Hednesford United 1 v 4 Wyrley Meerkats (7.11.15)

There was a rumour circling around Great Wyrley that Meerkats don`t like the rain!!

They would rather stay in their burrows under the duvet, watching MTV and episodes of Corrie!!

So with Kick off fast approaching, the rain persisting down and the sound of The Cult`s “Here Comes The Rain”, blasting from the radio the signs weren`t good.

Walking across the pitch, the going on the Cannock park turf was “soft” to say the least and things were going to get very muddy (not quite the Baseball Ground of the 70`s but you know what I mean!!)

With both teams adorning poppies for the game, the pre-match silence to remember our armed forces who gave their lives was observed impeccably. Well Done Girls.

As the whistle went, the Meerkats pressed from the “off” with a series of dazzling runs down the left flank from Mya “the Magician” Sidhu and it wasn`t long before she found the net, leaving a trail of Hednesford defenders in her wake.

This was quickly followed by an in-swinging corner, met at the near post by Eloise “the Engine” Yates for her first goal of the season to make it 2 – 0.

Hednesford`s best chance of the half came when a gap as wide as the river Mersey opened up through the middle of the Meerkats defence to provide them with a  “one on one” which Skye “Loco” Lee somehow saved. Phew!!

Meerkats were having most of the ball, creating some good chances and battling through the wind and rain, looking more at ease with the conditions, particularly when they managed to move the ball out wide where the grass and mud was “less trodden”.

More pressure from the Meerkats attack and Milly “Dodger” Rogers  broke through the Hednesford defence for goal number 3 with Faith “ Mouse” Youd finding the roof of the net (another first of the season) from just inside the box to make it 4-0 just before halftime.

The rain held off and the teams emerged from the dressing room for the Second half which proved to be a much more even contest.

Hednesford pulled a goal back with a superb lob from outside the box and their confidence grew, gaining a lot more possession but with the conditions deteriorating both teams struggled to create any worthwhile chances and the game ran out a Meerkat victory.

Things to work:

Using the width of the pitch

Decision making – why the easiest pass can be the best pass

Defensive shape – when to mark, when to cover

Goalkeeping – Narrowing the angle

Managers Girl of the Match stayed with Erin “the General” Waddilove

Parents Girl of the Match was Faith “Mouse” Youd

“simples”