Wyrley Juniors vs. Victory Club

Result: Wyrley Juniors 1 - Victory 2

Shaky Wyrley unable swing the game their way

Team

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Match Report

Wyrley were certain of finishing higher in the table than Victory whatever the outcome of this game but with Victory playing their last game of the season and Wyrley coming off the back of a ten-game unbeaten run, the scene was set was for a minor upset.

The Monday evening kick-off seemed to suit Victory more who started brightly against a Wyrley team that seemed to be out of sorts in every department. Wyrley paid for their slow start when Jason Dennerley was uncharacteristically caught in possession in his own half of the field by Victory's Carl Marritt who ran through to give Victory an early lead.

This setback unsettled Wyrley still further and Victory continued to hold the initiative for the first 15 minutes of the game with Mark Biddulph keeping Wyrley in the game with an outstanding save with the Victory forward bearing down on him.

Wyrley resorted to a long-ball game in their eagerness to get back on level terms. This approach almost paid off for them as a succession of chances from Simon Casserley, Matthew Grendon, Thomas Evans, Matthew Anstey and then Luke Brown all went begging.

With the long ball very definitely back in fashion, both keepers found themselves kept busy but Mark Biddulph it was who stayed on his feet to pull off another outstanding save when he plucked the ball out of the air from a close-range shot.

On 35 minutes, Wyrley's persistence paid off when Thomas Evans closed down the Victory keeper forcing him to make a hurried clearance which fell to the feet of Matthew Grendon about 25 yards from goal. Matthew kept his head and put the ball straight back into the Victory net.

Half-time: Wyrley 1 - Victory 1

Wyrley started the second half in a less frantic vein but Matthew Anstey was unable to convert early chances - one of which went wide and the other saved. Wyrley's composed approach play very nearly got them in front on several occasions during the second half but Victory defended stoutly.

At the other end, the Wyrley defence often found themselves assailed by a quick Victory front-line who were constantly looking for the chance to get in behind the last man. Todd Wootton, Jason Dennerley, Luke Moseley and Adam Nicholls were often in the thick of things and picked up knocks in the process.

The midfield of Thomas Evans, Luke Brown and Simon Casserley worked hard to keep up with a game that was always stretched and littered with mistakes. Thomas Evans managed to get behind the Victory defence on a couple of occasions but was denied by some last ditch tackling.

Ten minutes from the end, the game was settled by a scrappy goal which epitomised the game when a Victory attack broke down in the Wyrley penalty area. In a melee of legs and challenges, the ball eventually fell to Victory's Cris Douty who managed to find the net from right in front of goal.

Wyrley continued to work for the equaliser but finally found themselves undone by some uncharacteristic mistakes and some poor finishing.

Full-time: Wyrley 1 - Victory 2

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