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Rob Bellingham
Unicorn Platinum Reporter
United Kingdom
54 Posts |
 Posted - 05/10/2008 : 21:47:40
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A Game of Two Halves
Unicorn Wizards 2 Broadheath Central 6
By looking at the final score alone, this would appear to have been a comfortable away victory by the league champions as they completed their second victory in eight days against their newly promoted rivals. The reality was somewhat different as the Wizards, making their debut at a temporary home ground of Grove Lane, gave their illustrious opponents a real scare with a shock result looking very much on the cards at one stage.
It was Broadheath who created the first opportunity with Barney having to be quick off his line to block an effort from the onrushing attacker. The Wizards responded with an extended passage of play which, given the quality of the opposition, probably matches the best they have ever achieved.
Tom D created the first opportunity, with James O seeing his effort flash across the fact of the goal. Alex decisively won a defensive header to set up a good move involving Ross and George, giving plenty of cause for optimism amongst players and supporters alike.
After 10 minutes, the Wizards took the lead. Joe was first to a loose ball in the Broadheath half and quickly sent the ball into the box. James O was first to react and applied a fine finish to place the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Two minutes later the Wizards doubled their lead with a superb team effort. James O started the move with an excellent threaded pass to find Dan in space. Dan helped the ball along to George who let fly from the edge of the box with a shot that arrowed into the top corner, leaving the keeper helpless. It was a finish worthy of the move which preceded it.
The Wizards had further half chances to add to their lead as the half continued. Alex’s free-kick, found George whose cross led to James O having an effort tipped wide.
With half time approaching, Broadheath grabbed themselves a crucial lifeline. After the trainer had been on the pitch to see to a Broadheath player, it was the visitors who were first to react with a quickly taken throw in which, for the first time in the match, seemed to catch the Wizards napping. Some last gasp defending couldn’t prevent the Broadheath striker from applying a close range finish to make it 2 – 1.
Half Time – Wizards 2 Broadheath 1
Half time team talks often focus on the importance of the “next” goal and of keeping things tight for the first ten minutes. Sadly for the Wizards, the first period of the second half was a disappointing as the first had been exhilarating.
The home team’s offside trap was well and truly sprung in the 34th minute when a Broadheath striker found himself in acres of space with a clear run on goal. He was able to calmly take the ball around Barney and finish into an empty net to make it 2 – 2.
There have been lots of positives to take from the Wizards start to the season, with today’s first half performance being perhaps best of all. However, if there is one thing the team will need to work on to really compete in this division, it is their ability to quickly regroup and consolidate after conceding a goal.
Within minutes, a well struck shot from just inside the box gave the visitors the lead and another through ball carved through the defence a little too easily to provide the opportunity which saw Broadheath make it 4 – 2. One or two heads seemed to go down at this stage and the shape which saw the team do so well in the first half, was momentarily lost.
As the game wore on, Broadheath added a fifth. There did look to be an air of offside about this one but the game was effectively over as a contest anyway by now and this shouldn’t detract from a good, decisive performance by the referee.
There was time for a sixth to be added in Keystone Cops fashion when Barney’s attempted clearance hit the oncoming attacker and flew into the net.
The game came to an end with the Wizards having contrived to concede six unanswered goals in 33 minutes, after keeping a clean sheet for the first 27 minutes of the match. (To put this into perspective though, this does happen occasionally even in the Premiership, with Portsmouth enduring a similar fate against a mid table outfit a few weeks ago).
Here we go with this weeks “top 3” observations:-
o The Wizards led until the 34th minute today after managing the same feat until the 20th last week. They showed they can compete with the best and as the concentration and organisation develops, there is further room for improvement.
o Not all teams will be in a position to capitalise on the Wizards mistakes as Broadheath were able to today and if the improvement continues, the results will come
o Goals will be conceded in this division. Responding quickly and positively is a key test of any teams character and spirit
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Date: 28 September 2008
Competition: Timperley and District Under 12 League Division 1
Wizards: Barney, Matt, Jake, Alex, James D, Josh, Tom D, Tom C, Joe, Simon, George, Dan, Ross, James O
Goals: James O, George
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Man of the match: James D – Sixty minutes of whole hearted tackling and astute passing.
Ross – Great attitude, strength and some moments of real quality on the ball
Moment of the match – The move and finish that saw the Wizards go 2 – 0 up.
Click Here for League Table: http://full-time.thefa.com/gen/Index.do?league=7712931
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Wizards v Broadheath 28 September
