Friday 15 February 2008

New Year's Eve - The Wheatsheaf Zammo

Just say no!!!

New Year's Eve - The Wheatsheaf (3)

New Years Eve - The Wheatsheaf (1)

Here is the first video of New Year's Eve at the Wheatsheaf. So it's taken so long! Keep an eye out for Tucker in the video's. These should be shown to kids in school. Just say no!!!!

Monday 4 February 2008

The Sheaf really are The Jeykkyl and Hyde of the sunday league as this 90 minute performance showed. The old cliche "its a game of 2 halves" sums it up perfectly. Having already lost once to the same opposition a testing game was expected. With regular Number 1, Eddie Whiffin, unavailable the energy of Russ Chandler was sacrificed for his ability between the sticks. This move saw Lee Baldwin switch to partner Richie Sherwell up front and Shacks coming back on the right hand side of midfield.With some rather bizarre pitch markings in place (thank you Villa and Birch) the game kicked off. A scrappy opening saw The Hope break at pace once or twice only to be thwarted by a swarm of orange shirts. The games first chance fell to The Sheaf from a corner when a shot was blocked in the 6 yard box. Having conceded 3 times from their own corners in the corresponding fixture the ever reliable Shane Sutton was left to organise the defence to stop the breakaways. The best chance of the first half was created by Shacks minutes later as his ball in from the right found Sherwell who connected well with a volley which flew over the bar. With the chances missed The Sheaf became more and more nervy resulting in misplaced passes and poor ball retention. The Hope created a good chance when the fleet footed stiker played a neat 1-2 with a team mate and lifted the ball over the onrushing Russ but luckily for The Sheaf the ball clipped the top of the bar and went over. Another good chance for The Hope saw Russ stranded but Bill having taken up a good position was back to clear the ball off the line.The half finished with The Hope on top but The Sheaf are resilient these days and that doggedness meant it remained 0-0 at half time.With the team knowing they had underperformed not much needed saying by the gaffer. A few points were raised and taken on board as the teams re-took the field for the 2nd half.I don't know what it is with The Sheaf but they always seem to perform better after the break. As poor as they were in the 1st half they were equally as good in the 2nd as the game was completely transformed.The impressive Lee Baldwin opened the scoring after an intricate passage of play with a superb curling shot which left the keeper with no chance. It could have been 2 moments later as a great ball in from Villa found Sherwell whose 1st time effort went agonisingly wide of the goal. Villa again was heavily involved moments later bursting forward from his own half with the ball he just ran and ran (bit like Forrest Gump), he used Sherwell by not using him (bit like Lineker) and parted the defence like the Red Sea (bit like Moses). The comparisons were not finished there because having found himself on the edge of the area, having run fully 60 yards he produced a sublime chip (bit like Phillipe Albert) only to be denied what would have been a serious goal of the season contender as the ball was just inches too high clipping the bar and going over. The Hope had a chance to equalise from a free kick the strike beating the wall and the keeper but coming back off the bar.Soon it was to be 2-0 this time Sherwell connecting well with another volley saw the ball squirm under the body of the keeper and in to the back of the net.2 soon became 3 and I have to admit getting carried away with emotion to forgetting the order of the goals - I think it was Bill who got the next from a corner - a good finish - he is becoming prolific.At this point Scott Adams was brought in to the fray to man mark the tricky striker as the formation changed to 5-4-1. Scott Taylor introduced shortly afterwards as the gaffer freshened things up.This didn't stop the flow of goals as from another corner the ball fell to Shane Sutton (Bill having stayed back for once) on the edge of area and his shot went over the defender on the line in to the top corner - another good goal.As The Hope pushed for a consolation The Sheaf caught them on the break and a ball from Baldwin saw Sherwell latch onto it knock it round the keeper and produce a good finish just inside the post - the placement good enough to beat the defenders last ditch attempt to clear.What a 2nd half performance - 5 goals, chance after chance created another 3 points and the long unbeaten run extended. The orange kit once again proving a lucky omen as The Sheaf yet to taste defeat wearing it.
Russ 7 (not much to do - saved by the bar on 2 occassions)
Birch 7 (solid - didn't give much away)
Gav 7.5 (defended well - couple more assists)
Raggy 7.5 (kept going against the tricky striker)
Bill 8 (reliable and keeps chipping in with important goals)
Shacks 7 (worked hard for the team closing down)
Shane 7.5 (forming a good partnership with Benny)
Benny 7.5 (never gave in - another hardworking performance)
Villa 8.5 (Brilliant crosses and through balls. Unlucky with mazy run and chip)
Lee 8.5 (started it all off with his wonder goal) MOM
Sherwell 7.5 (seems to score the more difficult chances!!)
Scott A 6.5 (solid but not on for long enough to make an impression)
Scott T 6.5 (as above)Thanks to Russ for going in goal and Vinny Donavan for running the line.