Leamore Boys vs. Wyrley Juniors

Result: Leamore Boys 1 - Wyrley Juniors 4

Wyrley wrap the game up by half-time.

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Match Report

In the corresponding home fixture four weeks prior to this game Wyrley had beaten Leamore Boys 7-1 so expectations of another comprehensive win were high in the Wyrley camp. However, due to match cancellations because of the weather, Wyrley had not played another competitive game during that period and the lack of matches took the edge off their performance - particularly in the second half.

Wyrley started the game brightly enough with Thomas Evans being put through on goal on four minutes from a header by Matthew Anstey. 

On eight minutes Wyrley went ahead. Leamore were threatening the Wyrley goal after Jason Dennerley had slipped. Adam Nicholls broke up the attack with an astute interception and then turned defence into attack with a perfect long ball behind the Leamore defence to Matthew Anstey who composed himself in front of goal and slotted home with defenders closing in.

Leamore still posed a threat but were denied by a well-organised Wyrley defence and on one occasion by a superb last-ditch tackle by Jason Dennerley.

On 18 minutes, Matthew Anstey retired from the game after pulling a muscle and was replaced by Edward Marrocco. Six minutes later, Wyrley went further ahead when Luke Brown put Thomas Evans through with a nicely weighted pass.

Two minutes later, Wyrley were given a let off when Leamore missed a golden opportunity to get themselves back into the game. Wyrley's defending left a lot to be desired as Leamore passed their way into the penalty area. The ball was then played into space right in front of the Wyrley goal with Mark Biddulph beaten but was blasted wide from inside the six-yard box when it seemed impossible not to score.

Wyrley responded with a well-struck 30 yard shot from Simon Casserley which went just wide before the same player set up Wyrley's third goal of the game with a perfectly weighted ball over the top of the Leamore defence. The ball sat up invitingly in front of Thomas Evans who scored with a well-judged lob over the advancing keeper to make the score 0-3.

The final 15 minutes through to half-time saw Wyrley's best period of the game with several opportunities to put the game beyond Leamore. Firstly, Edward Marrocco headed just wide with Jason Dennerley just failing to make contact at the far post. Then Luke Brown had a powerful strike tipped over by the Leamore keeper. From the resulting corner, Adam Nicholls was on hand to put a second delivery into the box from a Leamore clearance which Luke Brown put just wide.

Wyrley wrapped up the game two minutes before half-time when Thomas Evans' strength and tenacity was rewarded with his hat-trick after he held off a defender to bundle the ball over the line with attacker, defender and the ball all ending up in the back of the net.

The half finished with Adam Nicholls pulling out a save from the Leamore keeper with a well-struck shot on goal after some neat work in and around the Leamore penalty area.

Half-time: Leamore 0 - Wyrley 4

It often happens that a team fails to live up to their first-half billing after building a commanding lead by the first-half interval and so it proved on this occasion. Wyrley took their foot off the gas but did enough to prevent Leamore getting back into the game.

Thomas Evans nearly added a fourth to his tally within five minutes of the restart when he hit the bar after collecting a well-weighted pass from Luke Brown.

Shaun Nicholls replaced Jordan Clarke after 10 minutes before Matthew Grendon put the ball just wide from a corner.

On 51 minutes, Leamore scored their only goal of the game from the penalty spot after Adam Nicholls had tripped a Leamore player in the box. Mark Biddulph got a hand to the penalty kick but could only divert the well-struck shot into the roof of the net.

This was a bread-and-butter performance from Wyrley who turned up; collected the three points and then went home again with the minimum of fuss. It was a day when their discipline and organisation saw them through when in previous seasons their lack of match practice would have let them down. A solid display at the back from Jason Dennerley; safe handling by Mark Biddulph in the Wyrley goal; good headed clearances from Todd Wootton, and no-nonsense defending from Luke Moseley and Adam Nicholls helped to ensure that Wyrley avoided any banana-skins.

Wyrley had had to contend with a Leamore team playing five at the back in the first half. To their credit, Wyrley adapted their game and showed that they can play the long ball game when required. Their reward was four goals in forty minutes.

All-in-all a satisfactory day at the office on a pleasant February afternoon.

Full-time: Leamore 1 - Wyrley 4

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