Phoenix came to smethwick having only 10 men but played with the heart of 11 as they thwarted wave after wave of warley attacks. Warley found it difficult to break down such a resilient team especially on such a bumpy pitch. Phoenix, to their credit, didn't just come to defend they attacked warley from the off and took the lead through a 14 min penalty after Luke was adjudged to, rather harshly, have upended a phoenix player. Colm pulled off a marvellous save only for the rebound to be followed up by a another colt to smash the ball home. Warley Boro 0 Phoenix West 1. Warley were stunned but reacted quickly and a minute later they were level after a long clearance from Kieran bobbled kindly over a defender for hatrick hero Sam to round the keeper to fire home. Warley Boro 1 Phoenix West 1. Missing the influential midfielder Byron Warley looked short of ideas as a stubborn defence and good goalkeeping limited their chances. Coach Jones made a tactical substitution resting Dan and Sam with 25 mins gone and replacing them with the twins. It nearly paid off as a sweeping move saw Azza linking well with he's double to create a chance which saw the ball flash wide. Phoenix had their moments as well and a drifted corner saw them hit the bar just before half time. Warley Boro 1 Phoenix West 1.
After the break coach Jones returned the attacking two to the team and they worked hard to create chances. The game was heading for stalemate but then a moment of madness saw Phoenix reduced to 9 players as the referee sent one off for swearing at him after he was adjudged to have fouled. It has to be said at this point that the referee told managers and players before the game that swearing at him was a dismissible offence. So playing against 9 Warley continued to forge ahead and when Sam lost he's marker, was through on goal, he was fouled and the ref had no option but to award the second penalty of the game which Sam duly despatched albeit twice as the referee saw encroachment in the box and decided to have it taken again. Warley Boro 2 Phoenix West 1. Phoenix still battled though and on a rare second half attack hit the post after a good move on the left hand side. They pressed further forward and won a free kick on the edge of the box but the Warley wall did a marvellous job blocking the goal bound effort. With three minutes to go Phoenix won a corner. From the resulting kick the ball was cleared to Dan W. whose pace and agility left the defender standing as he entered the box to cross for Sam to blast home and cement the result against more than creditable opposition. Final score Warley Boro 3 Phoenix West 1.
Warley found it had to break down the opposition and the pitch played a massive part in breaking down our passing game. We fell lucky on occasions as they hit the bar and post but to our credit we continued to create chances and to dominate the play. Worthy winners: Yes Great performance: No Three points gained yippee!.
