Witchford 96 Football Club

24/10/09

Witchford 96   2  Lode   1

Witchford face a Lode side a league lower in the cup.  This fact perhaps sat in the back of a few players minds thinking “easy game”.  This was anything but an easy game, Lode put up a lot better fight than most of the teams faced by Witchford this season.

Once again an early goal put Witchford back a stride.  Lode were passing it around really well, and took their goal impressively.  Witchford were chasing shadows for a while and couldn’t stamp their mark on the game.

A well worked goal for Witchford came, showing how easy it can be.  The ball was slipped through for Ross to run down the channel and pass the ball across for Iball to score from inside the box.

But this was a one off for the half, Witchford spluttered along until half time.  To be fair the second half was much like the first, although Witchford were putting in more effort and Lode did not have many chances.  With extra time looming this was not a half hour anyone was looking forward to with Witchford not anywhere near their best.

Ross Spencer broke through and just about to shoot was taken down, for what looked like a penalty, but the ref moved the ball backwards and gave a freekick!!  Ross tamely struck the free kick at the keeper.

With minutes to go Ward broke through the back line and squared to Iball, with the goal at his mercy he put it over.  The lineman’s flag was incorrectly held high and this seemed to put the striker off his shot.

But thankfully with 2 minutes to go, Iball made up for the miss and scored his second goal of the game and 4th in 2 games to seal the victory for Witchford.

17/10/09

Witchford 96  3    Godmanchester Rover Reserves  4

Witchford entertained a Godmanchester side that had beaten them twice last season.  It was always going to be a tough game, but was made all the tougher after a goal was scored after 2 minutes to put Godmanchester into an early lead.

Witchford had a couple of chances, Adam Richards put a free kick high over the bar and on the ball was on its way to Ely.  After some confusion in the box Shaun Eldridge poked the ball across to Ward who slipped the defender but put the ball over from next to the penalty spot.

Witchford’s cause wasn’t helped any further after Ben Barnwell got smacked in the face by the ball.  With his eye closing up Barnwell had no choice but to leave the field, with Lee Iball going up front and Ward moving back into midfield.

1-0  at half time and it was still all there to play for.  Witchford scored the next goal with Lee Iball  putting the ball home after a scramble in the box.  Witchford could have pushed on and won the game but they let Godmanchester score two more times to give themselves what looked like a winning lead.

But credit to the players they kept pushing on and had chances that the keeper did well to save before Michael Sellars slotted home from the edge of the box to give Witchford a slim chance.

Then 5 minutes later with only 5 minutes left Lee Ibbal struck his second goal of the game to give Witchford what looked like a valuable point.  But Witchford kept going for the win, and this in the end cost them dear.  Godmanchester broke and with the defence outnumbered they scored with a minute left on the clock.  Heartbreak for the 18 strong crowd at Bedwell Hey Lane.

10/10/09

 

Barton Mills  2  Witchford 96  3

A trip into the unknown faced Witchford this week, playing a side they had not played before, the team were unsure of what to expect.  With Ben Amory & Jules Peachey transferring in the week from Little Downham & Ely A respectively it bolstered an already strong squad.  Three subs has been somewhat of a luxury but looks like something we may get week in week out from now on.

Witchford started strongly and took the game straight to Barton Mills.  Witchford made a couple of half chances before Adam Richards opened the scoring.  Shaun Eldridge tore down the left wing and put the cross in to the box, Ward got the ball under control and Richards was shouting just outside the box.  Ward laid it into the path of the oncoming steam train that was Richards, his shot was reminiscent of a young Bobby Charlton, flying true and straight into the top corner.

With confidence flowing Witchford were pulling Barton Mills apart at will, a truly excellent ball from Amory who had pulled out wide on to the left wing, found Ward sneeking in behind the centre back.  The centre back couldn't reach it and Ward pounced to steer the ball past the keeper.

Witchford had chances to make it 3-0 but the ball just wouldn't bounce right.  The one really good chance to put the game beyond Barton Mills fell to the inform Josh Ashman.  His trademark late run took him beyond the defence and with acres of space and hours of time he tried to shoot from outside the box.  I think he was already thinking about moving up the golden boot standings and took his eye off the game, but he decided he must have been offside so didn't finish properly!!

