there’s still a lot of positives to take,” said Parker. “We created plenty of chances, had two goals disallowed, and battled with only 10 men for over a third of the game. We deserved to come away with at least a point, but that’s football. We rest up, repair, and we go again.”


Brown added, “The squad showed resilience, and that’s what we need as we move forward. The league title is still in sight, and we’ll be ready for the next challenge.”


Looking Ahead:


Headley Veterans will look to regroup with more squad depth as they prepare for their next match, a cup fixture in the Peter Hobdell Challenge Cup against Complete Vets on Sunday 29th of September. With key players returning from injury and some tactical adjustments, the team will be eager to bounce back and make a statement.

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