A sunny and mild day with a fairly firm pitch saw the Wolves win the toss and kick off up hill. Dylan attacked from the start but the giant Burton keeper was quickly off his line.
The Wolves had all the early possession and after just three minutes Sam won the ball in midfield and passed quickly to Ollie on the right wing. Ollie looked up and crossed to Dylan at the front post. As the keeper came rushing at him Dylan didn’t panic and gently passed the ball to Jacob at the back post who fired home from his usual two yards out. A perfect team goal - 10/10 – quick, accurate passing: 1-0
The midfield then battled really strongly and distributed the ball well. Dylan had a powerful shot hit the post and then another chance saved after some great passing between Nathan and Jacob. Sam had a shot blocked from a Dylan free kick and the huge Burton keeper saved well a couple of times; one, a long range effort from Jacob and then again from Nathan.
Like the Ospreys last week, Burton defended in numbers but our midfield and defence were much more disciplined today and didn’t get drawn out of position; Tom, William and Nathan were strong and stopped Burton from all but one chance that Cole easily scooped up.
Half Time: 1-0
The Wolves dominated the second half and Dylan had a goal disallowed in the first minute; the referee saying it hadn’t crossed the line (what line??). After 3 minutes Dylan did get on the score sheet with a very good shot to the left corner from outside the area which Jacob ‘shepherded’ over the line: 2-0
Burton had a couple of efforts, William did well to block a shot and then Cole was quickly off his line to gather up the ball. Sam, Nathan and Tom were dominant in midfield and made very good use of the ball and Jacob won a free kick just outside the area from a good pass from Sam. Dylan’s shot from the free kick was powering into the roof of the net until the Burton keeper just got a fingertip to it and it hit the bar. From the corner, Jacob was quickest to the ball to get his second of the game: 3-0
Burton didn’t give up but the Wolves were passing the ball really well and maintaining their shape, preventing Burton from getting a sniff of a chance. Ollie had a long shot saved and another into the side netting and then Sam had a chance from a good pass from Ollie.
Minutes later, Jacob bravely challenged the keeper as he came out to punch a high ball clear on the left edge of his area. Jacob got to the ball (and the keeper’s fist) first and nodded the ball down to Sam in front of goal. With the keeper on the floor Sam shot but it just hit the right post and then the shot from the rebound went over the bar.
Tom also had a good shot from the left wing saved as the game drew to a close.
Final score: 3-0
Not a huge score line but a fantastic performance. The majority of the boys battled and tackled for every ball and gave Burton no time on the ball. The defence and midfield kept their shape much better today and prevented Burton getting forward quickly enough to be a threat. The boys were patient in front of goal and if not for a very good goal keeping performance the score would have been a lot higher. The first goal was football perfection, especially against a massed defence and big keeper, and much credit should go to Dylan for passing when he was just a couple of yards out from goal - great decision!
