THE BOSS IS COMING
WHEATSHEAF HEATHERSIDE FC
   Established 2000     

College Old Boys 2 – 3 Wheatsheaf Youth FC

Johnson 52
Wilsher 65
Reeves 77           

Attendance: 7 (3 home, 4 away)

Wheatsheaf Youth Team : Tottle, Busby, Paris, Reeves (captain), Brainch, Wilsher, Harkness, Johnson, Gordon, Brock. 
Subs : Stone, Rosten, Jackson

An away trip to College Old Boys awaited the Youth team on Sunday, with the Youth in a rich vein of form, coming off the back of 3 straight victories including a derby win the previous weekend.  College Old Boys on the other hand found themselves near the bottom of the table however looking at their previous results it was clear that they would not be an easy game for the Wheatsheaf. 

Manager Tim Hughes was forced to shuffle his pack, allowing players a chance to prove what they could do in the absence of influential midfielders Steve Laidler and Ryan Ralphs who both failed late fitness tests before the weekend.  Hughes also moved into the transfer market at the 11^th hour, bring in Paul Wilsher on loan from the Wheatsheaf Old Boys, as Bucks felt he could do with some big game practice (!).  Jordan Smith took up the left back berth with Rob Harkness filling in the centre of midfield with Wilsh.  James Reeves took over the captaincy of the team in the absence of Ric Jackson who was controversially dropped after breaking the teams drinking/curfew rules the night before the game.  Nick Paris became Reevo’s defensive partner in roughly the 412^th pairing played there this season.  Elsewhere Babs Johnson started on the right wing, allowing Brockie and Gordon to try to forge an understanding up front.

The game started in good spirits with the Wheatsheaf having the better of the opening encounters, however the final ball and end product often letting the team down.  Babs Johnson struggled to find his place on the right wing but looked promising on the ball.  As the half wore on it College OB who came into the ascendancy, with Paris and Reevo called into making last ditch challenges on a couple of occasions.  It was no surprise therefore when the team from Woking took the lead, counter attacking down the left, the forward (Stevie Bell?) turned Jordan Smith inside and out before driving a low shot past the helpless Tottle in goal.  It was no more than they deserved and the Youth team would need to pick their game up considerably to get anything out of this should-win encounter.  The goal sparked the Wheatsheaf back to life a little and from a corner Brainch hit a sweetly struck volley with the keeper did well to get across to.  The half time whistle blew with the score at 1-0 to College Old Boys and a few stern words needed in the ears of the Youth team.

Manager Hughes made one change at half time, with Mikey Stone, who some felt was unlucky to be on the bench, replacing Jordan Smith.  Rob Harkness slotted into left back with Mikey taking over the centre of the park.

The change immediately paid dividends with Stone and Wilsher starting to orchestrate the midfield, as well as Gav attacking with more confidence due to his understanding with first choice left back Robbie.  It was along these lines that the goal came, Mikey playing a ball out to Rob, who laid a short pass down the line, Gav cut inside and delivered a ball into the centre which Babsy controlled, beat one man, and from a tight angle drilled home.  Again it was richly deserved, and the Wheatsheaf would now look to press an advantage home, clearly being in control of the game

The 2^nd goal arrived shortly after and was inevitable, the midfield now running College Old Boys ragged.  Paul Wilsher had picked up his game quite considerably in the 2^nd half, and it was deserved when he struck a speculative cross-cum-shot from 40 yards which the keeper misjudged, the ball looping over him and nestling in the back of the net. 

At this point it was a case of how many the Youth team could score, with chance presenting themselves at will to Brockie, Babs, and Brainch, who could all have found themselves on the scoresheet.  It was becoming clear that Gordon had picked up a knock and was replaced by Will Rosten, who gave a more defensive option on the right hand side of midfield allowing Babsy to move up front with his usual strike partner Richard Brock.  Right back Busby also struggled after an injury sustained in the Somme (1944) came back to haunt him, and was replaced by Ric Jackson.  This brought the defence back its usual look and was relatively untroubled as the game was played out mainly in the College Old Boys half. 

The 3^rd goal came at a perfect time for the Wheatsheaf, and effectively killed off any hope for the Old Boys.  Babsy found himselve down the right flank and delivered a great cross which picked out Reevo’s run from the back, and once he controlled it on his sizeable stomach area he was left with a tap in past the goalie.  The keeper really should have been asking questions of his defence and midfield as no-one picked up Reeves as he strolled into the box.

The game however, was far from over at this point.  Almost immediately from the kick off College Old Boys found their right winger, who with his back to goal looked to have very few options.  This changed very rapidly however as he dropped his shoulder, turned Reevo and curled a wonderful 30 yard shot into the top left corner of the goal.  It was unstoppable and definitely the goal of the game.  This breathed life back into the Old Boys, but despite their attacks the Youth defence held firm, and could have possibly increased their lead if certain counter attacks had been more clinically finished.

To sum up, it was the result which bore more significance than the performance, and with Goldsworth Park not playing, the Youth team find themselves level in 3^rd place in the league. 

Man of the Match : A close run contest with Gav and Mikey both providing superb performances  which changed the game, however this week James Reeves takes the honours.  He displayed a true captains performance, commanding a new defence, and geeing up the rest of the team for 90 minutes.  He was rewarded with a goal, and deserved it!