Archived- WW- Match Report- v Batley (Away) 02/11/08

Wyke 3-5 Batley

Wyke were defeated away from home, which now means they have lost 4 games in a row. Going into the game, Wyke were favourites, as Batley had lost all 6 previous league games. However, Wyke still had to out in a good performance to get anything from the game. It didn’t happen, and Wyke were taught a lesson.

Wyke started the game poorly. The defence were sloppy, and the ball was being given away far too easily meaning Batley had plenty of the ball. However, against play, Wyke took the lead. A great cross from Michael Brooksbank was finished well by Nathan Khan for his 4th goal of the season.

With a one goal lead, Wyke started to dominate, and had a couple more chances to extend their lead. However a defensive mix up, led to a Batley goal. 1-1.

From then on, Batley dominated the game. Their number 7, was very quick and kept beating the Wyke defence’s offside trap. He scored another 2, and Wyke were suddenly trailing 3-1.

Wyke let in another soft goal, and then the score was 4-1.

Joe McLoughlin scored just before half time, to make if 4-2, and although Wyke’s first half performance was awful, they were still in the game.

The Wyke players came back onto the pitch and tried much harder, Tai Pedder at the back, was keeping the Batley number 7 at bay, and Wyke had much of the ball. Daniel McGregor on the right wing was battling hard, and made a couple of crosses into the box, but nothing came.

Michael Brooksbank made 3 or 4 chances for himself, and did brilliantly to get into one on one situations, However it wasn’t his day, and he couldn’t hit the target.

Wyke did pull a goal back, Joe McLoughlin scored his second goal of the game, and Wyke had a glimmer of hope.

The game was now at 4-3, and with 15 minutes to go, Wyke had a chance of getting back into the game. There was renewed confidence amongst the Wyke players, and they battled hard to get back into the game.

However Batley’s number 7 scored again, and Wyke’s chances of coming back into the game was looking smaller, 5-3.

Michael missed another chance, then hit the crossbar from another, it really wasn’t his day. At the other end Joe Couble made a couple of good saves to stop any more goals go in.

FULL TIME: Wyke 3-5 Batley

Dave’s Comments

It was a really disappointing performance today. Batley played fairly well, but they shouldn’t have been allowed to. We are not playing as a team, and it really showed today. We rely too much on Michael to change the game. We need to start playing together, and creating chances through passing, and moving. Today was a really shocking result. We won’t stay in Division 1 with performances like that.

Man of the Match: Daniel McGregor. Danny battled well today, and he didn’t stop working. It was his first league start, and his effort was brilliant.

Goals: Nathan Khan, Joe McLoughlin x2