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The FA Staff Team 2 - Woodhurst 4
Cockfosters FC, Wednesday 27th August 03
After three and a half months without any football, Woodhurst were back in action to start their new season, and a 4-2 win over The FA in the annual friendly match gave Jimmy Woodham's men a nice return.
A familiar looking Woodhurst side took to the field with only two new faces and were in control from the off with Woodham pulling the strings in the heart of midfield.
Nick Bashford and Paul McShea we're given a bit to think about as they came up against ex-Hurst man Damion Spriggs, but Bash and Macca held strong to keep him and The FA at bay, while anything that did sneak past was looked after by the impressive Andrew Norton who was in sparkling form between the sticks.
After a couple of good chances went astray, Jimmy Woodham opened the scoring following a penalty. Debutante Tim Wittekind was pushed inside the area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, though many of the players were unsure why. As usual, Buffalo stepped up to the plate, but proceeded to fired straight at the keeper Danny Jinks, deputising for the injured Paxton - another who has featured for the Hurst in the past. However, Woodham was the fastest to react and he slammed home the loose ball to make it 1-0.
Tony Taylor then made it two, latching on to Steve Hughes' cross field pass, the tank collected the ball before lifting over Jinks into the net.
The score remained 2-0 at the break, but against an FA side who have a habit of coming from behind, this was a far from safe margin. But early in the second half Jamie Bradbury, playing against The FA side he usually manages, made the most of a mistake by Darnell in the Three Lions defence and carried the ball on into the box, before rounding Jinks and tucking into the net.
Collett then pulled one back for the home side. After a powerful Phil Smith strike was only parry by the unfortunate Norton, the little number 7, who had once again had a couple of rows with an opponent, tucked in the rebound.
But it didn't take the visitors long though to restore their 2-goal advantage. Defending from the front, Matt Bradbury worked hard to close down Jinks after a strong back pass. Jinks looked for the quick option out and ran the ball away from Bradbury, but his clearance found Ryan Houlton 25 yards out and the ginger maestro return his pass with interest exquisitely chipping over the keeper leaving him stranded.
The FA boys did grab a second goal, virtually direct from the re-start, Dan Markham stroking past Norton from 8 yards, but it was too little too late and Woodham's boys were back to winning ways.
Team
1 Andrew Norton
2 Steve Hughes
3 Tony Taylor
4 Tim Wittekind
5 Paul McShea
6 Nick Bashford
7 Ryan Houlton
8 Matt Bradbury
9 Jamie Bradbury
10 Jimmy Woodham
11 Martin
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