Boots Wednesday cruised to a comfortable half-time lead against bottom-placed Brooks Villa, but complacency, windy conditions, a spot of bad luck and an opposition growing in confidence meant that Boots were lucky to come away with just a point in the end.
Things started brightly when a long, high kick from Neil towards the lone Bally upfront caused confusion amongst the panicking Brooks defence, and a hurried clearance landed at the feet of the unmarked Crozier who lobbed the keeper with a delightful half-volley from 25 yards that nestled in the top bin. Toobs then stepped up to take a free-kick from half-way, and accurately found the unchallenged Patto at the back post who headed past a flapping keeper. Boots continued to dominate and both Bally and Crozier were unlucky not to see good chances converted, before Man of the Match Crozier did claim his second (and fourth of the season, all against this opposition) when his low corner to the front post was expertly ‘dummied’ by Spence, and the ball trickled between his legs and over the line. Brooks never looked like threatening the Boots defence, with Hawry-lick, Spence, Toobs and Phil coping admirably, while Simon, Patto and Paul provided an outlet in the centre. Brett smashed the bar with a long range free-kick before half-time, while Kieran’s pace and the headed-flicks of Paul and Bally from Chris and Simon’s throw-ins continued to pressurise the Brooks defence.
The second half began in much the same way as Boots pressed for a fourth. Crozier saw a toe-poked effort rush centimetres wide of the left post, while Bally, released by Patto, muscled his way through down the right and almost found Crozier in the centre. Brett also continued to threaten with the dead ball, and saw one free kick wriggle just wide, while another found the (once again) unmarked Patto at the back post, but his goal-bound volley was unfortunately blocked by Paul who was trying to duck out of the way! Griffin came on for Crozier who was struggling, and after seeing one direct free-kick blocked by Patto’s posterior, Brooks won another and this time found their mark when a low shot straight at Neil took a large bobble and somehow ended up in the net. Filled with a new found vigour, assisted by the changeable wind and discovering some pace down the right, Brooks occasionally threatened and won another corner that was almost identical to Crozier’s second, beating both Simon and Chris at the front post and rolling into the net. Brooks smelt a point, and when a hopeful punt forward won them a corner, they made sure it counted and produced a quality ball and an athletic header to level the game. Simon reverted to a 4-4-2 with 5 minutes remaining and brought on Griffiths’ fresh legs down the right, and although Brooks hit the post following a one-on-one towards the death, Boots also had some half-chances from corners, Kieran and Bally runs and some long range efforts, but the game eventually ended all square.
