Man Of the Match: Shane Brown
Venue: Wath Comp Bottom Field
Kick Off: 10.45am
Team: 4-4-2
GK: Cawood
RD: Jackson (45)
CD: Rowe
CD: Bradder Jnr.
LD: Milner
MR: Windle (70)
CM: Butler
CM: Dearden
ML: Skirrow
CF: Waddington
CF: Brown
Subs:
Goodwin (70)
Holdsworth
Parry (45)
Bookings: none
Report:
Wath came off the back of 2 games unbeaten to face 2nd placed Barnburgh & Harlington at home. Stan Snr. kept the same players on the pitch for the start as finished the game at Branton, obviously due to their efforts in the second half of the game. This meant that Andy Goodwin dropped to the bench and Liam Jackson came in at right back for Matt Wilson, with Shane Brown taking his well earned place up front alongside in-form Rob Waddington.
The referee was the same one that Stan Snr. had sent a report to the league about after last week's poor display.
Wath started brighter with Jamie Skirrow and Shane Brown going close in the first 10 minutes. The breakthrough came on 12 minutes when Shane Brown (100 metre sprinter) raced 25 yards past 2 defenders to finish from 10 yards. Wath had scored first for the first time since December 15th. The lead wasn't to last long, with Barnburgh beginning to press for an equaliser. Wath had more chances with Brown running a similar trail into the keeper and Skirrow firing a diagonal volley high and wide. Barnburgh equalised on 23 minutes with the forward latching on to a ball over the top and finishing cooly to level the scores. Barnburgh took the lead a mere 10 minutes later with a penalty, when Jamie Skirrow clipped the foot of a Barnburgh winger as he skipped past him in the box. Keeper Cawood was sent the wrong way. The score remained 2-1 until half-time.
Stan Snr. then brought on Scott Parry to replace Liam Jackson. Stan Jnr. moved to right back and Scott Parry was meant to fit in to centre half. Unfortunately, his absence from the previous two decent performances by Wath meant that he did not share the passion to do well, and so he played where he wanted. When asked where he was meant to play he replied "in defence" but when asked where he was actually playing his response was "anywhere". It would be fair to say that his attitude cost Wath dearly, as just 10 minutes into the second half, the gap in the defence was beginning to be exploited, and Barnburgh fired in 3 goals in less than 5 minutes.
This provoked Stan Snr. to throw on Andy Goodwin in place of James Windle. Stuart Butler moved on to the right wing, and Andy Goodwin played as an attacking central midfielder. Barnburgh were still in scoring mood and scored yet another goal just a minute after Goodwin had entered the field of play.
The change partially spurred the Saints on to an offensive, with Butler, Skirrow, Waddington, Goodwin and Brown chasing a consolation goal. Sheer perseverance by Brown on the right wing won possesion for Wath, and Waddington laid the ball off to Goodwin on the edge of the area to sweep the ball into the bottom left corner on 75 minutes. There were ofcourse no celebrations but Wath had a little more inspiration and continued on the attacking front, with Skirrow heading wide from two corners, and Brown screwing a last ditch effort yards past the right post. Wath had a penalty claim turned down but were given a free-lick as the referee insisted that the foul wasn't in the box. The free-kick was wasted by an offside Wath attcker.
Barnburgh finished the scoring with a rebounded effort from 6 yards after Cawood had made a good palm save from an original 25 yard drive. The final score was a disappointing 7-2 defeat for Wath.
"The referee was once again appalling... ...People are constantly playing out of position, and we can't have that. We need someone who can finish constantly in front of goal. Andy Goodwin may get his chance. On Sunday the lads need to put in a stern performance, because they are currently without a manager for the new season, and no-one will want to take them on if they don't start winning. Show what you can do! Go out with a Bang!"