TS UNITS 1 v 6 Royal Exchange
The UNITS returned to league action after another 14 day break since we last played as we welcomed Royal Exchange to Wolverley High School
The less said about the build up the better, we looked like we had a strong squad on Thursday evening when it was originally sent out but drop outs all over the shop left us with 14 with Azza & Lewis playing with knocks as we lined up Mozza, Chin, Gilo, CJ, Taylor, Clarkey, Azza, Si, Baker, Winny & Lewis Bench was Trigger, Luke & Heath
Exchange have added some quality from Woodside to what was already an impressive squad so we knew it would be a hard mornings work but we were hoping to kick on form the encouraging display against Grange
We had slightly shuffled the shape but we started poorly, giving Exchange way too much time on the ball and it was no great surprise when on 5 minutes after some nice build up play we allowed their guy all the time in the world on the edge of the box to bend a finish into the top corner 0-1
Frustratingly whilst we seemed to be wide open at the back when we got forward and at Exchange we created chances, Winny was released and shot wide from 20 yards before Winny put in Lewis who scuffed his shot under pressure from the edge of the box
We then had a massive let off when again we were carved open Blacky was clean through and squared to Cally who with the goal gaping somehow ran the ball out with a heavy touch, comedy gold and a real let off for the UNITS
Azza then went close from the edge of the box as we pushed for an equaliser and then Winny fizzed a volley inches wide but from an Exchange breakaway the subsequent corner was met on the goal line by the smallest bloke on the pitch who headed in from all of a yard, criminal marking to make it 0-2
Credit to the UNITS we quickly got back into the game with a lovely goal, some slick passing in midfield resulted in Winny playing in Azza who took the ball on his chest, stepped inside the defender and finished calmly into the bottom corner, game on
The game for the rest of the half was real end to end, Exchange were always a threat every time they attacked but credit to us so were we, we were closing down more in midfield, picking up 2nd balls and the movement of Lewis, Winny & Azza was causing RE problems at the back Right on half time we were inches away from an equaliser when from a RE corner Azza cleared and broke away, he released Lewis who skinned his man and crossed for Winny with the goal gaping only for the centre half to make a brilliant block conceding the corner from which Exchange cleared and we came in at half time 2-1 down
HT UNITS 1 v 2 Royal Exchange
The message at half time was to have a bit more belief on the ball and show we wanted it more than the visitors as the game was there for either side to win, or so it seemed! One change with Luke coming on for Si who was feeling the pace a little having played 90 on the Saturday
Alas for the second game running we were woeful just after half time, let the visitors take control of the game and low and behold we gifted them an easy 3rd on 50 minutes, Paul under hit a ball out of defence which was intercepted and played in behind the space he had left and their striker ran on and made no mistake past Mozza, simple and all of a sudden we had a mountain to climb
The next goal was always going to be crucial so to gift it to Exchange was disappointing but the crumb of comfort was we were also creating. Lewis again went close heading at the keeper when he should have scored from a brilliant Clarkey cross, Winny then snatched at a good chance before their keeper saved well from Azza as we were close to getting back into the game
Exchange spurned a couple of chances with Mozza in good form in the UNITS goal. The game was then decided in the space of 2 minutes, Lewis curled a dangerous free kick into the box Taylor inches away from making a connection but the ball still evaded everybody and came back off the post, Chinner pounced on the loose ball but blazed over from 7 yards with the goal gaping From the goal kick Exchange went up the other end and worked the ball into our box way too easy, squared and their lad had again all the time in the world to have a touch and stroke the ball home for 4-1 and game over
Cuzer then brought on Heath & Trigger for CJ and Gilo who picked up a knock
The last 15 minutes from our point of view was a shambles, sure we created a few chances and could have scored but Exchange were running riot up top and they scored another two, missed a hat full and Mozza made 2-3 great saves to keep the score from being a lot worse
Full Time UNITS 1 v Royal Exchange 6
Drop outs hurt us badly and ripped up the proposed team and shape which was a real disappointment and whilst at times we competed and created some good chances we were still heavily beaten by the better side
Man of the match went to Mozza who made some fine stops especially towards the end of the game
Next up the UNITS travel to another old Div 1 foe in Wall Heath who are having a fine season and have adapted to the Prem well since their promotion
Mozza 8* Chin 6 Clarkey 7 Taylor 7 CJ 7 Gilo 7 Baker 6 Si 6 Azza 7 Lewis 7 Winny 7
Subs Luke 6 Trigger 6 Heath 6
