4th Team Vs Bridgnorth 4

Wulfs made another visit to Bridgnorth, this time to meet their 4ths, unbeaten team leaders with a 100% league record. 

The conditions weren't great, the 4:30 start meaning poor visibility for both players and umpires alike. The instructions from the skipper before the game were simple leave absolutely everything on the pitch and see what we can achieve for that effort.

The opposition lined up with a youthful group, confident on the ball and working for each other. Wulfs countered with an experienced defence, keeper Horton marshalling a back four with a combined age over 270 years. In midfield Anderson led a midfield 5 made up of 4 teenagers (Pearson, Wilson, Ward and Murray) leaving a lone centre forward to feed off the scraps.

Wulfs held off the opposition for the first fifteen minutes, limiting them to good possession but no clear chances. At the other end Wulfs were unfortunate not to win a couple of short corners. Bridgnorth then started the scoring and quickly added another couple of goals, in between there were some discussions with the umpires over rule interpretation, including the skipper receiving some instruction on hand signal etiquette.

The half team team talk reinforced the need for the team to continue their hard work and make nothing easy for their talented foes. The first 15 minutes bought the best Wulfs play of the game and the team was actually on top during this period. The key to the turn around was the ability of Savage, Mann and particularly Anderson finding through balls to Lally, with two defenders permanently on hand he started to feed the young guns in midfield who managed to stretch the back line.

From one of these breaks Murray fed Johnson who was unlucky not to score. We also won a couple of short corners which forced the keeper to save from Mann shots. The defensive line of Munn, Savage, Mann, Cooper Sr and Horton were being kept stretched but Horton was doing a sterling effort to keep the score down. Unfortunately against the run of play the opposition increased their lead. 

Rather than letting their heads go down, Wulfs went down the other end and won another short corner. Mann drag flicked his effort and Lally stole into to deflect the ball in front of the keeper, finally a reward for our efforts.

The remainder of the game was fairly even, but Bridgnorth were more potent on the break and added two further goals. Wulfs still pushed and Lally had a couple of shots which were dealt with by the keeper.

A defeat but a performance of pride from the entire Wulfs team. In a game against a superior team who were expected to win, the whole team put in a shift and never let their heads down. As the skipper requested we left everything on the pitch.

Young Ben Ward made his fourth team debut today and coped admirably in a level of hockey he will not have encountered before.

Next week is a gap week for the 4ths time to recharge the batteries before our return in a fortnight.