Our 1st game in a few weeks and we welcome the visit of West End Village Reserves to the Green.
A tough game is envisaged as West End have only lost 2 from 9 so we were expecting a battle. A shortage of players has led to the call up of Stacy Inman and Jono Nicholas from the 1st team to give us more options on the bench.
A now familiar 4-5-1 is installed again by gaffer Wyatt with a midfield trio of Hale, Mapp with Smith (Joe) being used in a more advance role supporting Walker. With Farmer unavailable as he's gone to the egg chasing, it's left to the 2 old campaigners of Mark Thomas and Capt Donoghue to keep out the WE strikers.
The game starts of quite cagey with both teams sizing each other up in the early stages with no keeper being tested.
The 1st goal came from the Wimbledon playbook. A long free kick from the back by Tom finds it's way to Joe who takes aim, and fires the ball into the top left hand corner 1-0 and from then the confidence stared to flow. We were popping the ball about with ease. Joe found himself in acres of space again and whilst trying some elaborate pass\trick, only succeeds in falling on his arse.
The 2nd goal came not long after. Taff lumped a long ball forward from a free kick 40yrds plus from goal, the keeper made a pigs ear out of it and the ball bounced over him and over the line. 2-0
We were a little shocked by our performance but it just spurred us on. Taff was making some rampaging runs down the left, Tom, Mark & Andi were keeping their front line quiet, even Manning & Home-Alone were tracking back and making challenges. A real team performance which was soon rewarded again. Some good work by Walker gave himself some space and his cross picked out Kev who buried the ball into the top corner. 3-0
West End then started playing. A looped effort came back off of the post and cleared, but some heroic defending from the team meant Peters only had 1 real save to make. A heart in the mouth moment happened soon after. A goal mouth scramble ensued, the ball bounced off of mark's legs and was rolling towards the line when out of nowhere Tom slid in to clear. Was it Over the line? West End sure thought so, the ref wasn't sure, Tony wasn't sure so no goal was given. (West End will argue Mr Blatter, this is why goal line technology is required). Was it over? hmmm, i can't possibly answer that ;)
West End soon pulled one back, a long ball bounced, deceived tom & Peters and the striker headed into an empty net. 3-1
We weren't finished though. The ref played a good advantage after Mark was elbowed in the face (how did the striker not get sent off) and from the break, the ball found Kev who in turn pinged a cross along the 6yrd box for Hale to smash into the roof of the net. 4-1
half time and we were buzzing. A led that was fully deserved, and some superb football being played. (those 5-a-side sessions were paying off) but we expected WE to come at us.
The 2nd half started as we expected with WE on the offensive but we were doing well keeping them out.
They pulled a goal back when a poor kick by Peters went straight to their striker who picked his spot in the top corner, and despite getting a hand to it, Mike was unable to keep it out. 4-2
We were creating chances but we weren't able to take them with Mike missing the far post by centimetres. But when he did find the net, he was 9in our opinion wrongly) given offside when he chested the ball down, slotted it in the far corner, THEN the lino raised his flag.
A few subs were made with Andi, Kev & Peters being withdrawn and Ross, Stacy & Jono taking their places.
WE pulled another goal back when on a break, their no 11 was put through an he slotted beyond Jono. 4-3
Mike then had a golden chance to wrap the game up when he got under a cross from Manning only to see the ball hit the wrong part of his foot and go over the bar.
The game ended 4-3, our 2nd win of the season and to be honest much deserved from a great team performance all round, summed up when 5 players each received at least 1 vote for MOM
Big 6 pointer next week against Normandy so lets take our performances from the last 2 games into this and lets finish the season on a high, win both league games and progression in the cup
