Not quite the big freeze of previous Sunday mornings, but astonishigly the only match to survive the elements was The Prince's difficult trip to St George's for the league tie against a strong Wednesfield Village side. With manager McPlant on an impromptu scouting mission in the Scottish Highlands it was left to the devilishly good looking management duo of Holder and Botos to mastermind a shock result against arguabley the strongest side in the divison. Selecting a 3-5-2 formation, which served well in the derby win agains the Knott, Holder and Botos again selected deputy goalkeeper Toone behind a strong (but rough) looking back 3 of Hickerman, Lawley and Riley capabley aided by the defensive prowess of Cooper and Roberts at wing backs, a midfield 3 of Captain Mainwaring (Acker), Anton and last games match winner Plant providing an attacking threat behind the hardworking Smith and Wilson completing the side.
The early stages of the game went to form with the hosts dominating possession and keeping the somewhat lackluster Prince camped within their own half leaving Smith and Wilson cutting isollated figures on the rare occasions the halfway line was breached. The hosts dominace paid dividends in the 9th minute when a long ball evaded the Prince defence catching the stand in goalkeeper in two minds leaving the striker with a straight forward finish. Wednesfield continued to dominated with possesion for the Prince at a premium and 5 mins later a strike from the edge of the box doulbled the league leaders advantage. A penalty and a another ball over the top completed the first half proceedings with the Prince in danger of conceeding a cricket score.
Realising an error in judgement the management team quickly returned to a more familiar 4-4-2, with Acker making way (too old for flu jab) for Vaughn/Campbell. The second half started much brighter with again Wednesfield enjoying the majority of possesion but with the Prince now much more fluent with the ball and posing much more of an attacking threat. Plant, in a forward role was finiding much more space and along with Smith and Wilson was being found in attacking position much more by Roberts, Riley and Cooper with Hickerman, Campbell and Lawley much more comfortable in defence. This was breached however when the striker rounded Toone (who was much improved) only to be thwarted by a fantastic 'off the line' clearence by Lawley. This spured on the Prince with a flurry of corners one of which Allen backhealed just wide and the finally scored (in the right end) with a header to breathe hope into the beleagured POW. This did not change the pattern of the game however and dispite best efforts, Wednesfield rounded off proceedings with a quickfire double, with even the introductions of Llloyd and Owen failing to reduce the deficit. On the whole a much better second half performance wasnt enough to repair the damage done by an extremely lackluster first half performance.
