There might have been a lack of 1st team match reports the past couple of months but there are certainly been no shortage of great results. Apologies not to keep you updated but time has been short recently to keep the content coming.
Back on the 21st Feb we suffered our first post Christmas loss versus Sheffield, a team who only last year were relegated from the top division. Wilmslow certainly weren't outclassed but were outplayed on the day with Sheffield dominate on the face off meaning Wilmslow had a lack of possession throughout the game. Suffering no less than 3 injuries in the game also meant Wilmslow had a short bench during the second half. Losing 10-16 was not the result we wanted but we face Sheffield again this weekend which could decide who wins the league. Wilmslow will also met Sheffield in the Junior Flags Final at Rochdale on the 25th April.
Following the Sheffield loss, Wilmslow rebounded hard with a convincing 19-7 win against Mellor A team. The offense were firing with some excellent goals against a team that have proven to be very competitive this year.
Boardman & Eccles always feel like a team that can make things difficult for Wilmslow. Dan Grimes is an outstanding goalkeeper and make it tough for the visiting team to find the back of the net during the first half of game. Wilmslow had a huge amount of fast breaks of the 4 quarters but just lacked the clinical finishing we have come of expect. Closer than it neeeded to be but Wilmslow won 5-11.
The next Cup game was only ever going to see Wilmslow take the win. Brooklands A took 2 points away from Wilmslow in the opening fixture of the season, a result that still baffles most people who have witnessed a legit Brooklands A team play this season. Credit were credit is due, the young goalie at Brooklands is one of most exciting young players coming up right now and shows he has all the qualities required to be a senior England keeper in the coming years. Brooklands went down 12-3 to a Wilmslow side that had a brilliant performance in midfield and in the defensive half of the field. Henry Philips was an absolute workhorse running LSM for the Slowtown men.
Heaton Mersey A on their Day can field one of the best teams in the Championship 1 league with mix of upcoming talent and older heads with vast experience, a team that denied Wilmslow the win back in December. Wilmslow came out with all guns blazing taking a convincing lead but Mersey just would not stay down coming back very hard. Wilmslow have learnt they have have different gears and boy did they move up. A final score of 8-17 in favour of Wilmslow.
Due to a postponement and Easter, Wilmslow had to wait a couple of weeks before facing Cheadle A who for over a decade have sat in the top 3 or 4 spots in this division. A team that is loaded with some of the most experienced former England players in the country, having said that Wilmslow are still kicking themselves for losing back in December were we had been 4 goals up with around 7 minutes left in the game only to let Cheadle back in and take a 9-8 win. Wilmslow took the first of the Cup vs Cheadle 10-11 so we all knew that this fixture could go anyone's way.
Aaron Eastwood would open the scoring for Wilmslow cutting on to a feed by Ollie Thomasson who made his first team return after a injury back in January. Cheadle leveled the score briefly before Chatterton scored for Wilmslow, Cheadle soon scored to tie the score but Perrin then scored a behind the head goal on the crease shortly after. Sam Burgress but the home side up by two before Eastwood would extend the led to three goals. Cheadle finished the opening quarter with 2 more goals to make in 5-4.
The 2nd period saw Wilmslow start strong again with a cutting goal from Oscar Mellor and than a cannon of a shot "Pinky". Ollie Thomasson would the next 2 Wilmslow goals, a great way to make his first team return. The game seemed tight throughout but Wilmslow were always just a nose ahead until Cheadle seemed to hit a purple patch in the last quarter. They got back within one goal, then tied it, they went ahead. Wilmslow had the opportunity to force a Cheadle turnover after the visitors called a timeout. Wilmslow's Oscar Mellor having forced the turnover had a chance up front and ripped a shot that found the net, game tied with 2.20 on the clock so Wilmslow used their last timeout. Aaron Eastwood won the faceoff and within 50 seconds he would get the game winner from a Louis Andrews assist. With just 90 seconds remaining in the game Wilmslow managed another faceoff win and saw out the game with possession.
An outstanding Wilmslow performance but the team had some injuries along the way losing Mark Bowe soon after the half and Josh Simpson-Pink both with hamstring problems that will see them more than likely to miss the last two games of the season.
