THE BOSS IS COMING
WHEATSHEAF HEATHERSIDE FC
   Established 2000     

Curley Park Bagtonians 1 (1) vs 11 (3) Wheatsheaf Youth
 

Gordon (2), Sills (2), Brainch (2),Ralphs, Laidler, Hughes, Sutton, Roarty

It was a case of playing both extremes for the Youth team as they travelled to Lightwater to play the Baggies.  In the previous weeks encounter they had dispatched the championship hunting Spelthorne, and they now faced the team propping up the table.  It was a chance for the Youth to play good football in a game which was crucial to enhancing their goal difference in light of the scramble developing for the top places in Division 1.  Manager Tim Hughes returned to the dugout after having been called away on work commitments the previous week and faced a selection dilemma after late withdrawals from Richard Brock and Babs (CJ) Johnson.  This allowed Liam Gordon to partner Terry Roarty up front, and Nick Paris took the place of Mark Sutton, who found himself on the bench alongside veteran player/manager Hughes.  Many of the Wheatsheaf’s followers will remember the encounter earlier in the season when Hughes struck two superb goals which will go down as the best witnessed at Heatherside Park.

The early encounters were typical of a Sheaf team who are prone to complacency at times.  Despite being clearly the more talented team a number of sloppy passes, and instances of overplaying allowed Curley Park numerous chances, some which should have arguably resulted in goals.  Manager Hughes was “doing his nut” on the sideline as the urgency which had ensured his team raced into a 3 goal lead against Spelthorne was clearly lacking against the Baggies. 

Julian Sills and Steve Laidler continued to probe away in the centre of midfield however, and it was from a dinked through ball that the Wheatsheaf finally broke the deadlock, indecision between the Baggies goalie and defenders led to Gav nicking in and chipping the ball over the stranded keeper to settle a few nerves.  Julian Sills made it 2-0 shortly after, good work on the right from Ryan resulting in a cross which dropped invitingly at the far post for Jules to rise above keeper and defender to score his 5th goal in 3 games.  It was at this point in the 1^st half that the Youth team were really buzzing, a number of cute interchanges between various members of the team showing that a combination of good football and vision can unlock the any defence. 

The Youth team has been lucky this year to have a great squad of lads who turn up week in week out to support the team and play their part, and none more so than Liam Gordon.  Although his chances to play have been limited, his enthusiasm cannot be questioned.  I speak for all the lads when I say that he richly deserved our 3^rd goal, as he found himself onside (AT LAST!) and dummied around the keeper to stroke into an unguarded net.

Just before half time Curley Park did pull a goal back, with ex-Camberley striker Billy Rigby turning Paris and Ric before chipping sublimely over the stranded Tottle.  Despite his lack of height the Curley Park man uses every day of his football experience and showed that getting too tight to a man can be costly.

At half time Hughes delivered some stern words to his players, who were putting in a decent performance, but not one which would increase their goal difference by any sizeable amount.  The players concurred and set about their task in the second half in a much more determined way. 

After just a few minutes of the second half the Wheatsheaf extended their lead, after Ryan produced another good piece of  wing play and centred for Gav to volley home from 6 yards out.  It was the goal which broke the Baggies back, and they never recovered from it.  Shortly after Terry went on another of his mazy runs and after beating numerous men laid the ball across the box towards the onrushing Jules.  The ball never reached him however as a Curley Park player lost his footing and handled the ball whilst on the ground.  It was a cast iron penalty which Ryan dispatched into the bottom right corner.

Terry was proving to be a real thorn in the side of the Bagshot team, and it was his work which created the Youth teams 6^th goal.  He beat a few men, reached the byline and laid the ball back for Liam to tap in from 3 yards out.  The game was now running away from the Baggies at an alarming pace and as Steve Laidler drove forward before unleashing a wicked swerving shot into the top the goal it was a question of how many would come before the end of the 90.

The fitness level of the Sheaf was really telling now and Jules added to the rout with his second of the game as he walked through a non-existent defence to slide the ball into the net.  The Youth team now possess one of the strongest midfields in Sunday football, and will be a match for most teams in the centre of the park.  Jules and Steve compliment each other superbly in the middle and with Ryan and Gav playing as explosive wide men most defences will not look forward to the penetration they provide.

One player who would add something to any team in the world is of course Tim Hughes.  The player manager has been unlucky this season with a serious knee injury ruling him out for the vast majority of the campaign and so when Gav picking up a hamstring pull he was the natural replacement.  Within 5 minutes of coming on Hughes was played in by Robbie Harkness and after riding numerous lunging challenges from the Baggies defence Hughes slotted the ball past the keeper.  Yet again, he emphasised the underlying quality and composure that had him earmarked as a possible England international in his youth.

It was Hughes who created the Youth teams 10^th goal as he played a short corner with Robbie and spotted the keeper off his line and dinked a delightful chip which shaved the underside of the bar allowing Sutton the easiest of tap ins from all of 1 yard out.

There was still time for Terry to grab a well deserved goal as his tapped in from after a surging run from Le Shark.  Having just recovered from a life threatening illness it was great to see James Reeves back playing again.  The defence as a whole remained relatively untroubled in the second half apart from one controversial incident when Robbie handled when the striker was clean through, and many players felt should have received his marching orders.  Jules and Reevo were particularly outraged.

MOTM : For sheer hard work and persistence Sunday’s award goes to Terry Roarty.  Terry has recently returned to the team and created 4 goals today and scored one himself.  Plaudits also go to Jules, Robbie and Reevo who all had solid games, as well as Ryan who created a number of good chances for the forwards.