The UNITS took on revitalised Wolverley out of the Prem in the last 16 of the Hospital Cup at Brown Westhead this morning
Once again we were moved off our home pitch, which never helps, we were also without Pountney, Ginge & Newts as we lined up
Mala, Chinner, Gilo, Barney, Taylor, Si Hollick, Baker, Coco, Acer, Azza & Ashton
Subs were Stef, Ross, Trigger, Eggy & Kieron
Wolverley had a strong side out as this cup was ultimately their seasons goal so the UNITS knew they were in for a tough morning
The wind was awkward for both sides but the UNITS had it at their back in the first half and started well, Ashton was on fire early and was pulling the Wolverley centre halfs all over the shop as we created space and had the visitors on the back foot early
We forced 3 quick corners inside the first 10 minutes and Tayl's put numerous throws in the the Wolverley box as we were on the front foot but chances were at a premium
We were looking solid at the other end, Wolverley putting a couple of high balls in our box from set pieces for Mason as the obvious target but Barney & Taylor was dealing with the threat well
25 minutes in Units were well on top but we were not creating clear chances, Wolverley were defending well if a little physical at times, one late tackle from behind on Ashton going unpunished when it should really have been a yellow all day long
To compound this H the ref, who was having a bad day at the office, then booked our centre half Taylor for an innocuous trip on the half way line, making a rod for his own back which would come back to hurt the UNITS later in the game
The UNITS suffered a further blow on 25 minutes when Si Hollick pulled up with a calf injury and Trigger came on, Ashton dropping into centre midfield
On 30 minutes Azza was inches away from giving us the lead when from 30 yards out he carried the ball forward and fizzed in a low shot which had the keeper wrong footed only to sail inches wide of the post
On 40 minutes Wolverley had their best chance of the half when a quick one two down our left flank got their pacey striker in behind Gilo but Mala came out to save the low shot with his feet as we came in level at the break 0-0
HT UNITS 0 v 0 Wolverley 0
Cuzer was a little disappointed the UNITS couldn't make their fist half dominance count as we came in level when we really should have been sitting on a lead, we knew Wolverley would use the wind to their advantage so it was important we stood up to the expected aerial onslaught
5 minutes into the second half the UNITS really should have been ahead, Baker who was having a fine game in midfield, won the ball and dinked a pass over the Wolverley back line only for Ashton to miss his kick 10 yards out when any contact would have beaten the keeper to put us ahead
It was to prove costly as on 55 minutes Wolverley took the lead from their most likely source, another corner came into the mixer and their big lad Mason was afforded too much time in our box to have a header blocked but slam home the rebound from 10 yards, despite the best efforts of Mala & Gilo on the line
Credit to the UNITS within 5 minutes we were level, some nice play down our left resulted in Coco playing in Trigger who cut inside his man in the box, only to be clipped by the centre half, Taylor stepping up to clinically dispatch the penalty 1-1
The UNITS then had a great 10 minute spell when they should have put the game to bed, firstly Ashton played in Trigger who was clean through, he elected to shoot early with his right foot and the Wolverley keeper saved low at his near post and their centre half poked the ball away before a UNIT could tap home
Then Acer had two good chances from more slick UNITS attacking play, one at the back stick he took a touch and sliced wide and the other from 18 yards he created space but could only blaze wildly over
Again the UNITS were punished for missed chances as Wolverley snatched the lead with to be fair a good team goal, a slick one two in midfield released their nippy forward who got some space in the box to fire past Mala from 12 yards
Despite the wind now at their back the goal was generally against the run of play as the UNITS had created all the best chances but were being punished by a combination of poor finishing and good defending on Wolverley's part
The game now became open, Coco had the Wolverley full back on toast and put quality ball after quality ball into the box but neither Azza, Trigger or any other of the UNITS could get onto the cross to ask enough questions of the Wolverley keeper
Cuzer introduced Stef & Ross for Acer & Chinner as we went 3-4-3 and tried to chase the game and get the equaliser
On 80 minutes the ridiculous early yellow given to skipper Taylor came back to haunt us as he competed for a 50/50 in the middle of the park, it hardly looked a foul yet the referee decided to book Taylor for the 2nd time and leave the UNITS down to 10 men, a criminal red card really due to the referee not being consistent with his decisions all morning long, even the Wolverley players tried to explain to the ref it wasn't a red card but he was having none of it
With the UNITS now down to 10 men and already gambling with a lot of forward players on the pitch Wolverley put a very flattering slant on the scoreline with two late goals, again Mason was allowed too much space at the back stick to prod home another corner into the box and then in the last couple of minutes their forward got away and finished clinically into the bottom corner as the UNITS exited the Hospital Cup
FT Units 1 v 4 Wolverley
It was never a 4-1 game on reflection and at times the UNITS were well on top but ultimately Wolverley were more clinical in both 18 yard boxes and this is where we lost the game, we must defend better and be more clinical with the chances we create, we wish Wolverley all the best in the next round
Man of the match went to Baker who was superb in the middle of the park, coming back into the side, he covered a lot of ground ,won many 50-50's and used the ball well
