Dan Geey's first game of the season provides inspiration for Oakwood.
September 29, 2008 13:47Hendon Utd B 2 Oakwood EDRS 3
Playing his first game of the season, Dan Geey returned to the Oakwood side to provide the inspiration for a dramatic win at Hendon's Barnet Copthall. Driving the side on with power, determination and sheer grit, Geey set about overturning a 2-0 deficit and urging the Oaks onto a first and crucial victory.
Oakwood had started the better side with Rob Bloch in particular causing problems with his strength and aerial prowess. Yet for all their menace, the Oaks looked uncharacteristically shaky at the back and when a quick throw caught the back four on the hop, Ste Berkey's sliced clearance fell only to Hendon's who buried the finish beyond the grasp of debutant Alex Krotosky.
The game was as tight as might be expected between two evenly matched sides. Oakwood battled on but fashioned very few chances with only Levine's flashed shot just wide of the far post following good work between Blank and Geey sticking in the memory. Rob Bloch also fluffed his lines in front of goal following the best of the move of the match. A combination of Kintish and Abrams released Manson down the left with Bloch just failing to convert a delightful cross into the six-yard box.
Hendon, by contrast, looked menacing on the break and caused Gary Bloch and Ste Berkey countless problems. Only an incredible save low down to his right by Krotosky and a headed goal-line clearance from Levine kept the Oaks in the game.
Both sides came out positively for the second half but it was Hendon who got the goal, going two up in the process. Passing the Oaks midfield too easily, they were afforded time and space in the box thanks to some casual defending and took full advantage thanks to a perfectly executed finish into the bottom corner.
Cue another stunning Oakwood comeback. After a probing run down the right Kintish's cross eventually fell for Dan Geey. His brilliant, daisy-cutting half volley saw Oakwood half the deficit. Geey's goal heralded the start of a crazy five minutes. A seemingly innocuous ball from Abrams evaded the keeper's grasp allowing Kintish an open goal from 15 yards out. He does not miss those. Even when he's drunk. Which he was. Hendon were reeling and the Oaks could sense it. Matt Geey and Kintish continued to cause problems down the Hendon left and when Kintish wove his magic on the by-line once more they were queuing up to score. This time Rob Bloch got the goal his performance merited.
With 25 minutes to go it was Oakwood's turn to defend. This they did resolutely with Bloch back to his imperious best and Berke taking no prisoners. Hendon continued to knock at the door right until the final whistle but Oakwood refused to answer. Marshalled by the imperious Geey the midfield picked up the scraps and fed them to Kintish who continued to look lively on the break.
Credit to the commitment and endeavour of both sides. It was a close game that could have gone either way and Hendon will be relishing a chance to impress at Parmiters in the return fixture later in the season. Next up for Oaks - Neasden! Before that the small matter of another classic social.