Wyrley Juniors vs. Leamore Boys

Result: Wyrley Juniors 7 - Leamore Boys 1

Comprehensive demolition of Leamore makes it 6 wins from 8 games for Wyrley.

Team

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Match Report

The weather during the course of this game improved with Wyrley's fortunes as dark threatening clouds and a strong wind at the start of the game gave way to blue sky punctuated with light clouds at the end. And just like the weather - Wyrley got better and better as the game progressed.

The opening period found Wyrley camped in the opposition half of the field without any reward for all their possession. A succession of Wyrley corners brought no break in the deadlock.

On the 17th minute, Wyrley got their reward when Matthew Anstey received the ball from a slide-rule pass by Simon Casserley and found the net with an exquisite lob from the edge of the box over the advancing Aaron Allcock, the same keeper who had denied him moments earlier with a superb reaction save from a point-blank range header following a corner from Adam Nicholls.

Wyrley always looked threatening going forward but still squandered chances in front of goal. Matthew Grendon failed to find the target with a free header from a corner, and the forward players generally were unable to find each other with passes into the box.

On the 29th minute, Wyrley were punished when the ball found its way behind the Wyrley defence where Des Smith slotted the ball past Mark Biddulph in the Wyrley goal.

Seven minutes later, Wyrley were back in front courtesy of a rocket of a shot from Simon Casserley which nearly burst the roof of the net after an excellent ball from Adam Nicholls was chested down by Matthew Anstey into his path.

Wyrley nerves were soothed still further three minutes later when Matthew Grendon scored his first of the game when his intelligent run through the Leamore defence was rewarded with a pass which he coolly converted to give Wyrley a cushion going into the interval.

Half-time: Wyrley 3 - Leamore 1

This late goal prompted Wyrley to re-organise during the interval to give themselves a more adventurous shape. However, it took 15 minutes for any further advantage to materialise during which time Wyrley had created a further seven chances to score. Simon Casserley, Matthew Grendon and Matthew Anstey each had chances which were wide or high of the target, as did Jordan Clarke after being put through on the left from a visionary pass from Jason Dennerley. The best chance of this period was denied by brave goalkeeping after Matthew Anstey had robbed a defender of the ball and his close-range shot was parried by the keeper with Thomas Evans and Matthew Grendon unable to take advantage of the rebound.

The log-jam was eventually broken when Thomas Evans latched onto a precision pass from Edward Marrocco and guided the ball into the net to make the score 4-1 after his initial shot rebounded off the Leamore keeper.

Five minutes later, Wyrley went further ahead when the ball fell at the feet of Thomas Evans and Matthew Grendon following a Wyrley throw-in. Thomas Evans took the initiative and hit a shot which the keeper managed to get a hand to, but only to divert the ball high against the post and into the net.

The measure of Wyrley's domination was such that Mark Biddulph in the Wyrley goal made his first serious save of the game 21 minutes into the second half when he dived to his left to deny Leamore a goal.

A well-worked short corner on the right involving Adam Nicholls and Matthew Grendon was switched to Jordan Clarke on the left; Simon Casserley got a left-foot shot on target, and Matthew Grendon and Matthew Anstey combined well to create an opportunity which went just wide.

On 65 minutes following a corner on the right, Thomas Evans scored his third goal and Wyrley's sixth after he met a cross by Jordan Clarke on the left with a shot which took a deflection on its way into the net.

Wyrley wrapped up their victory on 70 minutes with a headed goal from Matthew Grendon in acres of space who got onto the end of a cross from Jordan Clarke on the left.

Any account of this game will by its nature be mainly concerned with descriptions of the seven goals and countless chances that Wyrley created - but the story is not complete without recognition of the part that the Wyrley defenders played in snuffing out any opportunities that Leamore created. Jason Dennerley and Todd Wootton at the heart of the defence between Adam Nicholls and Luke Moseley, supported by Edward Marrocco in midfield provided an impermeable barrier in front of Mark Biddulph in the Wyrley goal.

In addition to their defensive duties, Luke Moseley's first-time balls into the box; intelligent passing from Adam Nicholls and Jason Dennerley, and the pace and tackling of Todd Wootton provided excellent service to the players around them and the team as a whole.

This was the first time that these two teams had met since Leamore had dumped Wyrley out of the cup the season before (click here for report from that game).  Given the closeness of that result one year ago, the overwhelming manner in which Wyrley exacted their revenge came as a surprise even to Wyrley themselves.

Full-time: Wyrley 7 - Leamore 1

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Match Stats

Goals

Man of the Match

Other Information

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