Wyrley tumbled out of the League Cup at the hands of Stafford Rangers on a day when feverish physical challenges counted for more than the development of the beautiful game. The Jags are never shy of the physical side of the game but the visitors took it to a whole new level for U12 football!
Stafford were playing to their strengths and it was clear from the first few encounters Wyrley would need to be 100% committed to every challenge. Rangers dominated early possession without troubling the Jags keeper and as so often seen this season it took Wyrley time to settle. The visitors continued to dominate in the tackle and despite a midfield overload against them, to their credit were first to every ball but without the long hopeful punt over the top could not penetrate Wyrley’s defence! With half time approaching it looked like the stop start first half would end goal-less until Wyrley went to sleep midway in their own half. From a short throw in Rangers managed to poke the ball through to their centre forward who found the bottom corner.
Having conceded at the worst possible time the Jags dragged themselves in at half time for an ear warming and to their credit hit the ground running in the second half! The game finally started to see some proper football played as the Jags passed it beautifully to carve out several half chances. It wasn’t quite happening in the final third as Rangers upped their intensity levels to again create a stop start half!
With the sand quickly vanishing through the timer the Jags conceded a free kick 25 yards out, we are still a little unsure what for but when Rangers centre half stepped up it was clear once on target it was going to take some stopping and credit where it’s due the resulting kick flew into the top corner killing the tie off.
Passion and desire sees Rangers deservedly through to the Semi Final, Wyrley live, just about to fight another day in the knowledge there is more than one way to ‘skin a cat’. Lets hope we can use the experience to our advantage in the future!
Man of the Match – Mason, kept the score line close with several excellent saves in both half’s.