October 6th 2007
Wepre v Llandudno Junction Reserves.

This week saw us travel to Wepre in the Junior cup, with only playing Wepre a fortnight ago the lads were in a good positive mood as our 7-2 victory was still fresh in their heads. This time however we were on their patch and they would want to put right the experience of our last meeting. Captain Nathan decided this week everyone had to wear odd socks, with most lads taking up the challenge and Ross taking it to the extreme by wearing one white sock, one black sock and a pair of shorts! With the squad getting stronger each week we had some difficult decisions to make but after some thought we chose the following squad: -

Mike Hughes
Chris Darbey, Phil Williams, Scott Jones, Sion Watson,
Chris Lloyd, Nathan Watson ©, Danny Parry, James Hobson
Bobby Colville 1 and Ross Stevens
Matt Hughes 1 on Chris Lloyd
Aaron Jones on for Bobby Colville
Tom Roberts on for Ross Stevens
Unused subs Danny Jones and Mathew Hunt.

Yes, most of you would have noticed an unchanged team for the first time ever, all though this nearly wasn’t the case due to Zak’s long lost brother filming his new scene and didn’t think he would make it on time, even his agent had told Hobbo that he wouldn’t be available. We arrived at Wepre nice and early and found a very big changing room, St Asaph please take note. The lads got ready and took to the field to do their warm up, and after a good session the lads came in for the team to be named. The main detail was for Nathan to stop Craig Brierley Wepre’s captain from playing as if we managed that, we would stop Wepre, we reminded the lads this was a different game from the one at the Flyover and Wepre would be up for it on their home patch.
The game commenced in glorious sunshine, and for anyone who wasn’t there, it started like a pre season friendly which was being played in a library it was that quiet. Having said that we got going straight away and from a throw in from Scott we attacked down the right with Bobby who crossed into the box only for Lloydy to miss time his shot and put the ball wide. Our next attack was started with Hobbo remembering some dance moves from last Saturday night, he danced his way past three of Wepre’s midfield passed to Danny who shot just over. In the 9th minute we had a very good shot saved from a thunderous strike from Nathan only for the referee to give a goal kick! Sadly that was the sign of things to come, as the referee didn’t have one of his better days. Most of our early work was created or started down the right hand side and with Hobbo crossing for fun most of the time we just couldn’t get on the end of the final ball, with Lloydy, Bobby and Ross all wasting opportunities. We got the ball on the deck in the 18th minute and played some lovely one touch football with Lloydy finding Ross who instantly found Bobby who tested the keeper with a fine low hard shot which the keeper was equal to. With the ref stopping the game at any opportunity the football was very much stop start and the lads were getting very frustrated and stated to moan at each other and get on each others backs which let Wepre get hold of the ball and they attacked down the left hand side but fortunately no one was in the box for Wepre. Darbey was put under pressure with a bouncing ball which he managed to hook clear to find Danny who fed Lloydy with an excellent pass along the floor, once Lloydy had got the ball under control he looked up and crossed to Bobby who made the Wepre keeper pull off another great save. All though there was a lot of whinging it was obvious we wanted to play football but with the resolute Wepre defence which were frustrating us the lads were becoming more and more argumentative with each other. We gained another corner, which Lloydy delivered, which was cleared to Scott who volleyed over; this lightened the mood slightly and raised a smile or two. Then the funniest thing happened when, with all the time in the world Darbey decided to control the ball with his face which probably wasn’t the cleverest thing to do and must have been painful, from this we broke with Bobby sprinting clear who passed to Ross who shot wide. With all the chances we were creating we should surely score one of them and in the 35th minute a long ball forward from Scott that the Wepre keeper didn’t deal with because Ross put him under pressure and won the ball who was aware enough to play the ball back to Bobby who slotted home calmly 1-0 and only what we deserved. We continued our attacking game but we were just not clinical in front of goal as everything we tried either was saved or we were off target. Just before half time we played some very good football between Lloydy, Danny, Darbey which ended with Hobbo heading goal wards only to be denied by the Wepre keeper who palmed the ball onto the post and out for a corner, again the ball was delivered into the box and Ross was unlucky not to score. The half came to a close with Wepre having their best chance to score when there number 5 knocked the ball long and hopeful, goal wards only to go just over. Half time 0-1 without playing anywhere near our capacity. We spoke about being in control of the ball, our play but above all our tempers, as Wepre had done a very good job on frustrating the lads and the referee wasn’t helping with his odd decisions, if we could concentrate long enough we could settle down play football and win comfortably.

The second half started with Wepre attacking instantly and getting the most generous penalty decision I have ever witnessed, now back in the day if an opponent pushed you in your box it may or may not have been deemed as a free kick in your favour it was certainly not an award of a pen for the instigator I have checked the rule book for the 2007-2008 season and still can not find the ruling I think the referee just made a mistake as most of us do from time to time. The pen was smashed in giving Mike no chance, so again it was about us doing it the hard way and trying to overcome the challenge. Our football was the only way we were going to get out of Wepre with a win and it wasn’t long before we were playing the good one touch football we are capable of. We used the right and left side of the field very well with some good crosses into the box from Lloydy and Hobbo in the 64th minute we had a clear cut chance when Lloydy took a corner which found Bobby who found Phil who blazed over from only 3 yards! The game was very bity and the referee wasn’t helping the flow as he continued to blow his whistle and kept stopping play for the slightest reason. We had some chances but a lot of what we did broke down in the final third as Wepre defended as a complete unit and we insisted on doing the 40, 50 or 60 yard ball instead of finding feet or an easy pass. Another chance came from another set piece in the 80th minute but Phil headed over again as Wepre tired we had chances to finish the game with Ross making their keeper pull off another good save, Tom Roberts lobbing the ball just over, and two minutes later Tom snatching at his shot and screwing the ball wide and in the final minute Ross just putting the ball wide of the left hand post.
Full time 1-1 but a game that should have been put to bed a lot sooner.

Extra time started with Wepre creating the best football of their game, which earned them a free kick, which was saved by Mike and a minute later Wepre hit the post. We attacked and Ross called the Wepre keeper into action again and Danny was unlucky with the rebound. Again we got the football going this time Matt played the ball to Ross but the Wepre defence held firm and the chance broke down, with Wepre playing the ball long we gained possession quickly and were able to create chances quite easily this time Scott played the ball forward to Hobbo but once again we didn’t take our chance. Darbey then went on one of his runs but only a last ditch tackle stopped him from going through to the Wepre goal. Then Wepre’s captain had his only chance of the game with a speculative shot which he got completely wrong and went out for a throw in, from this we attacked down the right with Hobbo stepping inside only to be clattered on the edge of the Wepre box but this time the referee gave nothing. The second half of extra time saw Matt battle really well against the Wepre defence break free but only to be brought down at the last minute again the referee did nothing, two minutes later however Matt got his goal that he had been dreaming of out in Mega Ruff and at this moment the love came flooding back into the team with Matt saying and I quote ‘I flipping love you Bobby’ three minutes later Matt had another chance with a header which was saved again by the Wepre keeper. Again we controlled the play and Wepre were dead on their feet and couldn’t create a thing Aaron was brought on to tighten up the midfield for the tiring Bobby who once again ran his odd socks off.
Final score 2-1 to Junction with not playing the best football possible.
We would like to thank all our supporters, players and subs who made the journey and thanks for all your support so far this season, our next game is at The Home Football on 13th October with a 14.30 kick off, and we hope to see you there.