After a couple of weeks away from league action the Wolverhampton Sunday League kicked back off yesterday and we saw Phoenix taking on Newbridge at Claregate. There were quite a few changes to the Phoenix side. Ste was ill so Dave Lucas came into the centre of midfield. Adam Booth was now playing on the right wing which moved Rich Booth to play an attacking midfield role just behind the new Striker Rich Gibson who was leading the line. Craig Jones came in for just his 2nd game and played at right back.
Phoenix kicked off and almost immediately Gibson thought he was in. A long ball foward was over the top of the defenders and Gobson had the pace on all of them only as he cut accross the defender their legs touched, which left the defender on the floor and a foul was given.
Newbridge felt confident they could get a result today. They thought they would be comfortable to pass te ball around at the back however Gibson chased them down every time giving them no time and the mistakes were forced. After a long ball from Graham Jonesthe defender controlled it however under pressure from Gibson he slipped and lost the ball to Gibson who now found himself through on. With the Keeper and defender baring down on him his shot found the bottom left hand corner claiming his first league goal of the season and more importantly Phoenix were 1-0 ahead.
Phoenix came close on a few occasions. Parker had a long range effort that went just wide and Adam had a shot saved by the keeper. Gibson was denied a second goal when after being playind through by Adam he raced ontot the ball and slotted the ball at the near post only to be flagged offside, this was later said to be the wrong call by Newbridges manager.
Phoenix were in control of the game defence were standing firm and the midfield 5 were battleing away hard and winning the battle. After a failed cross from Gibson newbridge were able to counter. A long ball forward was chased down by the attacker however he was deemed offside. The refferee allowed play saying Phoenix had an advantage because the had cleared the ball, however the had only cleared it to the edge of the area. The ball was played through and the attacker managed to just dink it over ade and the scores were level.
The goal gave newbridge back the confidence they had started the game with. And were denied a second goal by a superb save from Ade. Newbridge were awarded a freekick on the edge of the area. The ball was struck nicely and was heading for the top right corner only for Ade to get his right hand to the ball and palm it away.
With 5 minutes of the half left to play the 3rd goal of the game put Phoenix ahead and it was Gibson with his 2nd of the game. Again the Newbridge defenders were passing it around at the back, but a pass back to the keeper sold him short and Gibson was able to just poke the ball under the keeper into the corner and Phoenix moved 2-1 ahead.
Phoenix had time for another attack and Gibson got the ball on the left. He got the defender square on and nutmegged him. He options, he could of squared it but he went alone only for his shot to be blocked by the defender.
The second half started in much the same way the first half had been played out. Phoenix were looking comfortable and never really looked in trouble. 10 minutes in and Phoenix were 3-1 up. The newbridge winger had made a tackle with had put the ball right down in the own half of the pitch and the recovering defender was chased down by Gibson. With only the keeper to pass to, the keeper was again sold short. Gibson got there first and poked the ball into the path of Adam Booth who had an empty net to shoot at. He made no mistake and got his 8th goal of the season.
Phoenix were now in cruise control. After a throw in by gibson the ball was cleared as far as Parker who played the ball back out to Gibson. he played it down the line for Rich Booth, who cut it back to Gibson. He struck it but his curling effort was too close to the keeper who managed to keep hold of it. Parker again had came close after another long range effort. Adam also had another effort saved. A nice move between Gibson, Adam and Rich saw Rich Booth being played through rounded the keeper only for the whistle to go after he was wrongly called offside.
Rich did get his goal though. A long ball was touched by Gibson into the path of Adam. He tookit down the right and looked for Gibson again only for the ball to be cut out by the defender. the ball fell to Rich and he lashed a shot from 25 yards which lobbed the keeper and fell into the back of the net. Phoenix were surely taking home the 3 points.
Newbridge went 3 at the back in a bid to salvage something from the game. They had one notable effort which came from a corner. the ball fell in the box and a shot came i only to go out of play of the top of the bar.
The referee blew for full time though and 2013 and started very well for Phoenix who look for a bit of consistency in the new year.
