On a surprisingly hard and bouncy pitch, Boots Wednesday never got going in a disappointing game against Wollaton Pirates Reserves that was decided by one solitary goal. Fielding a very different team to the previous week, Boots took a while to get into the game before persistent play from the defenders, Simon and Man of the Match SuBo allowed Boots to win back the ball and begin to work the wings through the lively Dave Eite and Ash. Griff and Ian were forced to chase a lot of through-balls and try to hold up play while support came, but Boots struggled to threaten in the final third with a good run (which ended in a corner) and a speculative long-range shot, both from Ian, being the only real chances of note. With only one big man up top and a handful of quick and skilful midfielders in support, Wollaton worked several chances in the half but for the majority Brett, Patto, Horlicks and Daz coped well, with the only scare coming when a cross was poorly cleared and their midfielder smashed Phil’s crossbar with a half volley. Eventually the breakthrough came when a long diagonal run from half-way went unchallenged by midfield and defence, and the twisting player’s cross from the right eluded Brett and Phil and allowed their bald forward the chance to graze the ball home off his shiny temple.
Despite Danny and Kieran replacing Simon and Griff, Boots still lacked the cutting edge in attack in the second half, although they did begin to see more of the ball and played some good short passes in the centre, trying to play in Kieran who was well-shepherded by his marker. Wollaton continued to press for a second and Phil had to make several one-on-one saves as their strikers ran through past the tiring defenders, while Patto had to clear on the one occasion that the striker did get around Phil. Boots tried in vain to find the equaliser, with Luke replacing the injured Dave Eite, but their efforts proved futile as shots were still not forthcoming. Ian missed the best chance of the game when Patto and Danny combined well to feed him into the area but his toe-punt drifted wide, while Ian and Danny were also involved in a scuffle on the line but the ball would not fall invitingly for a Boots player. With the game descending into a scrappy midfield battle, time eventually ran out for Boots who could not make the necessary breakthrough as the hard ground took its toll on tired limbs.
