A week after getting beat 5-1 Wythenshawe Town Mavericks put in a fine display to beat last years, undefeated league champions, Lymm Rovers Darts 5-1.
The day did not start well after the Mavericks lost Jayden and Codi in the build up to kick off, with the loss of Max earlier in the week it left them with only 13 players. Out of the 13 players Kayden, Danny & Harry O were also struggling with injury.
Undeterred the Wythenshawe boys took to the field to play against their old rivals and friends Lymm, with captain Danny even more determined, if that's possible, to get one over his old team mates.
Lymm started the game the better of the 2 teams and played some fine football, it was clear to see how they went undefeated during the last league campaign and were unlucky on a few occasions not to take the lead early on, but despite not playing as well as they can, the Wythenshawe team get stuck in and worked hard to stop the Lymm attack, eventually playing there way into the game.
As the game opened up a bit more both teams started to create chances, and on 22 minutes Lymm took the lead. A couple more chances fell Lymm's way one good save from Jon and then as it looked like Lymm were in for a second with a one on one an unfortunate, or fortunate depending on your allegiance, saw the chance go wide.
Mavericks were also creating chances, James O was unlucky, Callum and Harry M had shots blocked, and then from a corner the ball fell for Theo who did well to get the ball out of his feet and get a shot on target but it rolled into the goalies hand.
As the game went into the last few minutes of first half The Mavericks were putting on the pressure and were now playing some good football, one such move starting from Isaac at the back going through the midfield with quick short passes saw the ball being put through to James who ran on took a couple of touches and finished passed the Lymm goalie.
As the second half both teams must have fancied their chances of winning. The second half started much like the first ended both teams trying to win the game. 5 minutes into the second half another attack for Mavericks saw the ball fall to Harry M 25 yards out, he unleashed a shot that just dipped over the goalkeeper and into the net.
Mavericks were spurred on and were really working hard for each other, there was certainly no way anyone could question that.
Both teams had half chances and came close but with 10 minutes left the game sprung into life. Another attack from Wythenshawe saw the ball end up in the box with 2 or 3 Lymm players trying to clear it the ball somehow fell for Callum, who had worked tirelessly all day, and he managed to turn get something on the ball and the ball rolled into the net.
The goal was the signal for Lymm to throw everything at Wythenshawe to try and get back into the game. As they pushed hard, a soft free kick was awarded on the edge of the box. A great shot brought an equally good save from Jon high to his left. From the resulting corner a fine header seemed destined for the net until somehow an outstretched arm kept the ball out much to the dismay of the Lymm players and supporters.
Within minutes Callum picked the ball up and went on a run into the Lymm box as he went down under a tackle the referee decided it was a foul, as he had with the Lymm freekick, and gave the penalty.
With Joe, last weeks penalty taker off the pitch, Captain Danny, the former Lymm player ,took responsibility and to the cheers of his teammates and their parents slotted the ball into the goal.
With only a few minutes left and at 4-1 the game was safe however Callum picked the ball up just inside the Lymm half and went on another run only to be hacked down from behind 35 yards out from goal just to the left, as he got up he hopped around put his boot back on and took the free kick himself which saw the ball hit the top corner with an absolute screamer, a goal worthy of gracing any football pitch, a fantastic way to end a fantastic game for The Wythenshawe Town boys.
Credit must also go to Lymm as despite the score line, the game was certainly not as easy as it may suggest and they pushed Wythenshawe all the way and will certainly be in the mix again come the business end of the season.
After such a great team performance and result, its always hard to pick a man of the match out, however for those 2 unbelievable saves at such a critical time of the game and indeed his overall performance Jon just edged it.