A good first half and an early goal would have settled it for Witchford.  But Witchford came out in the second half a shadow of the first half team.  Witchford just dropped off the pace and allowed Barton Mills into the game and let them dominate.  A truely awful goal got them back in the game, a misplaced ball from the usually reliable Barnwell went straight to the Barton Mills forward whose shot hit the post, as it came back out with Barnwell placed well to clear, Kev in goal got a finger onto it, which directed the ball onto Barnwells leg and back in front of the Barton Mills striker to finish.

Witchford were a shambles at this time, Barton Mills were allowed to much space all over the park.  It was soon 2-0 with the left winger dancing across the area with no challenge to spank it into the bottom corner.

Witchford picked up the tempo a bit and started coming back into the game.  Witchford thought they had snatched the win, when Ashman again arrived late to place the ball over the keepers head and into the net.  The linesman whose arm only raised in one direction was soon flapping about cancelling out a perfectly good goal.  This action seemed to spur Witchford on to get the win.

Richie Martin should have scored, and put in an early contender for the "Billy Bowers Miss of the season cup" when the ball over from the left found him in front of goal 5 yards out, but his snap shot trickled agonisingly past the post.

With 10 minutes to go, the ball was worked from the right wing to Ward on the edge of the box, his surge inside found the big centre back lunging for the forward and brought him down for the penalty.  Ward picked himself up and found the bottom corner to take Witchford back into the lead.

Witchford could have and should have scored more, Ward put a header over from an Eldridge corner then Lee Ibble challenged martin by entering his own contender for the "Bowers cup", putting a header over from 3 yards.

In the end a good win and the team showed great character to get back in front after letting the lead slip.

Godmanchester Reserves next week, which has always been a tough game so the team will need to be at their best next Saturday.

26/09/09

 

Witchford 96  5   Waterbeach Reserves  0

Witchford continued their good early season form, turning it a great performance against a team a division higher.  Waterbeach had beaten Witchford 3-1 in a pre-season friendley so the team expected a tough game.  With Graham Eldridge away for the weekend, Michael Ward stepped into the managers shoes for the day to bring an Arsene Wenger style of management to the team.  Oliver Swann-Garfield came in for Nigel Smith at centre back and Jonny Chase came in up front.

The first 10 minutes was a fairly even affair with the big Waterbeach forward causing problems in the air.  But just after 10 minutes Witchford took the lead.   The ball was worked wide to Shaun Eldridge who put the ball through for Jonny Chase to run onto and emphatically finish in to the top corner from outside the area.  Witchford then found their feet and go the ball moving around making the Waterbeach full backs work.  Josh Ashman was unlucky not to get a second for Witchford after another trademark midfield run got him free of the defence.

It was 2-0 however shortly after.  Another break down the left hand side found Eldridge again rampaging down the wing. His ball into the box found Ward who checked his run across the defender and brought the forward down for a stonewall penalty.  Ward picked himself up and even though the Waterbeach defender didn't think Ward had the arse for it, Ward placed in the corner. The striker knew if he had anything in his locker it was an arse to cope.

The second half started with Witchford not allowing the visitors any joy going forward.  The Centre back pairing of Scarrow and Swann-Garfield were snubbing out all attacks, with Kevin in goal not having a real save to make.  Dale Hoey replaced the injured Michael Sellars at left back early into the half, and along with the other full back kept the wingers at bay.

The third did come with something I have never seen in local football.  From a corner Ward had a shot which was blocked on the line, both Chase and Ashman were following it up and the ball appeared to cross the line before the keeper shovelled it away.  The ref not best placed played on, but the visitors linesman had his flag raised.  Over went the ref and the linesman informed the ref that it had indeed crossed the line, top marks for the lineo.

Witchford were in total control now and had more chances to increase their lead.  A fourth came with Shaun Eldridge putting a ball in behind the back line, Ward chased it and with the keeper hesitating, then coming off his line late Ward jumped to head the ball over the keeper and into the empty net.  Nick Gough then entered the fray for his first appearance this season for the first team.

