The UNITS took on Wall Heath this evening and it really was the curse of midweeks post game with the UNITS mustering a bare 11 with gaffer Cuzer being the only sub and Kirbs en route from UNI so we lined up as follows
Show, Chinner, Matty Hall, Eggy, Wallace, Baker, Coco, Ross, Pountney, Turner & Marcus. Subs Cuzer & Kirbs
The early exchanges were even but the UNITS were enjoying the big pitch and playing some decent stuff yet they found themselves 1-0 down with Wall Heath's first chance when after clearing the initial corner we were slow to get out and as the ball was helped back in the WHA centre half had stayed up and headed past show from 7 yards
With the makeshift side we had out, especially at the back it would have been easy to crumble but massive credit to the UNITS as we then had a great 10 minute spell where their keeper made two saves from Turner from 8 yards out after good work from wide, Marcus went close before Ross did superbly out wide to beat his man and whip in a deep cross which Turner couldnt' miss from under the bar as he headed home to level up for the UNITS
The UNITS were now on top and playing some decent stuff going forward, on the break with their pace WHA were always a threat and their forward got away from Hall and Wallace on one occasion to have a low shot blocked but that apart we were keeping things relatively tight
Marcus was a real handful for WHA and his link up play was bringing the wide guys and Turner into play with every forward move, Turner again went close from the edge of the box before we won a free kick and from wide Ross floated in a dangerous ball which their keeper couldn't deal with and the ball was helped into the net to put us 2-1 up
On the half hour mark the game took a turn for the worst for WHA when their striker after being pulled back by Matty Hall reacted in a bad way and dropped the nut on our full back, red card for him and yellow for Hal for the initial foull
A man to the good and a goal to the good the UNITS needed to see things out to half time yet our makeshift centre half partnership of Eggy and Wallace were caught out right on half time when a good through ball released DJ who finished well to level things up on the whistle
HT WHA 2 v 2 UNITS
Cuzer brought on centre half Kirbs for Coco at HT with Wallace moving into the midfield and asked the boys to make their extra man advantage count by passing the ball better and stretching the game
Our play was still too hurried yet the tide of play was one way towards the WHA goal from the off
Ross went close as did Pountney before Marcus headed over as we kept plugging away for the elusive 3rd goal
Credit to WHA they kept men forward and tried to win the game but the only thing stopping the UNITS adding to their score was indifferent decision making in the final 3rd when time and again we chose the wrong option with men over
Turner and Wallace were next to threaten before Pountney did superbly well to beat his man and whip in a deep cross which Wallace headed goalward and the WHA defender under pressure from Marcus sliced into his own net, Wallace claiming a debut goal to put the UNITS back in front
WHA threw caution to the wind now and played an attacking 3-3-3 formation yet this only enabled the UNITS to pick them off, one fine run from Pountney resulted in a lovely cross for the on-rushing Ross who volleyed over from 8 yards when he should have scored
The same combo combined again minutes later when this time Ross hit a sweet volley which cannoned off the defender when destined for the back of the net
At the other end WHA's only chance came very late on when the UNITS were guilty of over playing, Eggy having a pass intercepted before their sub raced away only to blaze wide under pressure from Eggy and Show
In the end a terrific three points for the UNITS with the side we managed to scrape together, credit and thanks to all the lads who helped us out, midweek's are never easy and the commitment was appreciated
Man of the match went to Marcus Powell who again was top notch up top with his hold up and link play and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself
Cuzer
