ATTACK v DEFENCE
Horden CW 4 Willington 0 – Ebac Northern League Division Two:
Top v bottom; attack v defence; and the tale of the tape said it all.
Half-time stats: 17: 1½ The slight problem was that those stats were shots rather than goals. Horden clearly had their shooting boots on, the only issue was that they seldom found the target, regularly hitting the ball either high, wide or both.
To give them credit, Willington proved to be stubborn and resistant to Horden’s onslaught. Keeper Matthew Pattison (their 7th of the season) only had to make two saves before Horden scored. Horden full back Kieran Campbell made a long, strong run down the left before hitting a shot that Pattison turned out for a corner. He then tipped a shot by Jack Maskell over the bar. Other defenders were able to block those shots that were heading goalwards.
Horden finally converted a chance with six minutes to go before the break, with Maskell rising above everyone else in the box to head in a corner. They managed to double their lead in the third minute of added time: Maskell ghosting between defenders to get on the end of a Liam Wright cross and tap it into the net.
They didn’t have to wait quite so long to find the net in the second half. A Barney Robinson cross fell to Nat Skidmore. He hit a powerful shot, with Pattison producing an equally impressive save, parrying the ball with his arms, only for the ball to fall to Maskell who moved the ball left before slotting it in to complete his hat-trick in the 9th minute of the second half.
Horden bossed the rest of the game, although they didn’t have quite so many shots. If there was any criticism of their play, it was their final ball at times left a bit to be desired.
They made it 4-0 in the 83rd minute. Sub James Watson hit a powerful shot, with Pattison making another top save; but seconds later Maskell was brought down in the area and Wright scored the penalty.
For 90+ minutes Horden moved the ball around the pitch with relish.
Passing lay at the heart of Willington’s problems. At the very start of the match, they kicked off; as the second player received the ball, another shouted: “Keep the ball.” The third player to touch it, kicked it straight out. They continued to struggle to keep the ball for more than a couple of passes for the rest of the game.
Their long balls up to front players were meat and drink to the Horden defence. Their 1½ shots in the first half were one weak attempt from distance and the ½ was so wide, it’s generous to call it a shot.
But they deserve credit for defending as well as they did and never looking like they had thrown in the towel.
As we reach the promotion denoument of the season, Horden have three more games to seal automatic promotion (including a last match potential decider against Boro Rangers). Doubtless those three matches will be tougher tests than last night’s.
Mike Snowdon
