Report by Mark Harrison

After finishing strongly last week, Alan mixed things up before the game, giving the boys a practice game in the warm up in the hope they could hit the ground running when the game started. The boys also showed some togetherness with a pre-match huddle, which helped welcomed the new boys Ethan and Peter and helped them ‘gel’ with their teammates.

The tactics seemed to work. After a cagey start it was Unsworth who threatened first, as Jasper fired in a shot that was stopped by the Wardle keeper. Another good attack followed but when the move broke down Wardle counter attacked and opened the scoring with a weak shot that Lewis misjudged. The boys weren’t deflated though and looked for a way back into the game. After some good passing football Jasper hit an unstoppable shot that crashed against the angle of post and bar. Unsworth kept on pressing and Reece tested the keeper with a well-hit shot after some good work with Jack H on the right wing.

Wardle forced another save from Lewis but Unsworth were now tearing their opponents apart with every move. Ben was dictating play from midfield and Jasper was making good breaks down the left but was unable to play the killer ball when his teammates were better placed. Reece had another two chances but didn’t get the goal his play deserved, the first was well saved by the keeper, and the second flew just past the post. The excitement was grrrrrowing and the famous roar was heard as Reece and Ben were crowded out when they looked certain to score.

Unsworth continued to press and a great cross-field ball from Jack H sent Jasper clean through but unfortunately he dragged his shot wide. The next chance fell to Ben who shot narrowly wide before a rare Wardle break gave the boys a scare. A shot found its way past Lewis but struck the post rebounding to another Wardle player who smacked it back against the other post, Sean finally was able to step in and clear. The boys continued to press but the half time whistle came to Wardle’s rescue and incredibly they finished the half a goal up.

Half-time: 0-1

The second half started promisingly with Unsworth JFC continuing to press for the goal they badly deserved. Peter on for his debut was quick to impress, brilliantly running through the Wardle defence before being stopped by a last ditch tackle, Ben following up had a shot blocked before the ball broke to Jasper who side footed the ball home to make it 1-1.

Wardle were suddenly one edge, Peter seized on a panicky clearance which went straight up the air but his shot was blocked wide by the goalkeeper. The referee awarded a goal kick instead of the corner, and from the next attack disaster struck. After claiming the ball Lewis’s short kick was volleyed straight back in by a Wardle forward. These shots never come off unless your luck is in. It was a real kick in the teeth after the boys had previously been playing good football from short passes or throws from the keeper.

The game suddenly changed and as so often happens, a tall lad called Harrison started to run the show. Unfortunately he played for Wardle. From their next attack a shot squirmed past Lewis to make it 3-1. Some heads started to drop but Max was still battling in defence, and Peter continued to look a threat up front with another close effort. Jack A-H put himself about as the game got stretched, but lacked support on the wing. As the game slipped away from Unsworth the boys began to lose shape, Adam blocked a shot off the line, before a combination of Adam and Lewis kept out another attempt. From the resulting corner Wardle scored at the near post, the ball squeezing somehow between the post and the goalkeeper. Unsworth were all over the place now and although Max continued to break up attacks with a committed performance, Wardle scored another two goals to make the final score 6-1.

So another disappointing result for Unsworth, but the arguably best first-half performance of the season. The boys are starting to play as a team and if they can keep playing for a whole game the results will pick up soon. Little mistakes and bad decision-making are costing the team, but if they stick to doing what the management team ask them to do they look capable of finishing the season strongly. Nice to see a couple of new faces and hopefully they will help to strengthen the team.

Alan’s man of the match: Max Harrison – a committed performance with some crunching tackles. Never backs off! Reece can’t have been far away with an all-action performance down the right, and looked as gutted as the fans at then end!