The UNITS travelled to Wall Heath in what was a massive league game as the UNITS and Wall Heath had aspirations of the title. Alas for Cuzer there were some last minute drop outs and people who couldn't make it, which was massively disappointing with the notice given. 15 made it as we lined up: Tom, DJ, Gilo, Taylor, Millette, Newton, Ashton, Greavesy, Jim, Trigger and Seeks. Subs were Ryan, Si, Chinner and Trev.
The game really was a must win for Wall Heath and the UNITS knowing they needed 5 wins from 7 games could really have done with the win after the draw at Dudley Sports last week. In fairness we started well and had WHA on the back foot early, the opening 15 minutes were one way traffic, WHA playing one up top meant the UNITS had the majority of the ball yet clear chances were at a premium, Seeks was looking sharp yet credit to the WHA centre halves who were defending like their lives depended on it and putting bodies on the line. Seeks had a shot pushed round the post on 15 and Taylor flashed a header over from a corner as we looked the most likely. 20 or so in and WHA came more into the game, a series of corners were defended well by the UNITS as neither side had created many clear chances
Jim then had a golden chance to give the UNITS the lead from a Seeks throw, Taylor flicked on and Jim some 6 yards out managed to clear the bar with a great opportunity. WHA finished the half strongly as their man in the hole found a bit of space and started to get on the ball, thankfully Tom was relatively untested as we defended well but ultimately were not asking enough questions at the other end of the pitch either.
HT WHA 0 v 0 UNITS
Cuzer asked the UNITS to raise the game 10% as it was there for the taking yet the feeling was we were playing a little bit within ourselves and waiting for things to happen. The 2nd half continued as the 1st half ended, very cagey with neither side taking the game by the scruff of the neck. On a poor pitch it was a battle and the shift put in by Newts and Ashton was commendable yet when we got the ball wide or down the channels we were not doing enough with it to hurt WHA. WHA then went 442 and got the ball forward to Big Dom as they went for the win, from a couple of set pieces Dom headed well wide whilst at the other end Ashton and Taylor flashed headers across goal from Seeks and Greavesy corners as neither side could find the opening goal. On 65 minutes Si replaced Trigger putting Ashton behind Seeks as we tried to ask more questions of WHA.
It almost paid dividends when on 70 minutes Seeks held off the defender and shot low with his right foot, beating the keeper only for the ball to strike the base of the post as WHA hacked clear. Greavesy then released Seeks and from his low shot inside the box the WHA centre half made a wonderful sliding block when Seeks's effort would have asked some serious questions of the keeper. Ryan then replaced Jim with 15 remaining with DJ pushing to right mid, WHA then almost opened the scoring when Tom came out of his area and took a poor touch which their DJ seized upon and headed towards goal yet Ryan recovered in time to hack the ball away from the gaping goal On 80 minutes the UNITS were denied what looked like a blatant penalty when Ashton did well to hold up the ball and roll the WHA defender, who went to ground and brought down Ashton, the referee giving nothing much to the vocal complaints from the UNITS who were close to the decision, he certainly didn't win the ball so it was a booking for a dive or a penalty, certainly not a goal kick!
Into the last 10 minutes and the UNITS got worryingly deep relying on Seeks or Ashton to make something happening as we stopped trying to play, WHA kept asking questions and we were defending quite well yet on 90 minutes Tayl's was caught in two minds and didn't clear the ball, it got hooked down the channel and we conceded a needless corner, we cleared the initial ball in yet were so slow to stop the 2nd ball coming back in to the box and WHA had two men on the back post, the initial header forced Tom into a fine reflex save from 6 yards out as he parried the ball away yet DJ for them was on hand to head into the net from the rebound to give the home side the win they so desperately needed. Amazingly there was still time for Ashton to ghost in between their centre halves and force their keeper into a superb reflex save from 12 yards as he blocked the ball away and as WHA cleared the final whistle sounded.
So, the UNITS have 6 games left and to win the league we need at least 5 wins, hopefully tonight will be a wakeup call for some who were not on their game as much as their opponents tonight who understand the meaning of "must win" and kept going to the end, credit to them.
As for us we need to dust ourselves down and sort ourselves out before we travel to Stourbridge Rangers for another massive game, SR themselves having aspirations on winning the division.
Man of the match went to Newt's who put in a shift that deserved anything but a defeat.
