Result – Wanderers 5 – Harriers 0
So after another week off due to the weather the Wanderers were back in action today at home to Silverdale Harriers. We also welcomed a new addition to our squad, with Callum Philips recently joining us from Lodge Farm. So after a great result in our first game of 2016 we we hoping to pick up where we left off and continue the good form.
Match Report –
So following the recent bad weather it was a bit touch and go on whether the game would be on. Overall the pitch was in fairly good condition, but there were a couple of areas which were water logged so a big thank you to Dean and Reece who helped us prior to the match to ensure the game went ahead. After winning the away fixture against Harriers fairly convincingly earlier in the season we went into the game in a confident mood. We had a couple of players missing/unwell, but still had a strong squad of 14 and gave Callum his debut in midfield.
The game started brightly and saw us pressure the Harriers from the very beginning, although the pitch was difficult for us to play our usual passing game, we controlled the game in the early exchanges and used both of our flanks really well. The early pressure payed off as we were ahead within 6mins, a quick throw in by Jake down our right found Josh in the penalty area and he fantastically lifted the ball over the defender and volleyed the ball home to make it 1-0. Cracking Goal!! This should have settled us, but the conditions meant the next 15/20 mins saw both teams battle for control and it became a fairly scrappy game. We just couldn’t quite find our rhythm or the final killer pass. Our second goal came about 25mins in, following some good work by both Jack and Josh in the Harriers box, Jack was eventually brought down by the Harriers keeper to give us a penalty. Jack then stepped up and dispatched the spot kick into the bottom corner to make it 2 nil. The rest of the first half was fairly even, and although we were never threatened at the back we just couldn’t create any further clear cut chances, other than a great free kick from Owen, which was well saved by the Harriers keeper. 2-0 at half time.
At half-time we made one change and encouraged the boys to keep focused, we were playing into the wind during the second half and so needed to concentrate and stick to playing our own game. The first 15/20mins of the second half was again fairly even and a bit scrappy, although we were starting to find our usual passing game and created several half chances, it took another great goal to extend our lead. Good work by Ethan down our right hand ended with a great cross which eluded everyone, but was chased down by Alfie. He then produced another great cross from the left, which found Jack on the edge of the box, he met it with a sweet left foot strike that dipped into the bottom right hand corner. 3-0! We where starting to dominate now and not long after the re-start, saw Ethan grab his first goal for us. Good work down our left was met by Josh in the middle who challenged the Harriers keeper, and the re-bound fell to Ethan who was following up to drive the ball home from 10 yards out. The final 10mins saw Harriers create a couple of half chances, a couple of long balls were chased through but they were unable to take either chance. Our 5th and final goal came in the final few mins, a corner from the right saw a scramble in the box and the ball fell nicely to debutant Callum, who fired the ball home to cap a great debut and make it a final score of 5-0.
Another great performance from everyone today. Tough conditions/pitch, but we scored some great goals and there were some really positive individual displays, Jack scored another 2 goals, Josh with a great individual goal and first goals for Ethan and Callum.
As always difficult for us to pick this weeks “Man of the Match”, it could have gone to several players with Jack and Josh both scoring greats goals, but today for a fantastic all round debut the “MoM” goes to Callum Philips. Great first game (and goal) for the Wanderers and a great addition to our team, Well done Callum great performance.
Another quick note to say well done to little Jake for being awarded player of the month for Dec/Jan, his consistency and focus in both games and training means he received this months award. Well done Jake.
Well done lads, great second game of 2016, 2 games – 14 goals for, 0 against! Let’s keep our focus and concentrate for next weeks week big cup game against the Warriors. As always lets train hard and look forward to next Sunday.
Joe, Jason, Ronan and Reece.
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