4th Team Vs Sutton Coldfield 9

This week, Old Wulf’s 4ths travelled to Bishop Vesey to play Sutton Coldfield on a glorious sunny afternoon. OW’s welcoming their very own ‘Adama Traore’ in Sam Green who for once had a Saturday off work. To avoid the now too familiar slow start, a mini warm up was initiated by the Capt, to help prepare the team for what lay ahead. With the conditions and position of the Sun the subject of pre match discussion, both team captains had their instructions on which ‘end’ was the preferred end should they win the toss. 4ths were given the call, but their first action was to change ends having lost the toss.

The game started with OW’s in a 4-1-3-2 formation, having to play a few players out of their normal position as a result of squad availability.  OW’s began strongly, moving the ball between players accurately and with ease, and at around 8 minutes they got their reward. It came from a short corner, Nic injected to Neil who calmly returned the ball to Nic who with precision slotted the ball between keeper and defender on the post 1-0.  

Following the restart, a combination of wayward passing and being a little laboured in their play, OW’s began to concede far too much possession. Sutton were growing in the game as their quicker and younger players exhibited some excellent pass and movement which saw them advance towards OW’s goal with increasing regularity, but OW’s defence held out.

HT 0-1

Second half, the game was finally balanced with both teams participating in an end-to-end game. On more than one occasion Sam in true ‘Traore’ style progressed down the right leaving several Sutton players in his wake, as well as some of the OW players.  Balls were played in from out wide, both square and diagonal, chances went begging with either OW’s failing to get on the end by a stick length or two. Sutton continued to combine well and advanced with clear purpose. The game was becoming more open as legs tired, then the best chance of the match for OW’s to double their lead presented itself. The ball found its way to an OW’s player who advancing along the goal line was bundled over near the goal, and OW’s were awarded a P Flick, unfortunately this was saved by Sutton’s keeper, and so it remained 1-0 to OW. With a tiring OW side and with around 15 minutes to go Sutton got their breakthrough when with the ball played in was initially defended by OW but with a Sutton attacker in close attendance the ball broke kindly near the far post and Sutton levelled the score 1-1. OW from the restart searched for a winner as did Sutton, but despite OW’s having the better of the final few minutes, the game finished without either side finding the net.

Full Time 1-1 draw

MOM was a three-way tie between Sam, Noah and Nic, each receiving 3 votes.

Summary: Special mention to Noah had his best game of the season as reflected in being nominated for the MOM award. Sam for being the fastest player with the biggest guns to grace an OW’s 4th team shirt this season and Nic who pretty much ran the show for OW’s in the middle of the park.

Two teams, three games (if you include the pore-season friendly), three draws.

A good game played against a friendly competitive side, and excellent teas following the game.