Wilmslow played hungry on Saturday, hungry for the win.
Playing Wacsbury has proven to be a tough fixture over the past 2 seasons with Wilmslow only winning 1 of the previous 4 games. Although Wacsbury sat top of the table going into the match, Wilmslow's hard work and effort at training along with a more focused game day attitude paid dividends.
The opening 5 minutes of the quarter saw both goalkeepers make a number of great saves, Jimmy Holt tended goal for Wilmslow in his first game of the year for the club. Holt not only provided stopping power but his presence and communication lifted the Wilmslow defensive unit. Wacbury created a number of chances but Holt and his defense had a shut out quarter leaving Wacsbury clearly frustrated. The midfield engine was in full flow fighting for the loose ball, working tirelessly in transition going forward and riding hard to give Wacsbury little to no transition opportunities. Wilmslow built a lead through Simpson-Pink, Andrews, Chatterton and Brooks as they found shooting low was the way to go on the Wacsbury goalie.
Aware that the home team had the talent to hit that purple patch, Wilmslow knew they couldn't relax and that the hard work needed to continue to extend a more convincing lead and that's exactly what they did. With Pinky getting his second, Thomasson his first, Pinky a third and Brooks a second, the Wacsbury team only scored towards the closing of the quarter. For Wilmslow to hold a team as good as Wacsbury to no goals for near 40 minutes is a credit to how hard the Slowtown boys have been working and this was proving to be the reward for that work. Widdowson had a great first half at the face off X and Wilmslow worked hard to give him the outlets he needed.
Wilmslow never saw a purple patch from Wacsbury but the third we saw what can only be described as a ten year wave. A massive amount of flags were thrown in the third period, starting with a stick check called on Widdowson's face off stick who in handling the head of the stick upon the call had committed a foul prior to the refs checking the stick which did prove to be illegal, fortunately the refs got slightly confused and the penalty timing was shorter than it should have been. That was the wave rising, there followed an unbelievable number of flags for both teams, most of which were really just physical play but you could see a number of frustration checks coming from the Wacsbury defense and midfielders. During the 20 minute quarter Wilmslow must have received at least 12 minutes of penalties, normally Coach Perrin would be exploding at the team but in fairness there were very few silly fouls and it just seemed that the refs were create a tighter game. Despite that wave the visitors would play some great man down defense and the home team looked a little toothless in attack, Wilmslow won a difficult quarter 2 goals to 1 with Andrews getting his second and Thomasson his second.
Another tight quarter in the 4th with more flags being thrown by the referees against both teams yet neither team making the most of man up opportunities. Wilmslow took the quarter 2 to 1 with goals from Eastwood and Mellor.
This was set to be a tough game and one that would separate the men from the boys. The 15 men from Wilmslow earned two hard fought points.
Next week to go again next week versus Mellor A with a solid win Wilmslow could climb to third spot in the league.
