WARDLE WARRIORS J.F.C

Wardle Warriors Blues 7    Bury Am Panthers  3
(Matthew 3, 8 & 44, Luke K 14, Liam 20, Harrison 45, Henry 48) 
 
With the scheduled league fixture against Westbury Wolves cancelled, the
Blues had a friendly match against Pennine Juniors.   
 
1st Half            
 
The Blues were looking to get back to winning ways and had their first chance
after just one minute, when Matthew shot wide and two minutes later Luke K
showed a lovely bit of skill as he beat two men down the left before crossing to
Matthew who slotted home at the near post to make it 1-0. The Blues continued to
attack with a great cross from Ellis to Matthew again but this time his shot was
saved and then a minute later saw Lewis lay on Matthew who hit a great 20 yard
cross field pass to Luke K but his effort was also saved by the Pennine keeper.
After 6 minutes though, from their first attack, Pennine forced a corner from
which the Blues did not clear and Pennine made it 1-1. Two minutes later though
and a great through ball from Luke K set up Matthew, who neatly finished to make
it 2-1 to the Blues. The game began to ebb and flow, as Travis saved well at the
strikers feet along with good defending from Amy and Luke J but they could do
nothing about a nice move by Pennine which resulted in a well worked goal to
make it 2-2 with 11 minutes on the clock. Pennine looked for a third but good
tackles from Amy put paid to that and from which Matthew was able to get a
shooting chance which the keeper could only parry and Luke K picked up the ball,
went round the keeper and slotted home with his right foot, to give a 3-2 lead.
Undeterred, Pennine attacked but a good clearance from Travis and good tackles
from Luke J stopped it from coming to anything. The Blues made some
substitutions and a moment later a well worked corner fell to Henry at the edge
of the box, he laid on Jensen, whose well struck shot was well saved. After 20
minutes though, a great block tackle from Jensen set up Liam, who took it in to
the box and fired low in to the bottom right hand corner to give the Blues some
breathing space at 4-2. 
 
2nd Half

 Substitutions at half-time didn't change the Blues playing style and after
just 30 seconds Henry got down the right wing but his shot was well saved and
from the subsequent keepers clearance, Jensen returned it with interest and
everyone watching waited as it sailed through the air, over the stranded keeper,
but hit the bar and came out. With still barely a minute on the clock, Ellis and
then Jensen had shots saved before Pennine went down the other end but more good
tackles from Luke J and Amy and a good save from Lewis kept the scoreline
intact. More attacks from the Blues, saw Ellis and Liam have more shots saved
before Jensen cut in from the left and his effort was also rebuked. Once again,
Pennine came back and more defending from Luke J and Amy along with a good save
from Lewis appeared to have averted the danger but a minute later Pennine made
it 4-3 to get back in the game. The Blues went looking for their fifth and after
a good shot from Travis, a volley from Matthew and a strong shot from Harrison
which all went wide, a great pass from Henry set up Matthew but the keeper saved
at his feet. Then after 19 minutes, Harry had a good long range shot saved
before another effort from Henry hit the post and Matthew followed up to make it
5-3. A minute later, a Pennine clearance fell to Harrison, who from the halfway
line, hammered it back past the keeper to make it 6-3. Harrison went in search
of another but this time the keeper saved at his feet before Liam had a good run
from his own half but was thwarted by the keeper again. After a free-kick was
awarded to the Blues, Henry did his best impression of Ronaldo and struck it
well in to the top right hand corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance and
finally killing off the game at 7-3 (reminiscent of the 1960 European Cup Final
scoreline!). The blues had another couple of half chances before the referee
signalled for the end of the
game.            
 
Moment of the Match Award: Not awarded
 
Man of the Match Award:
Luke J and Amy