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Screensize: 640 x 480 800 x 600 1024 x 768 1280 x 1024 UserName: Password: Enter Anti SPAM Code: Click here to refresh this page Format Mode: Basic  Help  Prompt  Format: Font Andale Mono Arial Arial Black Book Antiqua Century Gothic Comic Sans MS Courier New Georgia Impact Lucida Console Script MT Bold Stencil Tahoma Times New Roman Trebuchet MS Verdana   Size 1 2 3 4 5 6   Color Black Red Yellow Pink Green Orange Purple Blue Beige Brown Teal Navy Maroon LimeGreen Message Icon:                             Message: * HTML is OFF * Forum Code is ON Smilies [quote][i]Originally posted by Rob Bellingham[/i] [br][black][size=3][font=Arial]Timperley and District Junior Football League Under 10s Division 1 October 7 2006 SALE UNITED 5 UNICORN WIZARDS 2 The Wizards will have ended this morning’s fixture on a massive pitch at Crosford Bridge as a stronger and more experienced group of players. After going down to two early goals for the second time in three games, the Wizards fought back and could easily have snatched a draw had the ball run better for them. The early part of the game saw almost total domination by Sale. Barney did well to make a brave diving save but Sale were quickest to react to the rebound. The ball was played back into the heart of the box and this time there was nothing Barney could do to prevent the home team taking the lead. With the period not much older a long throw travelled into the Wizards box and following a series of deflections bobbled into the net to make it 2-0. For the third week running, the Wizards had given themselves the proverbial “mountain to climb” and it looked as if we may be in for a long morning. As Sale continued to pile on the pressure, Barney pulled off two tremendous saves to keep the Wizards in the game. This provided a platform for the Wizards to create some pressure and following a good through ball from Matt, James O produced a superb finish into the corner to make it 2-1. Suddenly, the Wizards seemed to have regained their self belief and in an about turn from the early stages, now it was the visitors who were piling on the pressure. George was unlucky not to equalise when he put in a pile driving shot which rattled the post. James O was quickly onto the rebound but saw his shot blocked. With the Wizards pressing on, Sale managed to get the ball clear and found themselves with a three on one advantage as they raced through on goal. Standing firm, Tom produced a tackle which broke up the attack and prevented what would have been an almost certain goal. Undaunted, the Wizards continued to press on with James O producing a great piece of skill and a clever pass to find James D in space. James D managed to get in a shot on target, which was gathered well by the keeper. With the period drawing to a close, the Wizards won a penalty when one of the home defenders involuntarily handled the ball. I guess Matt’s 100% record from the spot had to go eventually and today was the day. He stepped forward and hit a powerful spot kick on target. The keeper bravely stood up to the shot and made the save. Despite James D’s best efforts, the ball was scrambled clear. The period ended with the Wizards 2 – 1 down. This was a period of play which could have ended with any number of score permutations. Based on the early play, the Wizards could have found themselves four or five goals down but by the time the whistle went, they will have considered themselves unlucky not to be on level terms. End of first period – Sale 2 Wizards 1 The Wizards, buoyed by their pressure late in the first period, were intent on getting an equaliser. Barney was looking assured between the posts and made a smart save from a Sale break. Harry whipped in a corner which Tom met well but saw his effort blocked by the home defender. Jake was again employed in his target man role and was working hard to hold the ball up for his oncoming colleagues. Sale were always dangerous on the break and a fine through ball saw Barney racing off his line to make a brave interception. With the play flowing from end to end, Patrick was unlucky from another corner and moments later, Barney was called upon again to tip the ball over the bar when a goal appeared certain. Matt and James D linked up well, with Matt shooting wide from distance and then, yet again, Barney produced a superb diving save to keep the Wizards in touch. With almost the last kick of the period, Sale increased their lead when the ball fell to their attacker in a seemingly unpromising position, midway into the Wizards half. With the Wizards midfield not closing him down, he produced a superb long range effort which sneaked into the far corner past the unsighted Barney. (I know he was unsighted because he made sure he mentioned it afterwards – the sign of a true professional !!). If the Wizards felt unlucky to be a goal down after the first period, they must really have believed the fates were against them, conceding so late in the second period to such a great effort. Again the response proved to be positive, showing that this team is surely not far from really settling in to playing at the top level each week. End of second period – Sale 3 Wizards 1 The final period saw some early skill from Matt to find James O, whose effort was blocked to win a Wizards corner. Felix, who was making a cameo appearance after finishing runner-up in his cross country race earlier in the morning, embarked on a superb solo run from his own half which eventually won the Wizards a free-kick. Sale then embarked on a period of pressure, producing a series of shots which flew wide of the posts, meaning that your correspondent became temporarily engaged as an auxiliary ball boy, showing an impressive turn of speed if I may say so. With Barney again saving well, this spurred on another Wizards offensive with Matt hitting a curling free kick just wide. Next came a long shot from George before the move which put the visitors right back into the game. For the first time this season, (or at least the first I am prepared to admit to), the speed and number of passes involved in the move means that I may not have captured the details entirely accurately. Apologies to any player who does not get the correct namecheck. Following some good play by George and Tom in midfield, James O saw an initial effort blocked and spin out wide. Felix managed to get to the ball and whip in a superb low cross from a difficult angle. Like the predator we know him to be, James O pounced and finished crisply for his and the Wizards second goal of the match. If some of the finer points of the move are less than clear, I am certain of one thing. This was a great goal and incorporated some lovely football. As the game came towards its conclusion and the Wizards tried to press for an equaliser, inevitable gaps appeared in the defence. Sale made the most of this and added a fourth and despite some great defending from Patrick, a fifth goal to put a gloss on the scoreline which did not do justice to the Wizards brave efforts. Although losing games is not something that Wizards became overly accustomed to in the second division last season, the players are gaining huge experience through being in the top flight and as such will be improving both individually and as a team. Today, things could have ended very differently but the important thing to take away from it is another solid performance against an experienced Division 1 team. Man of the Match today was Harry for a great display with a special mention to James O for his two goals and to Barney, Patrick and Tom for their performances. SALE UNITED 5 UNICORN WIZARDS 2[/font=Arial][/size=3][/black] w [/quote]   Check here to include your profile signature.