THE BOSS IS COMING
WHEATSHEAF HEATHERSIDE FC
   Established 2000     

Wheatsheaf Youth FC 4 (2) 1 (0) Goldsowrth Park

Busby x 3, Ralphs

The Youth team faced another stern challenge on Sunday as they took on a team currently lying one place below them in the league and manager Tim Hughes knew any slip ups could prove costly in the teams efforts to gain promotion to the Premier League.  Hughes was able to welcome back skipper Richard Jackson at right back with Mark Sutton dropping to the bench, allowing Nick Paris and James Reeves to continue in the centre of defence.  Robbie Harkness recovered from the hamstring injury that forced him off 20 minutes into the Spelthorne game and filled the left back berth.  Elsewhere Pete Busby made a rare appearance in the centre of midfield alongside Steve Laidler with the usual suspects (Mike and Gav) playing on either wing.  Babs Johsnon retained his starting place with Richard Brock returning to partner him up front.  The luxury of having 5 substitutes was afforded to Hughes, with Rosten, Gordon, Smith, Ralphs and Sutton on the bench.

The opening exchanges were very pleasing from the Wheatsheaf’s point of view, with the Youth team dominating play and creating numerous guilt edged chances.  Babs, Gav, Brockie and Busby all should have found themselves on the score sheet, with 1 on 1’s being missed at an alarming rate.  The game bore amazing similarities to the cup tie the previous week where the Youth team failed to take the chances presented and were punished dearly in the end.  Goldsworth looked fairly threatening on the attacks they did have, two big lads up front were giving the central defenders a few problems, and Goldsworth were never short in supporting the front two, with two out and out wingers playing for them.  In the fixture between the two teams earlier in the season the Goldsworth right winger had caused a few problems, and he looked lively again on Sunday, with Robbie Harkness having to be alert to his darting runs.  

Babsy was desperately unlucky not to find himself on the score sheet however, he chased a ball over the top, saw the advancing keeper and producing a sublime lob which bounced agonisingly over the bar after looked a dead cert for the back of the net.

The goal which settled the Wheatsheaf’s nerves came after about 20 minutes.  After another sustained spell of pressure the Youth team gained a couple of corners, the first blocked out of play for another corner to be taken by the left footed Gav. He swung the ball in, and Pete Busby had shaken off the attention of his marker to guide an unstoppable header past the helpless goalie.  The keeper will have been asking big questions of the marking from the set piece, with Busby; probably the tallest player on the pitch, left unmarked! 

The gaol sparked the Woking side into life and they had a couple of good chances, with their striker missing a clear chance when put through, and the other forward forcing a diving save from Tottle.  Some spectator felt that Tottle had make the most of the save for the cameras, but either way, the ball stayed out of the Wheatsheaf net.  As half time drew nearer there was a bit of tension on the faces of the Sheaf’s management team and fans, they knew they were the better team, but couldn’t seem to capitalise on the lion’s share of possession they were having. 

The turning point in the game came on the 45, with the Wheatsheaf’s second goal.  After good work from Mike and Babs down the right, the ball fell to Buzzer on the edge of the area.  It was bobbling around but he struck a fierce skimming shot past the goalies despairing dive into the far corner of the net.  There was little the defence or keeper could do, and it was just deserts for a player who had worked tirelessly during the first half.  Steve Laidler was turning in a usual quality performance, and with Busby able to offer a slightly more attacking option in the centre of the park, It seems a match made in heaven

At half time manager Hughes had a few stern words for the players, who although dominating play had failed to take chances which were presenting themselves at will,  and against the better teams could cost them dearly. 

The second half started in similar fashion to the first, with Brockie in particular working his socks

off for the team, Brockie has not been the most prolific in front of goal this season, but it isn’t for lack of effort as all the lads will tell you!  Mike Stone was replaced by Ryan Ralphs after about  65 minutes with Hughes aiming to gain a little more penetration down the right hand side which he felt Ryan could offer with his explosive pace and strength.  The change almost paid dividends immediately with Ryan being put through by Steve only to put a good chance wide of the target.

The Wheatsheaf’s third came shortly afterwards however, with great work and determination by Brockie creating the time and space to produce a wicked dipping volley, only for the keeper to produce a top drawer save.  The despairing keeper only manager to palm the ball out to the on-rushing Busby however, who tucked the ball home for his hattrick.

Almost immediately after Goldsworth found a lifeline after some shocking play at the back from the Wheatsheaf, The defence had been superb throughout the game, but were guilty at times of overplaying and creating problems for themselves through it.  It was this then, that led the to the ball being played through the defence who were all holding a different line, and the Goldsworth attacker said thanks very much and beat Tottle to bring the score back to 3-1.  It was a real kick in the teeth for the Youth team who had worked so hard to make the game safe at 3-0, and Reevo handled out a few choice words to his fellow defenders about their part in the goal.

The chances which had presented itself to Ryan just before Goldsworth’s goal was re-created with better ends just 5 minutes later.  A dinked ball over the top found Ralphs who had made a good run inside the full back, and he stroked the ball home from 15 yards out past the keeper.  At this point manager Hughes made a couple of changes with Babs and Ric making way for Will and Liam respectively.

With only 10 minutes to go the Wheatsheaf felt that they could play the rest of the game out in relaxed fashion, and maybe this complacency led to the chance which Goldsworth had.  A break down the left from their winger ended when after numerous chances to clear from the Wheatsheaf, he was upended by Tottle to give a clear penalty to Goldsworth.  Despite Tottle’s protests it was a blatant penalty.  The keeper made amends however when he dived at full length away to his left to save the well struck spot  kick and preserve the Wheatsheaf’s 3 goal advantage.

The reaming 10 were playing out without much incident, and apart from a few small niggly things, the game as a whole was played in decent spirits.  A 4-1 victory over the team below them in the league pushed the Youth team into 2^nd spot in the league and although the teams below them have games in hand, points in the bag are preferable at this stage of the season.

MOTM : As per usual there were solid performances from Robbie, Nick, Reevo and Ric at the back. It would be easy to give the accolade to the hattrick grabber Busby, and there is no denying that he played an absolute blinder.  However, sometimes you look at the players who don’t get the glory but work for the team and the final cause.  For that reason this weeks award goes to Richard Brock, a guy who had received a bit of stick over the course of the season, but responded in great fashion on Sunday, and was unlucky not to grab a couple for himself.