Narrow Victory For First Team

Wanderers went in to this Mummery Cup game with the so-far unbeaten Kirkley and Pakefield Reserves with an incredible ten players unavailable for varying reasons: Freemantle, Farrow, Jamie Butler, Calvin Butler (wedding), Simpson (work), Reading, Pipe, Bland (away), Doggett & Payne-Wilkins (injured).

Despite this we were still able to name a strong squad of thirteen with newly returned Mark Appleton taking his place up front.
Wanderers had the better of the opening exchanges and almost took the lead on fifteen minute when a deep cross from Nick Appleton was fumbled by the visiting goalkeeper but Ramsbottom failed to hit the target with a header at the back post. It wasn’t long before Wanderers did take the lead though, with McKail threading a ball into the path of Babb the striker turned his man and hit a firm, low shot which beat the keeper, hit the post and rebounded over the line courtesy of the stopper’s back.

Wanderers with a new formation were having plenty of possession in the attacking third and looked most likely to score the next goal but thanks to some good goalkeeping were unable to capitalise and so went in at the break with just the one goal advantage.

Half Time – Wanderers 1-0 Kirkley

The second half was, as expected, much tougher than the first. The Royals pushed an extra man forward and began to create a few half chances of their own with Mulbarton looking to counter but being foiled time and time again with a sharply executed offside trap and some excellent sweeping by the Kirkley number 1.

As the game wore on it became more evident that some players in the Wanderers line-up were playing their first meaningful minutes of the season as legs became tired, passes became sloppier and the fitness to keep pace with their young counterparts was clearly lacking. This enabled Kirkley to apply more and more pressure and they will be kicking themselves that they didn’t find an equaliser at least with a host of good chances going begging.

One strike hit the post, their forward missed a couple of almost-open goals and we were thankful for some last ditch challenges and blocks made by defenders. Jake Clifford in goal made three excellent saves; pushing one onto the bar, turning a top corner-bound effort wide and rushing out to save with his feet when a Kirkley player had eluded his markers and looked destined to score.

Full Time – Wanderers 1-0 Kirkley

When referee Daniel Keeble blew for full time there was a great sense of relief around the home dugout as we had put a halt to our mini losing streak (2 games) and returned to winning ways. This was by no means a vintage performance but considering the absentee list and the lack of fully fit players within the squad it was a very good result.

Harmony Home Improvements Man of the Match – Ramsbottom and McKail deserve praise for performing very well on the flanks but the award this week goes to Jake Clifford for his excellent goalkeeping in the second half to deny the visitors an equaliser and save everybody from extra time.

Wanderers: Clifford, Pattison, Sutcliffe, Challen, Ramsbottom, McKail, N. Appleton, Dye, Curtis, Babb, M. Appleton