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Venue:
Birbeck College-Northolt/Greenford
Team
John
Leslie (9.250)
Al
Harper (9) Robert Ruth (9.5) Jim McPherson (9.5) Leon Ashford (9.5)
Russell
Stinson (9.75) Adam
Pomaro (9.25) Leigh
Everett (9.5) Neil Henty (9.25)
Graeme
Thompson (9) Gerry Vavasour (9.5)
Substitutes:
Simon
Hibbitt
Scorers:
Simon
Hibbitt (Superb Hatrick) 9.5
Adam
Pomaro (2 goals)
Robert
Ruth (1, but a couple poked in by poachers;-))
Graeme
Thompson (1, should have been a barrow load more;-))
Russell
Stinson (a cracker linked up from a Gerry V cross – superb)
Match Review
Well it was all a bit farcical really; the game was
played at Birbeck sports ground up of the M40 miles from anywhere. The
Irish manager once we were out on the pitch wanted to call it off –
there was no way that was happening and after a short frank exchange of
views the game went ahead.
With Ireland taking an early lead and looking
something like the team that ruled the league not so long ago. Very
quickly the team got down to business with ADAM scoring in reply to make
it 1-1, then Rob storming forward to make it 1-2 with a lovely header.
Adsyp then stepped up to make it 1-3 with a wonderful free kick. That was
it to half time, with the curse of Drummond on Gerry V and his 2nd
match back, he created a lot in the first half but finishing nothing
himself. Graeme Thompson (recently gone missing) was getting battered left
right and centre, which was pretty bad considering the sheer size of the
quiet hulking lad. So half time and 3-1. Ireland down but not out and
London Hibs a little restive.
Second Half
The first half being reffed by Simon Hibbitt saw
the second half switch Simon to right back and Al to the Refs role. Very
quickly we got into our rhythm a started to get a real grip of the game.
Leigh Everett was ripping their left flank up and Neil and Leon were
neutralising their counters on our right. Adam and Russell were putting
together some lovely moves in midfield and Gerry V was taking their backs
on cross-country runs they knew little about. Then the goals started to
pour in. A scramble in the box led to a Rob header that Simon managed to
knock in 4-1 another occasion Graeme drilled home from outside the box.
Gerry V was creating and crossed an inch perfect ball for first Russell
and then Simon a further twice. The goal by Russell scored at the back
post after a wonder cross from the left goes down as the best in my book
– what an effort from Gerry V. All the time Russell was utterly
commanding in the Midfield holding position and most of the play went
through him and usually on to Gerry or Leigh.
Ireland got a bit of a break to make it 2-8, but
our overall dominance was unquestionable and over the season 16 goals to
Irelands 3 does tell a very real difference in class.
Man of the Match
Russell
was outstanding in this bizarre game covering every bit of ground and
meeting the challenges and making the passes that mattered.
Summary
A
tremendous performance with a weakened team and only one sub. The tempo in
the second half saw the Irish stretched all over the place and Hibs doing
their goal difference no harm at all.
Well
Done
Kevin
Robertson
President
London Hibernian Football Team
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