Back to football after a 4 week break and although it was still a bit chilly the sun was shining and the pitch was firm enough for a decent game to be played.
The Wolves were down to just 6 regular players with 3 on holiday so Luke was drafted in for his first ‘competitive’ game. With no Cole William bravely volunteered to take on the GK duties in the first half.
The early stages were competitive in midfield and Nathan and Tom were kept busy dealing with the Hellenic pressure especially from their skilful Number 2. When they did get through Luke’s first contribution was a good clearance to Jacob who quickly passed to Dylan out wide. Dylan crossed into Ollie but the shot went just wide. Ollie had a powerful shot well saved after another good passing move with Dylan moments later.
William was also kept on his toes as Hellenic used the ball well to get free up the wings. He saved smartly from a decent shot and then another powerful shot rattled the post before a third went just wide. The Wolves were playing some lovely passing football between Nathan and Tom in midfield and Jacob, Ollie and Dylan up front but the ball wouldn’t find the back of the net. Jacob and Dylan both had shots go wide after some super moves.
Eventually the deadlock was broken after 14 minutes; Dylan picked out Ollie with a well weighted pass and Ollie then passed to Jacob on the edge of the box who fired home with his left foot: 0-1. Two minutes later and Jacob had his second, pouncing on a loose ball in the area and knocking it home, again with his left foot: 0-2. Hellenic kept battling and William saved well twice with his feet before Luke made an important tackle and clearance just on half time.
Half Time: 0-2
Luke went in goal for the second half as he was quite tired following his exertions in the first half. From the kick off Dylan pinched the ball and raced in on goal however his shot was very well saved by the Hellenic GK. A couple of minutes later Jacob put Dylan through with a super pass and Dylan’s powerful shot took the ball and GK over the line! 0-3. A minute later, with the wind quite literally knocked out the Hellenic GK’s sails Dylan got his second, placing it neatly into the bottom left corner: 0-4.
Hellenic kept fighting and William made a crunching tackle on their Number two and Tom also intercepted a break up the right wing. Dylan’s hat trick came 9 minutes into the half, again from a decent Jacob pass. His first shot came off the post but he followed in well to score from the rebound: 0-5. Two minutes later and Dylan scored again. Luke found Dylan with his goal kick and he did a great one two with Jacob on the edge of the box and his powerful shot gave the GK no chance: 0-6.
A minute later and Jacob broke down the left wing, nutmegged the defender and played a great cross into Nathan who slotted home neatly from the centre of the box: 0-7
With no subs and a couple of the lads suffering with colds, tiredness was bound to give the opposition chances as the game wore on and Hellenic got one back straight from the kick off. Luke blocked a long range shot and as the ball bobbled around in the box an Hellenic player got to it first and pushed it over the line: 1-7. The goal seemed to galvanise Hellenic and they were still finding space out on the wings. A break up the left wing saw a speculative cross/shot hit a defender’s back and fly into the goal giving Luke no chance: 2-7.
From the restart Tom and Jacob played some neat passes in midfield and then Ollie stopped a goal kick and powerfully shot on target from outside the area to give him a well deserved goal: 2-8.
Hellenic kept up the pressure and Luke saved well from a free kick before the Wolves won a corner with a few minutes remaining. Jacob was first to the ball at the front post but his initial shot was blocked. As the ball came back to him he passed to Tom who was unmarked in the box and he steered the ball in for his first of the season: 2-9.
With just seconds remaining William almost got on the scoresheet but as he was played clear his shot was marginally wide.
A great performance against a battling Hellenic Team. Some of the passing moves were majestic and it was great to see so many players on the scoresheet. Well done to Luke on his debut who played his part in our second best result of the season.
