1st Team Vs North Stafford 2

Just a bare eleven players were available for Old Wulfs’ third game of the season against North Staffs 2s. Simon was one of the ones not available due to some ocular troubles, although he was still on hand to offer tactical advice via his trusty magnet board.

On a very windy day, the pitch had quite the covering of leaves on one side, but special thanks must go to Andy Hobley who brought along no less than three rakes which the players then used to get a fair amount off before the start of the match. 

Wulfs started with the confidence of a team that had won their first two games and scored 8 goals. The passing was good, but as time wore on they started to overthink things and began not moving the ball on quick enough. This led to North Staffs winning the ball in some advanced positions, affording them chances they shouldn’t really have had.

Thankfully, Wulfs then put a good move together when Will Ashworth drilled a ball into the D from the left. It ended up bobbling up of one or two sticks and eventually came to Owen Shave at around face height and he skilfully directed it back down into the goal.

Wulfs then went and asserted their dominance with a second goal soon after. A penalty corner routine that went slightly wrong was put right when Ashworth found space in a crowded D to turn and fire between the keeper’s legs. 2-0 at half time.

The second half began as the first did – with Old Wulfs in control, but still making silly errors in their own half. However, when they did manage to get the ball up the field, the potency in front of goal was still there. North Staffs seemed to tire somewhat and their defence lacked the structure it had shown in the first period. Time and again they failed to track the runs of the Old Wulfs forwards, leading to a flurry of goals.

Two of these came from Ollie Harris, who’s first came from a speedy break which he finished with aplomb, high and to the right of the keeper. Darryl Ablard scored what was probably the goal of the game when he cut inside from the right, beating a host of players in the D, before finishing reverse stick. Andy Hobley also got on the scoresheet, confidently tucking away after another Old Wulfs overload.

The opposition did eventually manage a consolation goal before the final whistle, after Wulfs again failed to clear their lines. So things to work on in training, but ultimately another convincing win to maintain a 100% record.

Man of the Match – Ollie Harris