Brave Town Go Out to Lucky Unicorn - When Will Our Luck Change?

9 October 2011

WILMSLOW TOWN MAINTAIN RECORD IN CUP - sadly not a record to be proud of!

UNICORN 1   WILMSLOW TOWN 0        2 OCTOBER 2011

First Half

After 5 minutes, Town settled well, with the back line of Jordi, Jimmy, Sam and Lawto holding firm and keeping the ball well away from our goal for most of the time. It was a pretty well balanced first period, with Unicorn managing to get a shot from a throw in – luckily over the bar - and a corner which was well cleared. For town, Olly and Bundy linked well on the right to force a corner.

After 15 minutes we were gaining in confidence with several passages of good play – a good cross from Dean; Brandon winning a corner; and Jordi and Olly Ford linking up well down the right side, before Olly and Brandon linked up to create a corner. James’ corner kick was steered towards goal from the goalmouth melee, but cleared off the line – the first of several! The following passages of play were at both ends – Sam took the first of several free kicks, which was on target but just saved. Unicorn got 2 chances - Henry saved a bobbly ball and shortly afterwards was the first to the ball after their corner kick.

After 20 minutes Town’s confidence was building and we started to dominate. Sam’s second free kick – earned by Dean - was well-struck but off target. Bundy was driving forward and linking well with Olly on the right side.  Another goalmouth scramble came to nothing.  Olly’s battling earned a corner from which came another. From this, Owain was brought down on the left of the box just when he was about to shoot.  Various shouts by our players for pushing and obstruction by Unicorn up ‘til now had been ignored by the ref, but this time a decision went in our favour - a penalty was awarded. Surely, a chance for Town to go ahead before half time?  Sadly not! Olly’s penalty – low on the left – was parried away by the keeper and we couldn’t make the rebound count either.

At the end of the first half, any concern that Wilmslow’s cup-match woes were about to continue were subdued by the feeling that we were dominating. The frustration that we hadn’t scored was more than compensated for by the belief that it was surely only a matter of time. .. The half time talk was about the quality of play – the superb performance of the back four, the solid display of the mid-field and the need to keep at it.

Second Half

The first half work-rate resulted in changes for the second. James L was given a rest, Deano moved back to take his place, and made way for Alex on the left wing. Tommy came on up front, with Brandon and Owain in mid-field.

The second half continued as the first half had finished with Town dominating possession and now playing down hill. Brandon was quickly ‘up and at’em’ and earning corners. 15 minutes into the second half, Olly F and Deano had earned themselves a rest, and Bennett and Olly Mehta took to the field.

The pressure built up with great passages of play. Alex was working hard on the left, whipping the ball into the centre. But corners and free kicks came and went, with still no score. Back at our goal, on one of Unicorn’s rare breaks, Henry made two brilliant saves to keep it scoreless. At the end of the second half came the most frustrating passages of play, with Olly Mehta’s header hitting the post, Benno’s header cleared, and Unicorn’s clear back-pass to their keeper left un-penalised by the ref. Full time finished a frustrating 0-0.

Extra Time - First Half

Tension was building on the touchline but on the field, Town continued to play with commitment as they had throughout.  5 minutes in, Unicorn managed to get a shot across goal and a head to it – off target but the first time they’d threatened. For the rest of the 10 minutes the team cancelled each other out.

Extra Time – Second Half

In the second half of extra time, the excitement continued to build. Henry made another significant save. Bundy, on a powerful run, was brought down by the last man in what could have been a sending off for the culprit. The resulting free kick came to nothing. Shortly after,  Unicorn broke, calls for off-side were ignored, and Unicorn scored from close range.

Town threw everything forward for the last 5 minutes to try to recover a game which we had dominated and should have won. Pressure on their goal was sustained – Owain’s close range shot was deflected away by the keeper. Jimmy and Alex’s attempts were also saved. Brandon and Alex were still running hard and getting crosses in, but all to no avail.

When the whistle blew for full time, there was a feeling that Town could not have done more…. except get the ball in the back of the net!  We were the better team. ‘We was robbed!’

So Town’s cup drought continues, but despite the disappointment and frustration, the manager in his summing up couldn’t help but be positive. The team needs to play as it did today … and get the ball in the net. As the team gels, it will surely come…..

Man of the Match

Gold - Jimmy – solid in defence

Silver – Henry – some brave and vital saves

Bronze – Brandon – great performance in mid-field in the second half

Special mention – Rog – unofficial linesman for his gymnastic approach to drawing the ref’s attention to Unicorn’s off-sides!

 Cliche - ‘We was robbed’

 To paraphrase ‘Never has so much been given by so many for so little result’

Source: Erik

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