Match Report

Written By Walshy

With a couple of last minute changes to the squad, notably Looty having to work and Walsh and Broadbent being called back in, Wanderers where able to field a much stronger starting 11 than had travelled to Heath to be beaten 4-1 by the unbeaten league leaders.
The game started at a good pace, with Wanderers making all the early running and winning a number of corners that resulted in a few chances, Shrek heading over or back across goal on a number of occasions. The midfield battle was being won by Paul and Walshy, with Miguel supporting Bruce up top on his own like a young Didier Drogba (before he left Marseilles) the back 4 were coping with anything the young forward pairing could throw at them, with Jez and Puffa also starting some classy counter attacks. This meant Rusty and young Michael Hughes could get up and support Bruce, who had his hands full coping with 4 defenders but worked tirelessly. All this pressure could not be converted with good chances falling to Walshy, Miguel (terrible free kick, your off the list!) and a classic shin roller from Bruce. Half time 0-0.
As the teams trudged across for their respective half time talks, the emotional music started and Franny began an impassioned speech that would have brought a tear to William Wallace’s eye and was only missing the blue face paint and call for freedom to rally the troops.
It appeared the same had been done for the oppo as they got out of the blocks at a rate of knots and had gone 1 nil up within the first 10 mins of the half, somehow someone had switched off long enough to let their number 9 have all the time to volley in a cross unmarked – not sure who had responsibility for him but early indicators point at a big green centre back!?! (Sorry but I’m scared of Deano so wont say it was him)
The game then settled into an end to end attack Vs. Defence with neither team creating any clear cut chances. With a certain highlight being Rusty using his face to cushion a ball across the pitch! Wanderers were visibly beginning to tire and unable to get the same support up to Bruce as in the first half. Eventually, like all good managers, Franny decided to make some changes, with Jez and Michael leaving the field in place of the youngsters Sam and Ian O’Brien and switching to a 3 -5 -2 formation in the hope of pushing for that much deserved equaliser. And it came in some style! Walsh started things off in the left corner, dancing and drawing 2 defenders in like a fat bird to cake, he cleverly laid the ball off to Miguel, who floated a delightful ball into that dangerous corridor of uncertainty between goalie and defender. It was Bruce who rose with purpose of a Scottish salmon out of the waters of Loch Lomand and the majesty of Sir les Ferdinand (is that enough praise for you) to cushion a ball down into an area about 10 yards out for young Ian (you know, always got his leg strapped, dark hair, cheeky smile) to rifle a volley past a stricken goalkeeper! 1 – 1, game on.
The game was heading for extra time when the ref (who up to this point had reffed the game as if he had no genitals) gave a very very very very very very very very dubious pen in the 87th min for a tackle by a great big lump who shall remain nameless but nickname rhymes with FECK. Even after much comedy arguing and flapping his arms while saying Nooooo referee, I won the ball. Oh do me a favour (can you guess who it is yet?) the spot kick was converted and to quote that jewellers up the city – we was robbed!!
Captains corner (it’s new, but I like it) - Hats off to all the boys, we worked our socks off and had we taken our early chances it would have been a different game. We will now take our frustration out on Shrek in training (even though he won the ball and it wasnt a pen) and ‘Shanger at the weekend before having a few strong rum and cokes at the Xmas bash.