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Another home game and another attempt to win our first one since September went past in a fairly dull uneventful game with few real chances for either team. The loss of Andy Smith, deservedly promoted to a higher level, was a big miss and the slightly below performance from midfield and upfront meant we never punished the lacklustre opponents despite the high percentage of possession we had.
Good solid defending, including the returning Griffiths, limited the opposition to very few opportunities, those that came were from fortuitous breaks rather than good play and a couple of solid blocks from Hale in goal dealt with these fairly easily. On the offensive Wulfs dominated. Lots of good possession and link up play outside the box with strikers Oliver and Walkden doing well in wide positions, but the final ball letting us down, either with poor delivery or poor decision making and on a couple of occasions below par finishing. Forrester on his full debut had too much pace and trickery for his full back but saw too little of the ball in open play to really hurt them.
The second half was much the same but did see us create our best two opportunities when an excellent break by Patrick, released Walkden whose curling shot was well saved and moments later the same combination saw excellent first time control and a dipping volley which was inches wide with the keeper well beaten. As the game wore on Britannia grew more confident and brought out one excellent one handed save up high from Hale following a strong run from the right sided midfielder.
The bench was now raring to go and sire of youth team striker Sam and club legend PC came on for the last fifteen to show us all what we had been missing and then with only one minute to go disaster struck. Skipper Edwards went down with cramp and despite the frantic efforts of the physio was forced to leave the park. Even the referee assumed we would complete the game with ten men, but…. Veteran manager Martyn Morgan stripped off all three layers he was wearing and despite the protests of his own team, entered the fray. He rose 'like a salmon' to cleverly flick the ball on from the goal keepers clearance and the final whistle went. In truth it took longer to strip than play but after nine full seasons out and six or seven times being named it was nice to see the old fart get a touch.
On another day the possession and hard work would have brought its own rewards but on this day being slightly below our best going forward meant it was another two points dropped from a game we should have won, we certainly expected to.
Footnote:
Those concerned about the welfare of mysteriously injured keeper Emperor Roscoe Hale will be pleased by the latest medical updates. According to the great man himself he has had a brain scan and the doctors did not find anything!!!!!!! Hands up all those who had a suspicion this was always the case.
Final score: Old Wulfrunians 0 Britannia OB 0.
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