A Case Of Missed Opportunities

On the day we returned to the venue of our first ever game back in 2003 it was a familiar story for WWFC as a more clinical opposition took advantage to win a game in which we performed well for long spells.

After an even start we took the lead. Tom Buckingham won the ball midway in their half and supplied Joey Stevens with a fine sliderule pass perfectly into his path. Joey struck home first time with a low left foot strike for his 2nd of the season.

At this point we looked comfortable and had shown signs of adding to our lead.

After 20 minutes however we were pegged back. A slight miscommunication at the back allowed them to cross the bal in and their striker beat Damian Lynch to the ball to head home the equaliser.

We went straight back down the other end and after a sweeping move found Andy Harwood down the left he clipped a fine cross to the back post where Luca Mortellaro knocked back across goal to Buckingham, but his right footed effort was weak and went up in the air from 6 yards out.

Witley had some good players going forward and another brisk break down their left saw a low cross evade some desperate lunges to clear the ball and they finished clinically at the back post.

It could have been 2-2 5 minutes later when Joey was set free in behind their defence, but his right footed effort clipped the far post.

Damo made a smart save from a shot at the edge of the box, but Witley did make it 3-1 a few moments later and again a lack of understanding defensively let us down.

Robbie Wilson had a decent chance to reduce arrears shortly before half time latching onto Giles Smith's pass, but having taken on a defender the keeper got down to block his shot.

At the start of the second half we came flying out of the block, keeping the ball well and asserted almost constant pressure for 10 minutes. Luca and Joey both had efforts cleared off the line as Witley clung on.

Our best chance to make it 3-2 came midway through the half when Luca unselfishly played a ball across the goal but Wils, off balance, could only fire over left footed with the keeper beaten. Wils was also denied by a good save from a well struck free kick.

Such was our control of the game that Witley barely got out of their own half in the second period, but from one of our corners they broke down our left at ferocious speed and the cut back found their striker who curled home a fine finish to apparently kill us off.

Today though, unlike last week, we had a bit of fight in us and Joey won us a penalty after being brought down running onto Wils' through ball. Joey took it and despite a good hand by the keeper it was near enough to the corner to give us a lifeline with 10 minutes remaining.

Soon after this Joey played Wil, who was running from deep, in beind their defence with only the keeper to beat, but the linesman put his flag up. Video evidence suggests that although it was quite close, Wils was definitely onside. Annoying.

The final 10 minutes saw us bombing forward with Witley camped in their half. Joey saw a shot well blocked, Dan Wicks was unlucky not to get a shot off after a fine cross from Harwood and James Simpson miscued after another Harwood cross. Luke Belcher also headed just wide from a corner.

We did finally get our 3rd goal on 88 minutes as Harwood threw to Joey and after taking on his man he delivered a great low cross that Wils coolly slotted into the far corner.

It was though, not enough, as Witley held on.

This was a particularly galling defeat. We totally outplayed Witley in the second half and should not have been 3-1 down a half time in the first place, BUT our opponents took their chances where we failed to.

It was not as bad a defensive display as 4 goals conceeded suggests, but a couple of moments of sloppyness saw us punished.

We know where we need to improve and we are certainly capable of implementing what we need. Sooner or later a team is going to be unfortunate enough to face us on a day when we click in front of goal and they will take a pasting.

Hopefully that day comes sooner rather than later.

Wisley at home next week and historically this is a game which could go either way. Another tough match in what appears to be a very competitive Division.

MoM - Joey - two goals, an assist and a constant threat - excellent display. Wils good throughout and Jay had a very good 2nd half.

Thanks to Dan, Steve and Tom for running the line.