With league action taking a back seat the Jags were on the road with their first game in the annual shield competition against Division 2 high flyers Football Futures. Having lost only one league game this season taking on Futures in their own backyard could have proved a tricky tie. On a huge sloping pitch with a stiff breeze the early encounters from both sides were scrappy to say the least. Wyrley in particular were too keen to give the ball away which in turn gave neither keeper much to do in the first quarter and it needed a change in formation going three at the back and five in midfield for the Jags to get a hold of the game. With Taylor limping off a personnel shuffle was needed but the chances were starting to come and with the Futures keeper struggling in the windy conditions it wasn’t long before the Jags had the ball in the net only to be disallowed due to a foul on the keeper. Not long after the Jags did officially have the ball in the net to take the lead, a hopeful ball into the box from Coops saw the Futures keeper spill at the feet of Luke who tapped home. With Wyrley now starting to pass it nicely and using the width it wasn’t long before more chances worked the Futures defence.
Futures should have considered themselves lucky to be just one down at the break as Pricey hadn’t been tested and had the Jags taken their chances the game would have been over.
Playing up the slope against the wind could have changed the dynamic of the game but Wyrley came flying out the blocks in the second half. Luke won the ball in the centre circle and drove at the Futures defence and played a beautifully timed pass for Louie to run onto and within a minute of the restart the Jags had doubled their lead.
With confidence growing there was now only one winner, having conceded just one goal in the last month the Wyrley back line are playing really well as a unit, nothing passes either Tank, Oaksey and Milky who then look to play out and build attacks. On the odd occasion when Pricey has been called into action his handling and kicking has been superb and this tie was no different. Futures stirred mid way through the half but the Jags defended with a aplomb. The group could come down to goals and Wyrley pushed on for a third and it wasn’t long before it came as Louie got his second. More goals looked inevitable as futures had lost their way and a fourth was added by Man of the Match Tom ‘Bruce’ Lee. Bruce in the starting line up for the first time this season got his first for the club after some good build up play that resulted in a wicked cross from Brean.
Another solid all round team performance that got the Shield comp off to a flyer. Unusually the Jags have a mini injury crisis but a good solid depth of squad should see us through. Hopefully Taylor will be back in action after a weeks rest and Ollie Ingry’s broken wrist doesn’t keep him sidelined for to many weeks, best wishes to both!