WWFC Win Invitation Cup Group

This match was poles apart from the mad 6-6 draw these two teams shared before Christmas. The blustery conditions, especially in the second half, made quality football nigh on impossible, but in the end we were fairly comfortable winners despite the narrow scoreline.

Milford were well organised and certainly as game as in the previous match, but they simply didn't carry the same attacking threat this morning.

All the clear cut chances fell to us, but we were profligate in front of goal throughout. Tobey Maher hit the bar in the first couple of minutes from a Luca Mortellaro corner, while Luca and Alex Zammit both failed to work the keeper from decent positions.

The second part of the first period saw us produce our best football of the game as we got the ball down well and camped inside the Milford half. After 25 minutes we were afforded a somewhat soft penalty as Zam was brought down in the box, but their defender did seem to get the ball as well. Perhaps we were due that bit of good fortune after we had a nailed on last ditch penalty denied in the reverse fixture. Zammo stepped up and found the bottom corner despite the keepers best efforts.

Zam headed wide from a good James Simpson cross and saw their keeper make a very brave save at his feet too. Right before half-time Oli Cochrane had a great chance to double the lead after latching onto Tob's visionary pass, but narrowly missed after chipping the keeper.

In the second half the wind really got up and both teams struggled on the ball. The wind seemed to funnel the ball down our right hand side and out of play nearly all half and with the wind behind us we couldn't seem to find the correct weight of pass.

Despite the conditions we still created some good chances with Tob prodding wide from Oli's excellent pass, Adam Miles stinging the keeper's hands with a good strike from the edge of the box and Tob fired over after a lung bursting run down the left when a cut back to Oli or Zam may have been the better option.

At the other end we had to deal with a few set pieces, but the closest Milford came was a looping shot late on from 20 yards that went a few feet over the bar.

It must be said that the difficult conditions this morning cannot be over estimated. The wind rendered the second half a sheer test of defensive concentration and we barely put a foot wrong at the back. We could and should have won by more goals, but keeping a clean sheet was imperative.

Winning the group means we will face the runners up from one of the other 3 groups. That is what we wanted to do so we should be pleased to have achieved that ahead of schedule.

We are now unbeaten in our last 10 Border League fixtures, with 8 wins. This is good form to take into the next few weeks. We will need to up our performance levels though.

MoM - Ads Maher - very solid display at the back.

Thanks to Lorry and Jay for running the line, to those who came down to support and to Ads for filming in the first half.