Last game of the 2011-2012 season and a Home tie vs what was set to be a tricky game vs WPTs and i title show down, with WPTs needing to over turn a -7 goal diff so anything but a 4-0 lose would retain us the A League title for the 4th year running.
The game started off rather even with both teams looking to get the upper hand from the get go, with alot of play coming from the center of midfield, the challenges started flying in so you could tel it was going to be a fight til the end.
Be it the fact we knew we could lose or that WPTs were just wanting it more the game soon became one way traffic, with WPTs getting the upper hand keeping us pinned into are own area for much of the 1st half, with are defence being put under emence pressure, but Ryan, Jack, BK and Ollie stood strong and when they were breached Billy was there quick as a flash to mop up.
We found it hard to get into the game with Max and Kieron being sucked inside leaving space out wide for the away team to exploit, we did have one or two moments 1st Jack went close with a header from an Alfie corner and kieron pulled a shot wide aswell as Max and Cam getting crosses into the box but each time we lost out.
We held on and went it 0-0 at HT.
We didnt make any changes we said give it 5mins get settled then start to change to get players on and to push Jack up into midfield, but then came 5 dreadful mins we wont forget in a hurry almost straight from kick off WPTs hit us on the break bursting into the area, just for BK to miss time his tackle PENALTY. There striker stepped up 1-0 32mins although Billy did go close getting a hand to the ball but couldnt keep it out, that rocked us menatly and you could see the confidence it gave the away team.
Then we gave away the ball cheaply on the halfwaly line through Kieron and bursting down our left there winger out paced Ollie to get in a cross which fell kindly to there midfielder who almost had all the time in the word to set himself and strike the ball past Billy to make it 2-0 and turn the game on its head.
WPTs then became focused on launching every ball over the defence trying to play in the forwards who had been given the defence a torrid time, but we managed to regroup and regain some composure, with Smithy batteling to win every 50/50 in midfeild Max and Cam started to get abit more joy down the right and Kieron found himself having the run of there right back, we nearly got a goal through Cam on 40mins Kieron played in Zack who crossed at the near post but his cross didnt fall kindly for Cam streching to get something onto it he lifted the ball over the cross bar, but was a great move n showed when we settle thats how dangerous we can be.
Then in the 45min a strange desision by there defender to push the ball with his hand in the box gave us a PENALTY, was what we needed to help settle are nerves, up stepped Zack who had a quiet 1st half to smash home to make it 2-1 and it was game on.
Sam replaced Ryan at right back and in the 50th min it was back to square 1, a lose ball failed to be cleared left a WPTs player free to get a great volley away to smash it to make it 3-1 leaving WPTs only needing just 2 more goals and with the way we had been playing it was very possible.
Joel replaced Zack for a fresh pair ov legs upfront and Josh replaced Alfie to hold the center of midfeild, we just had to dig deep soak up the pressure and keep on fighting right til the end, finishing the game at the wrong end of a 3-1 defeat but creadit to WPTs they deserved the victory but it was not enough to take away are crown as A League CHAMPIONS, goal diff again but the table never lies and the job had been done throughout the season.
Cup final next again vs WPTs this time there is no room for era, cant afford to lose its winner takes all and time to stand up and be counted and show them that it was just a one off in that performance.
Man of the Match went to Max he run his socks off all game up and down the wing attacking and defending doing everything that was asked of him, although Jack and BK were solid at the back, Alfie woke up in the second half and showed how dangerous he can be with his vision and Zack put in alot more effort putting there back line under abit more pressure over all we will live and learn from this result, COYH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....
