Boys' U16A v Wolverhampton GS

Date:
Tuesday 3rd November

Venue:
Away

Team:
Adams (C), Carr (C), Prutton (C), Winfield (C), Chaffey (L) capt., Priestley (L), Riley (L), Sunner (N), Jopson (P), Croson (S), Findlay (S), Welch (S).

Result:
W 11-2

Match Report:

This was, as the scoreline suggests, a comfortable victory, but this fact should not undermine the effort put in by the boys - or, indeed, that put in by the opposition, who did not give up despite the drubbing. (And we know how that feels!)

Jopson opened the scoring in the 10th minute: a toe-poke at the far post after a trademark mazy run down the left flank from Winfield and a perfect cross from Sunner. A minute later, however, complacency and crass defending - our old nemeses - meant the scores were level. Was this to be another Malvern?

Happily, no. Sunner restored the lead soon after, and then a Welch free-kick resulted in a goalmouth scramble, with Chaffey claiming the goal (although we all think their defender got the last touch...). An almost identical goal to the first followed shortly, this time Jopson scoring with his head. A minute after that, Findlay drilled in the goal of the game: a low, hard shot from the left side of the penalty area, that went across goal, hit the far post, and deflected in.

Just before half-time, Jopson scored his hat-trick, with a solo run and chip of the keeper, to put us 6-1 up at the break. The half-time team-talk was a brief affair: the boys knew that defeat could only happen if they switched off, and it is to their immense credit that they carried on in a professional manner.

Which is not to say that we did not have some fun in the second half: centre-backs became centre-forwards etc., and we (deliberately) allowed W.G.S. back in the game, their second goal being thoroughly deserved. However, we scored another 5 goals ourselves, and could have added more, but for some fine saves from the opposition 'keeper. Findlay and Sunner both scored hat-tricks, to add to Jopson's, but it was the all-round teamwork that most impressed me in this game. A morale-boosting win, ahead of a tough week...

JMJH

Goals: Jopson (10, 24, 38), Sunner (17, 50, 75), Chaffey (21), Findlay (25, 52, 64), Riley (60)

Man of the Match: Findlay