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Rob Bellingham
Unicorn Platinum Reporter
United Kingdom
54 Posts |
 Posted - 02/05/2008 : 00:03:17
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Timperley and District Junior Football League
Division 2
April 20 2008
STRETFORD VICTORIA 1 UNICORN WIZARDS 1
This top of the table clash had been eagerly awaited and didn’t disappoint with both teams overcoming the cold, wet conditions to produce a thoroughly entertaining game. The captain of the Kansas City Wizards, Jimmy Conrad, had made a good luck video message ahead of the fixture and the Wizards certainly responded well to his rallying cry.
Playing on the type of large pitch which seems to suit them best, the Wizards started brightly with Alex having an early shot blocked following George’s cross. Matt did well to tidy up a dangerous looking Vics attack and Jake had to be alert to make a covering tackle as a gap seemed to be opening up in the Wizards defence.
Joe and Tom were working well in tandem at the heart of the Wizards midfield, creating a scoring chance after Joe won the ball and crossed for Tom to go close with a header. With the Wizards on top at this stage, George had a powerful free-kick saved. Tom was first to the rebound, only to see his effort go just over the bar.
With the Wizards looking the most likely to score, it was the Vics who showed their resilience to take the lead following a rapid breakaway. The Wizards defence was, for once, exposed leaving a Vics striker in space to apply a cool finish.
The Vics were buoyed up by their goal and with half time approaching, it was important for the Wizards to regroup and not concede again. The closest Vics came was when a goalbound shot was cleared just in front of the goal line by Matt who had anticipated the danger well.
Half Time – Vics 1 Wizards 0
The Wizards set about the second half in purposeful fashion, realising that the match was still finely balanced and that their first half performance had given lots of grounds for optimism.
The Wizards defence still needed to be on red alert however and Barney did well to come off his line quickly to block a clear scoring chance for the Vics.
Ross was causing the Vics defence problems, forcing the keeper to fumble a shot which could have easily fallen into the path of an advancing Wizards striker. The Wizards were again on top at this stage but with the second half advancing quickly, it began to look as if an equaliser might not come. The anxiety levels of the Wizards fans increased further when another Stretford break concluded with a shot which was only inches wide.
Ironically, when the Wizards equaliser did come, it was not from one of the flowing moves we had been admiring all morning but from a scramble following a corner. Having said that, these are the sort of goals that the best teams pick up on a regular basis and there are lots of positive points to be taken from it. First George produced a pin point corner of the type we have become used to seeing over the course of the season. This created major problems in the Vics defence and Alex showed great strength and persistence to prevent a clearance being made. The ball eventually found its way to Ross at the far post, who scored a real poachers goal with a close range finish into the bottom corner.
With only a few minutes remaining, the Wizards looked as if they may even go on to produce a winning goal but the Vics defence held firm for the remainder of the game. There was one further alarm for the Wizards when Tom had to navigate the last few blades of grass he hadn’t already covered to produce a goal line clearance.
When the final whistle blew, a draw seemed to be an entirely fair result for probably the best game seen so far this season. This is the third time these teams have met this season and all three games have ended in 1 – 1 draws, (at the end of “normal” time, with the cup-tie going into extra time). It is evident that these are two very evenly matched teams who are contributing to a well balanced league this season.
This week’s man of the match was almost impossible to pick but deservedly went to Simon for a fine display of skill and bravery, playing with cuts to his face after a nasty fall.
STRETFORD VICTORIA 1 UNICORN WIZARDS 1
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Wizards v Stretford Vics - 20 April
