Match Report- 20/03/2011 v Northowram (Home)

A massive game for the Wanderers! Against title challenge
rivals Northowram. Last time the sides
met, it was a very tight game with Wyke edging a victory. Wyke now unbeaten in
six months, were expecting to maintain their run and extend their lead at the
top.





However in another close game it was Northowram who were
celebrating a great win, meaning Wyke’s stay at the top only lasts a week,
however their title dreams are certainly not over with some crucial matches
coming up.





It was a close start to the game, Connor Rhodes could have
had two goals early on but his first was cleared off the line, and the keeper
saved the second. 3 minutes into the game Wyke were punished, when the
Northowram winger broke down the right and cut in, doing well to score from a
tight angle.





Wyke spend much of the half defending, with Northowram
totally dominating the middle of the park. Northowram were doing a great job of pressurising the Wanderers and
Wyke couldn’t handle it.





Northowram added to their lead, once again a ball over the
top fell to James Morris who easily slid it past Calvin Barker.





Again Wyke just couldn’t hold the ball for more than a
couple of seconds, Northowram continued to press and the Wanderers kept making
mistake after mistake.





With 25 minutes gone, Wyke did find some form, Mikey
Brooksbank crossed in a superb ball and Scott Morris nudged it into the back of
the net.





It took them only 3 minutes after to find the equaliser, Tigz
played a ball over the top to Connor Rhodes who found Mikey Brooksbank out to
the right, Mikey fired a brilliant shot
into the far corner leaving the Northowram keeper with no chance. 2-2, and Wyke
were very lucky to be level after a poor first half display. Although Connor
Rhodes had another shot cleared off the line which could have given them the
lead.





Half Time 2-2.








Wyke had a nightmare start to the second half, again Wyke’s
defence struggled to deal with halls in the air, and a cheap corner was given
away. A well struck corner was met by Northowram Striker James Morris who once
again gave his team the lead with a totally unmarked header. Northowram 3-2.





Wyke tried to come back into the game but again had terrible
luck, Michael Brooksbank broke through and his shot hit the post, Jack Lamch
pounced on the rebound but skied it.





It was a fairly even game in the second half. Tigz’s performance
in the middle improved greatly and Wyke’s defending was a little stronger with
Damien Hields putting in some good challenges.





However it wasn’t going to be Wyke’s day. A penalty was
given to Northowram for a handball, and Calvin Barker saved, however it had to
be retaken as player entered the box, and cruelly they scored the second.





With 20 minutes to go, Wyke just didn’t seem to have the
attacking edge, and not much was created. Connor Rhodes unbelievably had a
third shot cleared off the line after rounding the keeper.





With 8 minutes to go, Wyke started to get on top, Nathan
Khan played out left to Scott who broke away and scored, giving Wyke a
lifeline, however Mikey Brooksbank came off injured, and Wyke just didn’t seem
to be able to find a winner.





In the end a deserved win for Northowram.





Goals: Scott Morris (25, 62), Mikey Brooksbank (29)





No Man of the match Given





Dave’s Comments


Lads, we weren’t terrible today, but we didn’t play to our
ability. Some of our players had poor games, and we can’t get away with it
against teams like this. Granted, we had some crap luck, Connor could have had
three, and mikey hit post, then we had an iffy penalty, which Calvin saved and
it had to be taken again. However we can’t blame luck. Northowram played really
well today, and we didn’t seem to want it as much today. But lets forget about
it, because the title race is still in our hands boys, we need to return to
winning ways next week against Ossett.