THE BOSS IS COMING
WHEATSHEAF HEATHERSIDE FC
   Established 2000     

West End 0 (0) vs (1) 5 Wheatsheaf Heatherside Youth FC

Sills (4)
Roarty (1)

The Youth team’s season has been a great adventure!  The season started with the remains of a Camberley Youth team who had finished their final year of Youth team football and wanted to make the step up to adult football, plus some other faces we had picked up along the way last season.  We had assembled a fairly decent team, with mid-table aspirations and an idea to play for fun rather than championships.  It was of great surprise therefore, that we entered the final game of the season knowing that with the right combination of results we could end up crowned champions of Division 1.  Although the cards were always stacked in Spelthorne’s favour, stranger things had happened and gaffer Tim Hughes stressed the importance of a victory (and a convincing one at that) to the players before the game

The team was again changed from the previous week, Mark Sutton had fallen victim to the mumps, so Nick “Downie” Paris stepped in at centre half, a position he has filled adequately many times this season.  The only other changes to the previous week’s line-up was Babs Johnson starting up front with Terry Roarty, meaning Liam Gordon dropped to the bench.  He was joined by Jordan Smith and Richard Brock, meaning Hughes and Summerland had a few options in reserve.

Motivating the team for the game was not a hard job for Hughes as many of the West End players were known to the Sheaf team, and they knew victory was vital.  With new footballs supplied by Brockie the Wheatsheaf gave one of their most impressive warm-up routines to date, and no doubt struck fear into the hearts of the opposition.  A one minute silence was impeccably observed by both teams in memory of the pope who had died that morning. 

The game kicked off with both team knowing a win was vital to their chances of winning the league, West End only needing victories in their last three games to clinch the title.  It was West End who seemed to start the brightest with a couple of cross field balls proving tricky for Ric to deal with at right back.  West End seemed to have worked on this tactic and were getting a bit of joy from it, of course Tim Hughes immediately recognised the problem and asked Ryan to provide Ric with a little more cover and also Ric to be aware of his man getting in round the back.  West End were relying heavily on their two front players to chase long balls and use their pace against the Reevo and Paris, who for all their strengths are bloody slow.  It was proving a little worrying and Robbie Harkness starting tucking in around them to provide cover. 

At the other end of the field the Wheatsheaf were looking as dangerous as ever in the air at set pieces, with Jules and Reevo amongst others winning headers to work the keeper.  Gav and Robbie were again combining well down the left with Terry working the channels well up front.  Babs and Ryan both had speculative efforts from long range saved by the keeper, who chose some unconventional methods and didn’t always look the most assured.

It was from a free kick won by Terry on the left that the Wheatsheaf gained the chance they needed to get their noses in front.  Despite repeated warnings West End’s defender tugged Jules to the ground before the free kick had even been taken, and a penalty was awarded.  Steve Laidler still fired in the free kick which spanked the referees arse, just to add comedy value to the situation.  Ryan had scored a penalty in the previous game against Curley Park, so he took the duty again.  However it was not be this week for Ryan as he struck the penalty a little too firmly and it cannoned back of the bar on the field.  The resultant shot was struck wide, and West End had enjoyed a lucky escape. 

Jules has been a goal scoring threat throughout every game he has played for the Sheaf so far and it was the former Camberley, Basingstoke, Kingstonian and North Shore (!) player who finally gave the Youth team a deserved lead.  After another good bit of work from the two front men and Ryan, the ball dropped to Jules on the edge of the 18 yard box, he let the ball drop and drove a left footed half volley past the helpless keeper into the bottom corner of the net.  The Wheatsheaf players and fans went mental and it showed how much the goal meant as the celebrations continued. 

West End were continuing to look dangerous on the break and the two quick front men combined to provide a golden chance for West End to get back in the game just before half time.  After skinning Nick Paris and turning Reevo inside and out, Dave Burrows had a shot from a tight angle which struck Reevo’s arm.  The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot despite Le Shark’s protests.   Mark Tottle has been the unsung hero of many games for the Sheaf this season, and it was again up to him to preserve the lead the Youth had worked so hard to get.  In the end, the West End captain blasted the penalty and as it clipped the bar and sailed over Jules handed out some stern words to the defenders who were taking too long on the ball and taking un-necessary risks.  Just a short time afterwards the referee blew for half time.

The key points made at half time referred to the team not dallying on the ball in defence and making decisions quickly and with urgency.  There had been too many opportunities presented to West End through overplaying in dangerous areas.  Also discussed was the fact that both wide men had the beating of their full backs but were not being provided with adequate chances to exploit this.  Gav was putting in another superb performance down the left and with Robbie and Terry supporting him it was an area that Hughes suggested the Sheaf continued to explore.  No changes were made at half time.

The game was played on a glorious sunny day and so after half time a lot of water bottles needed filling up! Manager Tim Hughes had the honour and so only just witnessed the Wheatsheaf doubling their lead.  After a nice piece of interplay Gav found himself on the right wing, and using his right (!) foot, put a wicked cross into the area.  The one guy who West End didn’t want to be in the centre was Jules, as he rose highest to power the ball into the back of the net.  With only 5 minutes played of the second half it was the goal the Sheaf needed to settle their nerves.

The Wheatsheaf were now in the driving seat but West End still threatened on the break, they replaced Neil Davies with a very quick forward after about an hour and he proved to be constant danger, but was well marshalled by Reevo and Paris for the majority of the time.  Robbie was finding good space down the left as West End continued to push forward and it was the next goal in the game which would surely prove crucial to the final result. 

The goal which really dealt a killer blow to West End came in the form of Jules again.  The prolific marksman picked the ball up just inside the opposition half and drove at the central defender, turning him inside and out, before drilling a left footed drive past the keeper into the net.  It was probably the best goal of the hattrick and Jules was immediately mobbed by the lads on the pitch, while Hughes, Summerland and the rest celebrated on the sidelines. 

A short time after Jules made it 4-0 and 4 for him personally.  Steve Laidler beat two men on the right wing, and after pulling out his pitching wedge, chipped a little cross into the area.  By this time, West End were probably sensing the inevitable as Jules came from behind the central defender to rise above him and head the ball back across the keeper into the far side of the goal.   The game was now dead and buried for West End, but to their credit they kept trying and creating half chances.  Babs, Gav and Nick Paris made way for Liam, Brockie and Jordan as Tim Hughes looked to put on fresh legs to pile on the agony for West End.

Almost immediately after coming on Liam and Brockie combined well on the right hand side leaving Liam one-on-one with the keeper.  Although the goalie came up big and saved Liam’s guided shot the ball fell kindly to Terry, who took one touch and placed the ball past the defender on the line into the net. 

As the final whistle blew, it would be an anxious wait to see if the Youth team had done enough to secure the Championship however they knew that they had given it their all, and Manager Hughes was understandably delighted with the attitude and performance.  There were high fives all round, and the Sheaf knew they had secured at least 2^nd place in the league.

MOTM : Another clean sheet against one of the best sides in the league, massive respect to Mark Tottle who’s handling and shot stopping makes him one of the best keepers in the league.  Great performance by Gav who has been in mixed form lately, but had an absolute blinder on Sunday and another great job done by Robbie Harkness to keep their dangerous right winger quiet.  Only one person who can really take the award this week though, take a bow Jules!  Jules signed late on in the season and has scored 11 goals in 5 games to give the team that goal scoring threat we needed, another hattrick today wins him the honours!

Great day for everyone connected with the team, well done guys!