1st Team Vs Old Hales

1st Quarter

Old Wulfrunians faced off against an Old Hales team who are 3 leagues above them and ultimately showed their class. The game started patiently from both sides with possession being maintained by the defence and waiting for opportunities to play the ball forward into space. Nothing of note really happened in the first quarter as both teams held their shape and discipline well. 0-0 at the end of the first quarter

2nd Quarter

The second quarter began in the same fashion as the first with the teams holding shape and position well, however Old Wulfs conceded a short corner when a lapse in concentration saw the ball played on the Simon Palmer foot by Dave Cartwright. The resulting short corner was kept out by a diving save from Colin and Ablard on the line collecting the loose ball and calmly running it out. Old Hales would eventually take the lead when Old Wulfs turn the ball over cheaply and a quick counter allowed Old Hales to over load the defence and score with a tap in at the back post for 1-0. Old Hales grab a second of the half when Old Wulfs did not react to the ball going behind the base line from their own short corner. Old Hales released the ball early and moved up the pitch at pace. Their deflected pass to the back post found its way into the far corner for 2-0.

3rd Quarter

In the second quarter Ablard’s hamstring tightened up and so his evening was done. Old Wulfs had to re adjust in the midfield and spent the 3rd quarter re adjusting. Old Wulfs still managed to threaten the Old Hales goal winning a couple more short corners, however with Ablard off and Palmer now injecting, Old Wulfs short corners were not as slick as they could have been. Birch getting his angles wrong on each short corner wasting them. Old Wulfs played out the 3rd quarter and remained an attacking threat through out, However from another Old Wulfs short corner Old Hales countered and scoring another well worked counter attacking goal for 3-0.

4th Quarter

Tired legs played its part in the 4th and final quarter, Old Hales used their 16 man squad well rotating and keeping fresh legs whilst Old Wulfs 12 and a half men started to tire. As legs began to tire passes were going astray and Old Wulfs were no longer keeping possession. Old Hales pressed higher and higher up the pitch, however despite Old Wulfs dropping deeper and deeper in tot heir half they held out. 3-0 the final score. Plenty of positives to take from the game but also plenty to work on. Although this was a training game it was played with the right attitude by both teams and the umpires. A big thank you to Old Hales HC for hosting the match and all those involved in organising it.