Wednesbury S.U. vs. Wyrley Juniors

Result: Wednesbury S.U. 1 - Wyrley Juniors 2

Wyrley play badly and still win.

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Match Report

Wyrley hadn't played a competitive game for a month prior to this game due to the Christmas break and postponements due to the weather. History suggested that the first game of the New Year would be hard going and so it proved in a closely fought encounter in the shadow of the elevated section of the M6.

As they did against their most recent game, Wyrley started brightly with plenty of possession but found themselves unable to unlock the Wednesbury defence despite forcing a succession of corners. In the first five minutes, Adam Nicholls put in a sweetly flighted corner which caused havoc in the penalty area and resulted in a clearance off the line.

On 7 minutes, Matthew Grendon replaced Matthew Anstey for five minutes while the Wyrley player received treatment for a hand injury.

Wyrley continued to push for the breakthrough that their possession deserved but without any success until the 30th minute when Matthew Anstey was brought down by the keeper in the crowded Wednesbury penalty area after he had worked an opening. Simon Casserley scored from the resulting penalty with a textbook finish.

Wednesbury had started to come back into the game prior to the goal, and they replied within three minutes with a deftly executed shot from the edge of the penalty box over Mark Biddulph in the Wyrley goal.

The first half finished with both sides eager to gain the advantage over the other but largely cancelling each other out in a scrappy period with both teams making heavy weather of their possession.

Other highlights of the first half were some hallmark defence splitting passes from Simon Casserley which had deserved better finishing. Meanwhile at the back, Todd Wootton's pace, Jason Dennerley's industry and some good positioning and handling by Mark Biddulph had kept Wednesbury's chances to a minimum.

Half-time: Wednesbury 1 - Wyrley 1

The second half started with a more disciplined and creative approach by Wyrley which almost brought its reward after 50 minutes when a poor clearance from the Wednesbury keeper was intercepted by Matthew Anstey who ran in only to shoot just wide. Five minutes later, Luke Brown put through Jordan Clarke on the left but the keeper got a touch to the shot and diverted it just wide of his right-hand post.

Wyrley's attacking play was showing more flow and determination with Luke Moseley and Adam Nicholls pushing forward and Luke Brown and Thomas Evans making intelligent runs through the Wednesbury midfield and defence.

Matthew Grendon showed some neat touches on the right - continuing Edward Marrocco's good work in the first half. Also, Luke Moseley made a timely intervention to clear the ball off the Wyrley goalline following a corner.

On the 67th minute, Wyrley created a good move down the right which caused the Wednesbury defence all sorts of problems. Matthew Anstey dribbled the ball to the Wednesbury touchline whereupon the Wednesbury keeper committed himself and collided with his own defender. Edward Marrocco attempted to steer the ball across the Wednesbury goal but the cross was blocked by a Wednesbury defender. From the resulting corner, Thomas Evans bundled the ball into the net only for the goal to be disallowed for handball by the referee after consultation with his linesman.

The incident unsettled Wyrley's concentration and they almost paid the price within a minute when Todd Wootton cleared off the line following a Wednesbury corner.

As the game entered the final fifteen minutes, both teams pushed for the winner. In the event, it turned out to be Wyrley's day when Matthew Anstey created space in the Wednesbury penalty area and drove a shot low across the goal where it ricocheted off a Wednesbury defender into his own net with Luke Brown in close attendance.

In a game that could have gone either way, Wyrley's victory was a gritty affair born of hard work, steely determination and a will to win.

Full-time: Wednesbury S.U. 1 - Wyrley 2

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