Match Report- 26/09/2010- v Queensbury Celtic (Away)

Wyke went into a game which they should have been favourites, as underdogs, which several injuries and players missing. Wyke had to call on Louis Muff, their third choice goalkeeper to go in goals, and only had 10 men on the pitch with no subs, against Queensbury Celtic with three subs.

It was a game of goals, as 13 managed to hit the back of the net. Unfortunately Queensbury just did enough to scrape a 7-6 victory over the Wanderers.

It was a good start from Wyke, as Queensbury were very deep and struggling to get the ball into the Wyke half.
After only 9 minutes, Wyke took the lead, Connor slid the ball past the goalkeeper to give them the lead, from a good Scott Morris through ball.

A couple of minutes later, Wyke had scored another goal. Connor latched onto another ball, and rounded the keeper who got a touch to the ball, Connor regained possession and squared the ball into Nathan Khan who had plenty of time to place the ball into the back of the net. Wyke led 2-0.

Queensbury suddenly woke up, after going 2-0 down to the 10 man side, and created much more in the way of attacking opportunities.

Within 15 minutes Wyke were trailing 3-2. The first two were sloppily defended, with the back four all over the place, and the goal which gave them the lead was a brilliantly struck shot from 30 yards.

Once again, Queensbury punished Wyke’s back four, beating the offside trap, and taking a 4-2 lead.

As Wyke started to look a little demoralised just before half time, Mikey Brooksbank scored a goal of pure inspiration, breaking down the right and cutting in, and then he slotted it past the keeper. A top goal and Wyke had given themselves a chance just before half time.

Although Queensbury slotted another in just before the break to give them a 5-3 lead.

Wyke had played well during the first half, but looked very vulnerable at the back, although each defender was working hard and playing well, they weren’t working as a unit, and Queensbury had lots of chances to score.

Half Time-

It was a quiet start to the second half, with most of the play happening in the middle of the park, the Wyke defence looked a little more organised and didn’t give much opportunity to Celtic. Although the same could be said about Queensbury, who’s tall number 8 wasn’t giving Connor Rhodes a sniff of the ball.

Wyke created a few chances, and Connor Rhodes was unlucky not to score, forcing the Celtic Goalkeeper to make a good save. Scott Morris was like a livewire down the left flank, and was a constant threat throughout both halves, and Queensbury struggled to deal with him.

After 20 minutes, Wyke scored to put them a goal behind in the game, it was now 5-4. Mikey Brooksbank’s long throw went to Connor Rhodes who turned and fired the ball into the roof of the net from 20 yards.

Once again Wyke threw away their chance of getting back into the game, only a minute later. The Celtic Number 8 made a great run down the left, totally unchallenged and crossed in a ball to the striker who had an unmarked tap in. 6-4.

Wyke’s chances of getting back into the game took a turn for the worse when a terrible decision was given to allow a goal, when the Queensbury Celtic striker was 5 yards offside. The referee deemed a flick on to have come off the head of a Wyke player, when it in fact had been a Queensbury Celtic player. A terrible decision which had a massive impact on the game. Queensbury now had a 7-4 lead.

With 5 minutes to go, The wanderers kept battling, and didn’t give up. Jack lamch broke down the right and had loads of time to whip a ball into the centre, where Nathan Khan was there to power the ball home.

In the last minute of the game Connor Rhodes took advantage of a poor Queensbury clearance, and slotted the ball into the back of the net. It was now 7-6.

The full time whistle went, with another minute maybe Wyke would have got something out of the game, but alas it wasn’t too be. Wyke had battled hard here in the game against all odds, but Celtic took the 3 points on the day.

Goals
Connor Rhodes x3, Nathan Khan x2, Mikey Brooksbank.

Man of the Match: Jake Gilderdale: Although the defence didn’t operate well as a unit, Jake put in a great effort today. He had his work cut out, with a midfielder missing all game, and without a goalkeeper. Jake battled for every ball, and was strong and came out on top for most tackles.

Dave’s Comments

No Keeper, 10 men, no subs, rushing around so we didn’t have a full warm up, and poor refereeing decisions!!! We had it all against us today boys! Sometimes this is the way it goes. I thought our performance was reasonable today, with a lot of sloppy defending. We played some good attacking football as well. The main thing I was pleased about was our attitude!!!! We didn’t give up, even when we were trailing 7-4 after that awful offside decision, we got it back to 7-6 and I’m sure with an extra couple of minutes we would have got a result.
Keep your chins up boys! Today showed we have a strong character, and that even against it all we can play well, and we were very unlucky not to get anything out of the game!