Match Report: A-Team vs. Cheadle-Hume
It had been a while since we last faced Cheadle-Hume, and our previous encounter saw a strong Wilmslow amalgamated squad claim victory. Unfortunately, this time, things didn’t go our way. With a reliance on old first-team players—some of whom hadn’t played since 2020—the A-Team took to the field with experience, skill, and a strong sense of camaraderie.
Despite the years away, the skill was evident, even if the chemistry was still developing. The opening goal came from an assist by Mike Siddle, setting up John Mountney to slot it home. Soon after, Brooksy dusted off his pump fake and finished with a solo goal, though his sniping skills were taking time to dial back in after his long hiatus.
Adam was putting in a solid shift on faceoffs, giving Wilmslow early possession, but Cheadle-Hume gradually adapted and started pushing back. Meanwhile, Wilmslow’s attack struggled to capitalize, hitting the post multiple times and failing to shoot at the keeper’s feet. Fortunately, the defense—anchored by the Jones Brothers (Jay and Ollie), alongside Gabe and Scott—held firm. However, in the second half, Cheadle-Hume finally broke through, equalizing at 2-2.
Wilmslow responded well, regaining the lead at 3-2. Things looked promising, but a spell of forced passes—many of which sailed over or beyond our players—let Cheadle-Hume back in the game. Pazza then took advantage of an open-net opportunity, securing a goal that he had to score (otherwise, Dick of the Day would have been inevitable).
Heading into the third quarter, things started to unravel. Cheadle-Hume managed to sneak in three scrappy goals, two of which were questionably kicked in. Sparks stepped down from attack to take control of the faceoffs, winning 100% of clamps and triggering fast breaks that earned us some crucial man-up opportunities. Wilmslow struck twice—one from Sparx, featuring a classic alley dodge from the right followed by a Daryl-esque pirouette into a left-handed shot, and another from Mikey, who slotted a cool, composed sidearm shot from his favored left side.
Unfortunately, it just wasn’t our day. The rust was still evident on our sticks, and despite our love for hitting the post, the lack of familiarity within the squad ultimately proved costly. The match ended 7-5, sealing our fate. A win would have kept our promotion hopes alive, but now that dream has faded—at least for this season.
Man of the Match went to Jay Jones for his aggressive dominance on defense (with only minor flag-related incidents). Dick of the Day was awarded to Oli Jones—though neither he nor anyone else is entirely sure why. However, it may have had something to do with him standing still under pressure, launching the ball, and then dramatically shouting like a Shakespearean actor.
A tough result, but plenty to build on. On to the next one.
