Match Report- 10/10/10 v Lightcliffe (Home)

After a shaky start,the departure of Andy Pickersgill, and a shortage of players, Wyke hoped theycould turn around their fortunes and pick up a well needed first win of theseason. Their opposition were a new team to the league, who had started withtwo defeats.


Wyke managed to pick up a convincing 12-6 victory. It was atight game for a large part of the match, but Wyke had the edge, andLightcliffe responded with poorsportsmanship and dirty play.
Wyke had a very lively start, with Mikey Brooksbank headingover early on, but with only two minutes gone, Mikey opened up the scoring, after latching onto a great Scott Morrispass, firing past the keeper to give Wyke an early lead.


Within the next minutes Lightcliffe responded by scoring twogoals. Both goals came from balls over the top which wasn’t dealt with by thedefence, and Lightcliffe now had a lead.


14 Minutes gone, Mikey Brooksbank played Connor Rhodesthough, and Connor took his chance, placing the ball past the keeper. 2-2 wasthe score.


A minute later Wyke nearly took the lead, Scott Morris brokedown the left but it was a tight angle and Scott put the ball just wide.


Lightcliffe took the lead again, with another ball over thetop, and the striker placed the ball past Joe McLoughlin.


Wyke managed to grab another equaliser seconds later, onceagain Mikey Brooksbank fired down the right wing and whipped in a cross whichwas met by Connor Rhodes. Connor nodded the ball past the keeper. Lightcliffehad been pegged back again.


Wyke now seemed more settled at the back, Louis and Jake haddropped much deeper, and were coping much better with the long balls comingagainst them. Debutant Damien Hields was having a very strong game, and moppedup every ball in front of the back 4. He was linking up very well with NathanKhan, who was playing in the more attacking role.


23 minutes in, the ball fell for Mikey Brooksbank who’s miscuedshot fell to Nathan Khan, Nathan in a composed fashion found a gap and blastedthe ball into the roof of the net giving Wyke a well earned lead.


Scott Morris continued to be a massive threat down the leftwing, and had a hand in lots of chances, as Wyke continued to create more and more opportunities.


Wyke were rewarded for their continued pressure, Nathan Khan fired a shot from the outside ofthe box which deflected off a defender and sent the keeper the wrong way. (We’lllet him claim the goal though). Wyke now had a healthy 5-3 lead.


Just before the stroke of half time, Mikey scored a wondergoal to give Wyke a 6-3 lead. Damien fired a freekick down the right flank, andMikey out-muscled a defender, cut inside and buried the ball into the bottomcorner, a great goal.


Half Time 6-3.


Wyke started the 2^nd half well, and MikeyBrooksbank was slotted through but put his chance wide.
However Lightcliffe were the team to give themselves achance to get back in the game. Adubious offside decision gave Lightcliffe 6-4, and then a great run from theLightcliffe right winger and then a cross which was tapped in by theLightcliffe striker made the score 6-5. Wyke had thrown away 2 of their threegoal lead.


However Wyke refused to throw away their lead. 6 minutesgone in the second half, Scott Morris made a great break down the left wing,and crossed into Jack Lamch who had the easy job of a tap into an open net.Wyke had a 7-5 lead.


Minutes later Lightcliffe managed to pull another goal back,making it 7-6.


Mikey came close again, but once again put it wide, but aminute later he did find the net, a great ball from Connor Rhodes, and Mikeysmashed the ball into the far side of the net, the keeper had no chance, andWyke restored their 2 goal lead. 8-6.


With 18 minutes to go, Wyke increased their lead. Once againMikey Brooksbank was the provider, and he slotted it through to Connor. Connor1 on 1 with the goaly, shot the ball, the keeper got a hand to it, but notenough to stop it going in. 9-6.


Lightcliffe’s morale had fallen to pieces, as Wyke continuedto attack with strength. Wyke looked confortable at the back, Louis and Jakewere playing really well at the back.


Unfortunately several of the Lightcliffe players proved tobe poor losers, and suddenly tempers were fired up with both teams having someheated confrontations with each other. Lightcliffe had a man sent off.


Wyke continued to attack and play football, and not getinvolved with Lightcliffe who had given up playing, and instead decided to tryand wind up the Wyke players.


With 10 minutes left, Damien played the ball into JackLamch, Jack played a great pass with his left foot, to Scott Morris. Scottsmashed the ball past the keeper. He had worked very hard today and fullydeserved a goal.


Mikey then played in a corner, and Connor Rhodes was thereto place the ball into the far near corner. Wyke now had a brilliant 11-6 lead.


Mikey Brooksbank was sent off for Retaliation, with only 8minutes to go. He had been fouled, but he reacted badly and both teams now had10 men each.


With 5 minutes to go, Wyke put the game to bed, DamienHields played the ball wide to Scott, who had a dig from long range and scoreda corker into the roof of the net.

Final Score- 12-6

Goal Scorers
Mikey x 3, Connor x4, Nathan x2, Scott x 2, Jack.

Man of the Match: Damien. Damien was outstandingtoday, especially when the defence started playing much deeper. He played wellto support the attacking play and did well to help out the defence. He did wellto win the balls in the air, and also he played some great passes. He gave 100%throughout! A great debut.