Match Report versus North Greenford United (4/12/21)

By Steve Williams

Tadley Calleva 2 North Greenford United 4

Lowly Tadley Calleva started off confidently against fourth placed North Greenford United last Saturday. A corner routine practiced on the training ground saw centre back Brad Neal rising high to head home cleanly in the 3rd minute. The visitors were finding it difficult to penetrate the home side's revised 4-5-1 formation.

A further home corner in the 15th minute saw midfielder Aaron Parfitt crossing for Brett Denham to flick on for a stooping Neal to score with another header. In the sole striker role Denham did much hard running, but was unable to take advantage of a good opportunity. On 40 minutes a clever Parfitt chip was excellently tipped over the bar by a fast back pedalling away goalkeeper. At half-time our boys went in with a well deserved 2-0 lead having had the better of the game and preventing any rhythm from the visitors.

After the break was a different story. North Greenford showed better energy and build up play. Within 5 minutes of the restart centre back Sammy Olanipekun scored a header from a right wing corner. Quickly North Greenford then took dominant control of the game and in the 68th minute got a well-earned equaliser after we failed to clear a ball that criss-crossed our 6 yard box. Charlie Mitchell tapping the ball home. The visitors continued to apply pressure with Craig Atkinson tipping over a powerful header and then capturing a dangerous cross in a two minute spell. At the other end a Parfitt cross eluded goalkeeper Sam House, but substitute Sam Hamilton side footed wide facing an empty goal. The same player fired just wide of the far post a few minutes later when well placed. Two late goals for North Greenford in the 88th minute from Harvey Killeen and then in the 90(+7)th minute from Kevin Maresi after we pushed everyone forward, except keeper Atkinson, in search of a last ditch equaliser.

Despite us conceding 4 goals in the second half for two weeks running, managers Ben Dillon and Joe Lawler remain confident in the ability to progress. With good player morale, but no fixture until the 27th December away to Reading City, there is time to build.

Home Side: Craig Atkinson, Aiden Harris, Kieran Maylen, Brad Neal (C), Jacob Rolfe (Wat Jones), Ousman Darboe (Max Elward), Jordan Goater, Aaron Parfitt, Brett Denham, Lucas Burt (Josh Drew), Connor Thorne (Sam Hamilton)