Wilmslow are heading to the Junior Flags Final!
Save the date folks, clear your calendar for Saturday the 26th April at Rochdale Lacrosse Club.
What a difference a week can make. With the cup game being played at a neutral ground, Heaton Mersey were to play host to what Wilmslow felt would be a redemption game.
With George Widdowson back at the face off X and Seth Janaway filling in at straight defence despite only picking up a pole on Thursday, the team seemed a little less concerned about the actual outcome of this game. The main goal was to play lacrosse in the way we know we can, having broken down the game from the previous week it was clear to all players that we had too many mistakes over all areas of the field and we were punished for many of them by a strong opposition. We had been outplayed, not outclassed. It was time to show our class.
The opening quarter was to see Rochdale open the scoring, a blatant lose ball push was not called by the referees which led to Rochdales securing a second goal. Unlike last game, Wilmslow had the resolute attitude to shake the goal off and reset. Goals from Eastwood, Simpson-Pink, Burgess and Mellor saw Wilmslow go on a 5 goal run before Rochdale were to pull one back. Goddard was a wall during that first quarter and Ingham was a soak up a shot to the body, Janaway did an excellent job keeping Moody quite in the Rochdale attack.
It would be Wilmslow who were to take first blood in the second period through Eastwood. Although Rochdale pulled back another goal, Mellor would get his second and Eastwood his third for Wilmslow to end the half 8-4 up.
Although the Wilmslow bench and team were buzzing, calm heads were needed as we knew Rochdale had ample firepower to get goals and as Danny Madeley is undoubtably one of the leading face off midfielders in Europe right now so possessions at the face would be hard to come by for the Wilmslow midfield. You just knew that storm would hit and we had to be ready for it and survive.
Goals from Chatterton and Perrin would further open the lead for Wilmslow, it was well timed as the storm hit with a 4 goal run for Rochdale. Burgess was to get his second goal of the game, Rochdale pulled another back before Perrin bagged his second providing a better buffer as we entered the last period. The storm had hit and we had survived. Wilmslow led 12-9
The thing about a storm is that it can it can quieten down only to fire back again harder. Wilmslow were to make a few mistakes, rushed offence and a few forced chances along with a sudden urge to give Rochdale the ball back when clearing the ball for defence. Rochdale went on a 3 goal run to tie it up at 12-12. Mellor got his third of the game, Pink was to put Wilmslow ahead 14-12, a crazy ending saw Rochdale pull back 14-13 before an up and down period would see the Wilmslow defense stop multiple waves of attack from Rochdale.
Never have we been so relieved to hear a whistle blown. A 14-13 win sees the league leaders taken down and out of the Junior Flags.
Up the Slowtown!
See you all at Flags weekend.
