Match Report- (05/04/2009) v Batley (Home)

Celebrations for the Under 11’s as they picked up their first win in 6 months!!!!

Wyke beat bottom of the league Batley 2-1, however the score didn’t reflect the match, which Wyke totally dominated.
Wyke started off very positively, and it was a good ten minutes before

Batley got out of their own half. Wyke continued to dominate, had had loads of chances to score. Quinn Riley had some great chances, but couldn’t finish, Tai Pedder had a couple of chances, and so did Jake and Scott. Wyke came close a few times to taking the lead but couldn’t.

Eventually, a back-pass from Batley, gave Wyke an indirect free-kick on the edge of the area. Connor Rhodes laid the ball off to Tai Pedder, who brilliantly smashed the ball into the roof of the net to give Wyke the lead. For a change, Wyke’s dominance was paying off.

Wyke continued to attack with strength, Tai Pedder put some great crosses into the box from corners, and Wyke made some dangerous attempts at goal, however the Batley keeper didn’t make a mistake, and continued to make some safe saves.

Tai’s corners continued to be dangerous, and eventually it paid off, as Scott Morris shot from a corner into the roof of the net, to make it 2-0,

Wyke deserved to have scored about 10, but 2-0 was still a great score.
At the other end of the pitch, the defence’s performance was outstanding, full-backs Louis and Danny were awesome, and took care of every forward run, but the Batley wingers. Joe Mac and Dom Pickersgill had the difficult task of keeping the Batley Number 7 at bay. Last time the teams met, he scored a hatrick to sink Wyke, however Dom Pickersgill and Joe Mac played brilliantly, to stop him getting a chance. Joe Couble in goals, hardly touched the ball in the first half, although against the run of play Batley hit the post, but it was really their only chance of the half.

Half Time- 2-0 to Wyke

Wyke started off the 2nd half with a shaky performance, Batley came out and attacked a little more, and Wyke struggled to hold them. After 5 minutes, the Batley number 7 scored a great goal, taking on 5 Wyke players and sliding it past Joe Couble. Batley suddenly started to play much better, and had a couple more chances, but the Wyke defence were playing out of their skins, Dom Pickersgill had the Number 7 in his pocket, and got tackles in early, to stop his dangerous runs.

Wyke continued to attack, Connor had a few painfully close chances, before he was taken off injured. Scott was brilliant in midfield, and kept giving chances to Tai Pedder, who should really have scored a one-on-one , and also provided chances to Ashton, Jake and Nathan. Wyke could have had another 10 goals in the second half, and it just wouldn’t go in the back of the net.

Wyke were nearly punished, when the Batley number 7 broke off again, one-on-one with Joe Couble he took it past him, and Joe Couble took him down in the box. Penalty to Batley, a massive point in the game!! Batley could well equalise, after Wyke had had so many chances to put the game beyond doubt. The Batley captain stepped up to take the penalty, and struck it to Joe Couble’s right, Joe guessed right, and pulled off a great save, keeping hold of the ball. What a crucial save with 10 minutes to go,
Joe Couble did brilliantly, and really saved his team.

Joe Couble pulled off another great save, to keep his team’s lead, and at the other end Wyke continued to pepper the Batley goal, but still couldn’t put the game tom bed.

The Full Time whilst went with a massive sigh of relief from Wyke Wanderers. Wyke had sealed an important win, and even though it could have been 22-1, a 2-1 win is still a win, and the lads have done great.

Manager’s Comments

We were awesome today boys!! Really proud!!! Our performances recently have been brilliant, and we deserved a win today. Still we need to take our chances, we should have scored a lot of goals, but we defended excellently, and Joe Couble really stepped up his performance today and came to our rescue. It was a well needed win, and I’m dead pleased with it, well done boys!!!!!!!

Man of the Match: Dom Pickersgill. Dom had a really hard job today against the Batley number 7, but he did a great job, and stopped Batley’s biggest danger. Thanks to Dom, it was Wyke’s best defensive performance all season.

Goals: Tai Pedder, Scott Morris.