Match Report- 02/05/2010 v Norristhorpe (Home)

Wyke faced a very tough match against high flying
Norristhorpe today. Norristhorpe were
unbeaten in nine games, and needed a result against the Wanderers to continue
their hopes of securing 2^nd place and achieve promotion. Wyke were
still playing for pride, especially against a side that have been big rivals
for years.


In a 15 goal thriller, Norristhorpe just edged a narrow
victory, winning the game 8-7 with them praying for the full time whistle at
the end.


The odds were already stacked against Wyke at the start of
the match, with no keeper, only 10 men and key players missing from the side.
Wyke did manage to field 11 men, with U10’s player Jack Wakeling stepping up to
help.


However Wyke did take the lead! With only a minute or so
gone Scott Morris whipped down the left wing and outmuscled the Norristhorpe right
back, firing the ball past the keeper. What a great goal! Wyke lead 1-0.


Wyke continued to look strong, and created a few more half
chances before Norristhorpe started to get on top of the game. The Norristhorpe
Number 10, latched onto a ball and ran from the half way line, using his
immense pace he lost Jake Gilderdale and fired the ball into the net, and it
was now 1-1.


Norristhorpe continued to be the stronger team, and their
tactic of playing it to their striker was working well. After 18 minutes the
Number 10 scored again, this time spinning on the ball and chipping it over Joe
Mac in Goals. Wyke were now trailing.


It was a gritty battle in the middle of the pitch today.
Nathan Khan and Danny Mcgregor were well up for the battle and Wyke did win
much of the possession from the middle.


However it was Norristhorpe who were the threat when
attacking, and the number 10 striker bagged his hatrick with 25 minutes gone.
3-1.


Just before half time he nearly scored again, which would
have surely killed the game off for Wyke Wanderers, but he hit the post.


Half Time- Wyke 1-3 Norristhorpe.


Norristhorpe came out of the traps very strongly in the
second half, and after only 3 minutes, they had a 5-1 lead, two well taken
goals and Wyke now had a job on their hands. At this point it looked like Norristhorpe
were going to hammer Wyke.


10 minutes gone Wyke gave themselves a glimmer of hope,
Connor Rhodes created an attack and had a shot saved by the keeper, the ball
fell to Mikey Brooksbank who curled it into an open net. 5-2.


A minute later, Mikey Brooksbank whipped in a corner, and
Danny Mcgregor, unmarked, powered home a header. It was 5-3 and the game was
back on.


Norristhorpe responded instantly, a break down the left, and
the left winger slotted the ball into the far post. It was 6-3 and the
Wandererers had been pegged back again.


It did little to dampen Wyke’s spirits as they continued to
battle on, a badly defended ball in the Norristhorpe box fell to Connor Rhodes
who rounded the keeper and placed the ball into the net. 6-4.


Wyke’s tired legs were now obvious, but they continued to
battle on. Louis Muff was keeping it tight down the left, and Jack Wakeling was
having a very good game at right back. Considering it was his first 11-a-side
game, it was a great effort from him and he wasn’t scared to put in tackles
against bigger lads.


Jake and Matty in central defence had the tough task of
dealing with the Number 10 for Norristhorpe, he was a constant threat
throughout, but the lads did their best and did deny him a couple of chances of
scoring even more. Joe McLoughlin came out a few times to pick up the loose
balls, and wyke still were in the game.


With 10 minutes to go Norristhorpe scored again. Wyke hadn’t
really deserved to go 7-4 down, but Norristhorpe had fresh legs on the pitch,
and the Wyke boys were having to find some energy from somewhere to battle on.


A couple of minutes later Danny McGregor picked up a badly taken
dead ball, and passed it out wide to Mikey Brooksbank who coolly placed the
ball past the keeper. Wyke still were trailing 7-5.


Once again Wyke were pegged back, another Norristhorpe
breakthrough gave them their 8^th goal of the game. With only 5
minutes to go the game was as good as over...well so they thought!


Wyke totally dominated the last 5 minutes, and Norristhorpe
were starting to panic. Connor Rhodes gave Wyke hope of getting a point when he
rounded keeper and scored to make it 8-6, and then Mikey Brooksbank fired home
his hatrick making it 8-7.


Another minute and Wyke might have
earned a point, but it wasn’t to be. The full time whistle went, with
Norristhorpe taking the three points. It was an excellent battling performance
from the Wanderers and they were unlucky to be defeated.


Full Time- Wyke 7-8 Norristhorpe.


Goals:


Scott Morris, Mikey Brooksbank x3,
Daniel McGregor, Connor Rhodes x2,


Man of the Match: Everybody!!!!
It was a great effort from the lads today, they worked hard throughout the
match, and not one individual deserved it, because everyone worked so hard.


Manager Comments


It was an awesome performance today.
We worked hard all the way through the match, even though i’m sure you were all
really tired. We were short of players and even though it was against us, we
gave a great game to one of the best teams in the league. It was a joy to
watch, and I’m really pleased with how much we wanted to win the game, even
though we kept letting goals in, we kept battling!!