Wall Heath Albion 3 v 0 TS UNITS
The UNITS traveled to the home of WHA in the league, the pitch, never the best, was just about playable after the heavy rain the day before Team wise we were at a new low ebb, a host of players missing for a variety of reasons we found ourselves without 6 first teamers as we scratched around for players on the morning of the game We managed to get Toby on an emergency card and muster 12 with Si on the bench as we lined up Mozza, Toby, Clarkey, Gilo, Luke, Chinner, Baker, Coco, Winny, Ashton & a half fit Rob Bell Subs were Si & Cuzer
With the pitch being heavy we aimed to be as compact as possible with an outlet ball and to not let WHA get in behind us and in fairness the first half the tactics worked superbly WHA moved the ball around well but for 20 minutes Mozza dealt with nothing more than a couple of routine crosses as we soaked up the pressure and when we got chance to break and get the ball down we did. Rob was doing his best playing off Ashton but they linked well at times and Ashton dragged a chance wide early doors before from a half cleared corner his shot was blocked with the keeper out of position
Mozza tipped a low shot wide from 20 yards and Toby made a good challenge in the area as WHA kept plugging away but we remained solid in the main. At the other end one lovely move down our left resulted in Chinner, Coco & Ashton combining before Chinner crossed for Rob with the ball just being too high stopping Rob heading unguarded into an empty net Ashton then shot from the angle with the on-rushing Chinner probably placed better but at a stretch Ashton could only find the side netting
We came in at half time defending well and countering at times with purpose as it remained goal less
HT WHA 0 v UNITS 0
The mood was upbeat at half time, we were stretched and people playing out of position but you couldn't fault the commitment, we were digging in and looking dangerous ourselves, message was more of the same with a tad more belief on the ball and we might be able to snatch a result
The second half quickly settled into a similar pattern, WHA had changed their shape slightly and we were struggling to get forward from the full backs position but we remained solid and Mozza had little to do approaching the hour mark The UNITS were dealt a blow on 60 minutes however when Luke picked up a knock and Si came on in a like for like swap Winny did well at the other end on the break and had his low shot saved then Rob was teed up 20 yards out but could only shoot straight at the keeper Coco was putting in some superb dead ball deliveries and each one was asking questions of WHA one ball dropping to Ashton who saw his low shot hacked away off the line as we almost took the lead WHA then created their best and clearest chance of the game after some nice interchange in midfield their striker was put through only for Mozza to rush out and make a great block with Gilo clearing the rebound Straight up the other end and the visitors really should have taken the lead, another good bit of play involving Ashton, Coco & Chinner resulted in Ashton and Coco having shots blocked before the ball found it's way to Rob 6 yards out and back to goal, he flicked the ball up and caught his left foot volley sweet as, everybody was expecting the net to bulge with the keeper well beaten only for the ball to pass millimeters wide of the post, clearest chance of the game went begging As is often the way within minutes the home side got the all important breakthrough. Some good play down their left resulted in their full back doing well, he got to the byeline and fired in a low cross, Gilo made a great first block, Mozza then saved the rebound before the ball looped up in the air and their midfielder was in the right spot to head over the line from all of a yard, a real body blow to the UNITS after the effort they had put in
With only 15 remaining we had to gamble more men forward and we probed around the WHA box looking for an opening but they defended well to their credit and on 80 minutes the game was over when a back pass to Mozza bobblled horribly as he went to clear resulting in their striker having the easy task of rolling the ball into an empty net a cruel way to end our hopes after the lads had worked so hard
With minutes remaining WHA added a 3rd to put a harsh lopsided scoreline on proceedings but all in all we competed well, made the most of our resources available just a shame we had so many players AWOL or we really would have fancied our chances of getting something from the game
Man of the match went to Gilo who like many played out of position but was superb at sweeper, reading the game well and breaking up many of the home sides attacks
Mozza 8 Toby 8 Clarkey 8 Gilo 9* Luke 7 Chin 7 Baker 8 Coco 7 Winny 7 Rob 7 Ashton 8
Subs Si 7
