4th Team Vs Cannock 5

First game of 2017 over at a very cold Cannock. The designated pitch was still covered in snow when we arrived. However the volunteers had been out to clear the alternative pitch of snow.

Old Wulfs arrived with a bare 11, and thanks to a late cry off had Lally K, Lally R and Lally A in the line up (one day we'll get all five family members in a league side).

The first half was evenly contested with Cannock having the better possession but Wulfs having the better chances. Lally K having a 1 on 1 with the keeper, as the keeper approached he deftly flicked the ball on the reverse. The ball going agonisingly the wrong side of the post. Lally K then fed Murray who sped down the line and put in a cross which evaded the keeper and Wall was agonisingly close to getting a touch to score. Lally R then had a thunderbolt shot on the reverse which going wide managed to hit the skipper in the shoulder then ricochet into his chin (ouch)

The gods the conspired against the Wulfs, Cannock broke the deadlock in a rare case of poor marking by the Wulfs. Pearson then took a ball on the knee and had to leave the field, down to 10 men. Lally K then during a 1 on 1 evaded the keeper only to go down with a thigh injury. Unable to to do anything other than hobble Wulfs effectively down to 9 men.

The second half, Pearson admirably returned to the field. Lally K lacking any mobility stood in the D as nothing more than a target for long balls and aerials. Wulfs contained the opposition defiantly and held out for another 20 minutes until the eventual second Cannock goal came. However Wulfs were not done yet, a long ball was fed into Lally K in the D, the defender went to clear but could only lift the ball into the attacker. Short Corner - and it was converted by Mann.

Unfortunately the fairy tale didn't happen, the energy expended by the Wulfs finally told and Cannock took full advantage of it slotting in a further 4 goals, their right winger having a stunning end to the game.

A 6-1 defeat but a fantastic effort from the team on a day where the fates conspired against us. The team ran their socks off and deserved more from their efforts.