North Greenford Utd 4 v Ash Utd 0

North Greenford United 4 v Ash United 0
(Combined Counties Premier League – Tuesday 16th March 2010)

On Tuesday evening at Berkeley Fields, a second half Dave Lawrence hat-trick secured a vitally important victory for North Greenford United, after the disappointment of losing to Guildford City ten days ago, when the team defeated a strong Ash United side by four goals to nil.

This exciting and entertaining game was not as one-sided as the scoreline suggests. When the two sides went in at the interval after a goalless, but far from dull first period no-one would have predicted such an emphatic United victory. Three of Greenford’s goals were scored within the final fifteen minutes and it was only after Lawrence had scored his second from the penalty spot that it felt the points were safely in the bag.

From the first whistle the game was played at a fast and furious pace and within the opening twenty minutes both teams had come agonisingly close to taking an early lead. With just three minutes on the clock United striker Ricky Pither found space for himself inside the Ash penalty area and fired in a tremendous shot that cannoned off the visitors crossbar.

At the other end Ash, after surviving early Greenford pressure, began to create opportunities of their own. Around the twenty minute mark two great chances in quick succession fell to striker Marcus Cousins. The first came when United keeper James Warrington, deputising for the injured Gary Jallow, could only parry a fierce Ash strike, the second when the Ash front man was played in behind the Greenford defence on the right. On both occasions Cousins was unable to get his foot round the ball and his efforts hit the side netting.

On thirty minutes it was Lawrence’s turn to come close to opening his account when he got on the end of an excellent low cross from Ryan Welsh only to see his effort flash narrowly past the wrong side of the Ash post. During the final period of the half the best opportunities for both teams came from free-kicks awarded in promising positions on the edge of their opponents’ penalty areas, but neither were able to convert these into goals and had to be content returning to the changing rooms at the interval with the score remaining at nil-nil.

The second half began where the first had left off, with high tempo football and total commitment from both sets of players. Once again, though, both teams were conceding free kicks in dangerous areas. On the hour North Greenford were awarded two in quick succession. Lawrence took responsibility on each occasion and on the second finally hit the mark, unleashing an unstoppable shot which gave Ash keeper Arjuna Adlam no chance.

Not surprisingly the goal helped settle the home side and within a minute Ryan Welsh was unlucky not to extend United’s lead when his fine low drive was brilliantly saved by Adlam. The game though was far from over at this point and United had Warrington to thank for preventing the visitors levelling the score on seventy-two minutes with a great save, turning the ball round the post at the end of a fine Ash counter attack.

The crucial turning point came with fifteen minutes of the match remaining. Pither and Lawrence played a fine one-two which saw Lawrence through on goal. As Lawrence was about to pull the trigger, the United striker was impeded by Ash substitute Alan Hanning. Referee Reuben Simon had no hesitation in awarding the penalty. Adjudging Hanning to be the last defender, Simon then showed the Ash defender a straight red card and sent him from the field of play.

Lawrence made no mistake with the spot kick and then went on to secure his hat-trick seven minutes later. Again combining brilliantly with Pither he found himself in space on the edge of the Ash box and produced another wonderful strike that finally put an end to Ash’s challenge.

Indeed, from the moment of the sending off, United took control of the game, making the most of their one man advantage. With five minutes to go, manager Steve Ringrose brought on Gary Senior for Lawrence. Senior, returning to the club after short spells at Northwood and Beaconsfield, was determined to get into the action.

With a minute of normal time remaining another substitute Edward Clements played a ball out to Welsh and Senior, in typical fashion, got in between the Ash defenders to slot the ball home from close range and seal what in the end proved a decisive win for North Greenford.

United know they need more of the same in the next three matches, all away from home, beginning next Saturday when the club travel to Dorking’s Meadowbank stadium to play Bookham.

NGU team: James Warrington, Sean Hillier, Alfie Patterson, Nick Turner, Chris Meddes, Kevin McKenna, Andre DeLisser, Chris Hibbs (Nathan Blanks 85), Ricky Pither (Edward Clements 87), Dave Lawrence (Gary Senior 85), Ryan Welsh