|
The fifth XI faced a crucial relegation dogfight when they travelled to the train spotters paradise that is Handsworth GSOB.
A stirring pre match team talk by manager Chris Jones about 'pushing them on to the back foot for the first ten minutes' and 'getting the ball into the opposition half as quick as possible' fell on deaf ears as Wulfs gave away possession early in the game and fell a goal behind.
However, Wulfs then began to put the managers advice into practice and with the prompting of Richard Lovegrove and Mike Hill, inserted some heavy pressure on the home side.
The pressure paid off as Handsworth failed to properly clear a corner and Lovegrove lashed home the loose ball for the equaliser.
Then five minutes later new signing Daniel Cox put Wulfs in front with a fierce strike after some good work by Adam Pugh.
However, with both balls despatched on to the railway track and someone desperately trying to retrieve them as the 3.15 train to London Euston roared by, a five minute break allowed Handsworth to regroup and forced Wulfs to lose their tempo and momentum.
A scrappy second goal was conceded after a fumble by goalkeeper Rob Clifford-Hill.
The pivotal moment of the game came when the referee, who heavily resembled Homer Simpson, proved to be a real homer by awarding Handsworth a very generous penalty after an innocuous challenge by Rob James. The penalty was converted.
Wulfs then lost their heads and conceded a fourth goal shortly before half time.
Wulfs started the second half strongly with Dave Benton introduced into the game as a replacement for the injured Anzer Nabeel and chances were created but missed.
As always happens, Wulfs were made to pay for these missed chances when Handsworth broke away to make the score 5-2.
At this point manager Chris Jones changed the formation to a flat (or should that be fat) back four and Handsworth opted to sit back safe in the knowledge that they had an unassailable lead.
CJ then introduced the younger, but slower legs of Tash Davies to replace the legend that is Gordon Brown.
Chances were still being created and Wulfs eventually pulled a goal back on seventy-eight minutes. A sublime through ball by Dave Benton set Davies free and he left the two young centre halves in his wake before coolly slotting past the statuesque goalkeeper. The rest of his team mates shouted for him to get the ball out of the back of the net but, after running half the length of the pitch to score, getting back to the halfway line was an achievement in itself and he was a mere spectator for the rest of the game.
The game then petered out and Wulfs had to settle for a disappointing defeat against a team that they should have beaten but certainly didn't deserve to.
Final score: Handsworth GSOB 5 Old Wulfrunians 3.
|
|
