Kentish Football 
Lordswood 3-1 West Wickham - Rob Norman is going to be a star in the making, says Jason Lillis
Saturday 11th December 2010
LORDSWOOD 3-1 WEST WICKHAM
Kent Senior Trophy Second Round
Saturday 11th December 2010
Paul Parkinson reports from Martyn Grove
LORDSWOOD progressed in the Kent Senior Trophy with an assured display against a resilient Southern Amateur League West Wickham at Martin Grove today.
Returning to action after the recent inclement weather, manager Jason Lillis told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards: “I’m pleased considering we haven‘t done anything for 2 weeks. I thought the boys responded well and showed West Wickham the respect they deserved. We weren‘t sharp enough for my liking, but as the performance went, it was good.””
Despite their enforced lay-off, Lordswood were quickly out of the blocks, putting West Wickham under pressure, with Rob Denness skying a chance onto the 5-a-side court behind Jamie Tullock‘s goal, then Denness, after a 1-2 with George Hayes, drilled a chance wide from the edge of the box when under pressure from Ross Simmonds.
The match was being played as non-league football should be, hard, combative with plenty of tackling, and referee, Mr Wood, was heard to say to the players ‘will the lot of you just shut up and play football,’ when both sets started appealing after every challenge. Refreshing to say the least!
Lordswood continued to press with Tullock having to save from Hayes, then dive at Denness‘ feet to deny the Lords‘ forward a chance inside the 6-yard box.
In reply, West Wickham were trying to hit on the counter attack, and from a poor cross, Matt King broke quickly, fed Mark Petiyfer down the right wing. Petiyfer‘s cross fell to Ollie Waite, whose turn and shot flashed past Ryan Burbridge‘s right hand post.
On the half hour, Denness saw a flick, from Adam Ling‘s cross, clear the bar, but the home side were not to be denied five minutes later.
Wes Hammond‘s long free-kick was headed up into the air by Simmonds. Denness outjumped his defender to head the ball back across the box, where Micheal Dodsworth scuffed a left-foot volley into the corner of the net from 6 yards.
The goal seemed to energise the visitors, and after a period of pressure, Hammond‘s challenge on Dave Adams, in the midst a number of flailing challenges, was deemed to be a penalty on 40 minutes.
King stepped up and Burbridge will be disappointed that he couldn‘t keep the poorly struck penalty out, despite getting both hands to the ball.
But Hammond made amends four minutes later, latching onto a Denness flick from a corner, to power a header into the top corner of Wickham‘s net.
Lordswood boss, Jason Lillis was delighted with this goal, saying: “We do work a lot on our set pieces. John Guest does a lot with the boys going through what we need to do, and we‘ve scored quite a few from set pieces this year. It‘s pleasing when the work pays off.””
As players from both sides, struggling for match fitness, tired in the second half, no-one could create the clear chance that might change the match.
West Wickham came close with efforts from Simmonds and Lee Cornwall off-target, while Denness again tested Tullock from the edge of the box.
After an exchange of substitutes, Lordswood settled the match with 10 minutes remaining from the endeavour of Rob Norman.
Petiyfer rolled a back pass towards Tullock and Norman challenged the goalkeeper, winning his tackle, then calmly curling the ball through Simmonds legs into the unguarded net.
Lillis added: “The first time I‘ve seen the boys was Thursday and we couldn’t do any training due to the snow on our pitch, so I‘m surprised the game‘s gone ahead.”
“Our main aim today was to keep the ball more and that‘s what I tried to impress for the 2nd half; keep the ball. I think we‘ve played it around quite nicely and although we didn‘t create more, we were comfortable.
“We went sloppy for 10 minutes (just before half-time) and took our foot off. We gave away a silly free-kick and let them have too many touches inside the box; I‘m not sure whether it was or wasn‘t a penalty, but we got sloppy.”
When asked how pleased he was with the goal-scoring contribution of his substitute, Lillis said: “Rob Norman is going to be a star in the making. We‘ve had him here for a while and are trying to nurture him properly. He‘s certainly one for the future.”
No-one from West Wickham was available for comment.
Lordswood: Ryan Burbridge, Richard Styles, Adam Ling, Micheal Dodsworth, Wes Hammond, Martin Taylor, Alan Scott (Marc Morrison 83), Peter Huggens, George Hayes, Dominic Elmes (Alex McKay 76), Rob Denness (Rob Norman 76).
Subs: Chris Lemar, Chris Eather.
Goals: Micheal Dodsworth 35, Wes Hammond 44, Rob Norman 80.
West Wickham: Jamie Tullock, Adam Freeman, Lee Cornwall (Adam Wadey 75), Neil Curriel, James Gibson, Ross Simmonds, Mark Petiyfer, Dave Adams, Ollie Waite (Neil Fleming 53), Matt King, Jay Askew (Rich John 60).
Goal: Matt King 40 (pen)
Booked: Neil Curriel 87
Attendance: 30
Referee: Mr Craig Wood (Gravesend)
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