Match Report- 14/03/2010 v Batley Juniors (Home)

Dave Turner Sun Mar 14, 2010 7:57 am

After a tough fought match yesterday against Norristhorpe, the Wanderer’s fitness was going to be tested today, with a big game against rivals Batley. Batley were in a similar position to Wyke in the table, so it was an important.

Wyke won the game 4-0, after a performance of sheer perfection, giving them their first win in four.

Wyke couldn’t have wished for a more perfect start, Tai Pedder played a quality ball over the top, and Connor Rhodes latched onto it and struck the ball easily past the keeper. A fantastic move from Wyke Wanderers.

A minute later, Batley nearly got back into the game, but Joe Mac cleared the ball off the line, then straight away again, meaning Wyke held onto their slender lead.

Wyke continued to be the stronger team, and nearly extended their lead, but Nathan Khan’s well struck shot was well saved by the Batley Keeper. Then Connor Rhodes controlled the ball from a corner and hit the ball with power, but it just crept over the bar.

The lead was extended after 10 minutes, when Jack Lamch and Nathan Khan linked up superbly, and Nathan Khan was one on one with the keeper, and coolly slotted the ball past the helpless Batley Keeper.

Nathan Khan was the man of the moment again, when three minutes later he scored his second of the match. Jack Lamch floated a corner into the box and Nathan rose brilliantly above the Batley defended to power a header into the roof of the net.

Wyke were so strong at the back, with Joe Mac and Dom Pickersgill commanding their own half in style. They hardly gave Batley a sniff of goal, and Tai Pedder was quality at right back, his clearances were turning into through balls, and giving Wyke more opportunities to attack.

Wyke were leading 3-0, and were unlucky to not have extended their lead, with Connor Rhodes having a goal disallowed, and then having a shot well saved, after Nathan Khan had chipped him in with an amazing through ball.

Half Time- Wyke leading 3-0 and cruising!

Wyke’s dominance showed no signs of letting up. Connor Rhodes broke down the left wing and whipped in a fantastic cross, Quinn Riley was on the end of it, and he blasted a shot which hit the crossbar.

Even though Wyke Wanderers were now playing up hill, they continued to look the better team, Joe Couble in goals was having a fairly easy game, but did well at scooping up any loose balls. Once again the defence were solid and Wyke had much of the attack in the second half.

Wyke once again came close to wrapping the game up, when Tai Pedder played in a 50 yard freekick, it was met by Joe McLoughlin, but the ball bobbled, and he put it wide.

Moments later Wyke got the breakthrough they had battled for, when Nathan Khan played in Mikey Brooksbank, who smashed a powerful shot into the middle of the goal, the Keeper got a hand to it, but it still went in, giving Wyke a 4-0 lead.

Wyke went onto have a couple more chances, Mikey Brooksbank, who had proved to be a handful for the Batley defence today, broke through but put the ball wide, and Quinn Riley came close, but was cruelly denied by the woodwork again.

Joe McLoughlin came to Wyke’s aid, with 5 or 6 perfectly timed slide tackles, and defensively Wyke looked very strong. Late on Batley had a chance to score, but Joe Couble did well to come out and narrow the angle, and the ball went wide.

Full Time- Wyke 4-0 Batley.

Goals: Connor Rhodes, Nathan Khan x2, Mikey Brooksbank.

Man of the Match: Tai Pedder: Tai was quality today at right back, not just because nobody could get past him, but because of his attacking play. Tai made some brilliant through-balls today, and looked so confident on the ball, he was strong in challenges...Probably Tai’s best ever performance in the six years he’s been at Wyke Wanderers..

Man of the Match: Joe McLoughlin: Joe had a great game at centre back today, he put in so many slide challenges, meaning Batley just couldn’t attack, also he made a couple of goal line clearances which could well have changed the game for the Wanderers.

Manager Comments

I reckon its one of the best performances I think we have ever had. There is simply nothing to improve on today. We had our heads on, and worked very hard, and we stayed positive!! Our link up play and teamwork was impeccable, and defensively we have never looked as strong. We have a lot of games coming up against lower league teams, and we showed today we are a strong team in this league. Fantastic boys well done!!