1st Team v Bedworth United

North Greenford United  3   Bedworth United  1
(Saturday 16th August 2014)
 
An excellent first half display, during which North Greenford took a three goal lead over visitors Bedworth United, laid the foundation for an impressive win, one which enabled the Blues to secure their first points of the new season.
 
Bedworth, a team that had begun their campaign with maximum points from their opening two games, started confidently.  But from the outset the Greenbacks were matched by a lively Greenford side who threatened the visitors’ goal as early as the fourth minute, when Anthony O’Connor narrowly missed getting on the end of a perfectly placed Louis Stead free-kick.
 
It was another excellent dead ball delivery from the Blues captain – on this occasion from a corner – that led to the home side taking a deserved lead on eleven minutes.  A high floated cross to the far post was met by centre-back Andrew Manitou whose header crossed the line despite desperate efforts from Greenbacks keeper Denham Hinds to keep it out.
 
The Greenford players grew in confidence after the goal as they continued to press forward.  On twenty-three minutes full-back Marvel Ekpiteta was brought down making a strong run into the Bedworth area, and referee Mark Mellor had no hesitation in awarding the penalty.  Sadly Raheem Sterling-Parker’s spot kick was comfortably saved by Hinds who read the striker’s intentions perfectly.
 
Although the save lifted the visitors, with Aaron Bains narrowly missing the target on the half hour following the Greenbacks first significant attack, Greenford continued to look the likelier team to score.  Indeed, in virtually the next move of the game, a ball delivered into the area found O’Connor in space but the Blues winger was unable to keep his shot down.
 
Fortunately Greenford’s second was not long in coming when another penetrating move into the Greenback’s box ended with midfielder George Moore producing an exquisitely controlled finish into the corner beyond Hinds’ reach.
 
As the game moved into first half stoppage time Ekpiteta added a third with another mazey run into the area. 
Shrugging off the attentions of several Greenback defenders Ekpiteta kept his composure, producing a neat clinical finish that again gave Hinds no chance.
 
Predictably Bedworth were fired up at the start of the second period, clearly determined to get back into the game.  Despite an early chance to make it four when a Karl Brown effort was saved by Hinds, it was clear, now playing into the wind, that Greenford would not be able to sustain their first half performance.  The team would need to keep their defensive shape and work hard in all areas of the park to protect their three goal advantage.
 
Midway through the period Bedworth’s pressure finally told when Blues keeper Liam Watson failed to hold on to a fiercely driven free kick and O’Connor was adjudged to have handled the ball trying to deal with a high shot to the far post.  Striker Daniel Dubidat produced a clinical finish from the spot to raise the Greenback’s hopes of getting back on level terms.
 
From that point play became scrappier and neither side was able to convert chances, which fell at both ends, to effect the final scoreline. Greenford’s commitment and effort, with Michael Dart outstanding at the centre of the Blues defence, had earned the Blues a crucially important, morale-boosting victory.
 
NGU Team: Liam Watson, Marvel Ekpiteta (Lucas Williams 62), Roberto Del Borrello, Andrew Manitou, Michael Dart, Louis Stead (captain), George Moore (Luke Heneghan 85), David Manu, Raheem Sterling-Parker, Karl Brown (Myles Tang 70), Anthony O’Connor,