The scoring was completed from a free kick out wide on the left, Eldridge whipped it in and everyone missed it apart from Ward at the back post to put it into the roof of the net for his hat-trick.

Another good team performance which is seeing not only good passing football, but a lot of effort put in by the players.  The midfield worked tirelessly with Richards working hard down the wing and Barnwell and Ashman covering a lot of ground and work.  Roll on next Saturday.

19/09/09

Witchford 96  5  The Vine  1

Witchford welcomed the Vine to Bedwell Hey Lane for the first round of the cup.  Graham managed to find himself on the bench again, showing once more how threadbare we have been these last few weeks.  Nige Smith was back from Suffolk for his first outing of the season as was Scott Spencer.  This on paper was going to be another tough game, with Witchford not being able to previously beat the Vine.  Some trouble in the Vine ranks before the game would be all importnant in the final outcome. 

Witchford should of taken the lead after 5 minutes with the Vines keeper miskicking only for Ward to put wide from outside the box with the goal at his mercy.  It was 1-0 soon enough after Josh Ashman made a late break from midfield to break the offisde trap and finish under the Vine keeper.  It was soon 2-0 after Shaun was taken down for a penalty.  Ward made no mistake from the spot tucking it low into the corner.  The Vines lively right winger then pulled a goal back for the Vine with a strong finish to the near post.  But Witchford weathered the storm and increased their lead as Ben Barnwell finsished well high into the roof of the net.  The second half started with Witchford continueing their good passing football and getting the ball outwide.  It was 4-1 when Scott Spencer attempted to cross the ball only for it to ellude the Vine keeper, hit the bar and Josh Ashman finished the rebound.  It was then 5-1 with Adam Richards supplying the cross for Ward to control in the box and fire past the keeper.  Witchford are now starting to play the kind of football we know we are capable of and must continue this into the coming weeks.

 

 

12/09/09

Doddington United 1   Witchford 96  2

Witchford again came up against another side new to the division, Witchford welcomed back a couple of players, but were still missing their strongest line up.  Starting with a daring 3-5-2 formation Witchford looked to get the ball moving through the midfield.  This changed back to a standard 4-4-2 formation after Doddington literally ripped Witchford apart.  If it was a boxing contest it could have been called off after 10 minutes.  But Doddington couldn't find the finish to their posession, after 14 minutes Witchford went on the attack, Richie Martin played it into Scott Manchett who went to control the ball, only for the ball to go under his foot and into the path of Ward to slot home.  Doddington pushed on and finally managed to finish one of their 20 chances.  1-1 at half time and Witchford would be the much happier team of the two. 

Witchford started the second half much better than the first, and as the game went on Witchford started enjoying more of the posession.  Robbie Scarrow & Ollie Swan-Garfield were winning alot of the balls at the back and stopping a number of attacks.  Doddington still created a hat full of chances but some good saves from kev in goal and some woeful finishing kept the scores the same.  Then from a corner the big centre half missed the ball, the ball bounced off Wards chest for Josh Ashman to rifle home from 2 yards.  Witchford managed to see the game out with a couple of chances that could have seen the game safe.  A great win and good to get 3 points under the belt, also good was the food at the pub in Doddington, if only Swanny hadn't got to the food first and left some for everyone else.

 

 

05/09/2009

Witchford 96 0   Burwell Swifts 1

Witchford started off the new campaign against a side promoted from 3b last year, which apparently had a few players from the recently folded Newmarket White Lion.  Witchford were a bit thin on the ground for their first game, but shuffled the pack round.  With Aron Spencer and Tom Parish off to pastures new and Ross Spencer still injured the squad seemed a bit bare, but managed to field a decent starting eleven.

If stats for possession won games then Witchford would have hammered Burwell, but they don't, goals count in football.  Witchford could just not find the killer ball and when the ball came, the finishing was off.  Burwell opened the scoring with their only shot of the game.  Apart from a one on one chance for Lee Iball which went begging, Witchford didn't really threaten the Burwell goal.  Lets hope next week Witchford find their feet otherwise it will be a long season.