Shawdale 2 -1 Howard FC

Wrigley Preforms Slickly…………

Its not usually the keeper that gets the accolades and a big hug off his coach but stand in goal keeper Elliot Wrigley got all the praises at the end of this closely fought game, for his gallant efforts.

The game saw two well matched side’s fight it out, for the full nighty minutes.

Perhaps the home side shading the chances and attempts on goal.

Shawdale had the better of the early exchanges with two great chances being squandered.

Firstly, on fifteen minutes by Eastmond (on a guest appearance,) collected the ball just inside the box, he did the hard part, as he took the ball around the keeper, only to see his shot roll wide of the post.

Secondly, on twenty minutes, as a great ball was launched into the box, Allot rose like a salmon with a direct header, only to see the ball ricochet off a defenders head on the goal line and go wide.

Dawson was busy out wide with his trickery and Williams scaring the visitors defence to death, every time he had the ball at his feet.

Morrow held the midfield together combining well, both in attack and defence and Holmes who dropped back into defence for the game marshaled the back line.

It all seemed to be going to plan for the home side, until the thirty ninth minute, when a great square ball was swung into the home sides box, for a simple tap in for their number 9.

The lead only lasted for five minutes, as Shawdale were awarded a free kick just outside the box, that Holmes hit sweetly, the keeper parried and Williams pounced to slot it home.

The second period was much as the first, the game toeing and froing and out of the dark and into the light came a young lad called Elliot Wrigley, who was soon to become a legend, his quick thinking and fearlessness saved Shawdale on three occasions.

On sixty-four minutes, the home side were awarded a free kick twenty yards out. Holmes, instead of going over the wall, went under the wall to the amazement of all the jumpers in Howards wall.

The game should have been put to bed shortly afterwards, as another Holmes shot was saved by the keeper, for the ball to fall to Durrant, who only had to head it into an empty net, Durrant’s reactions were good to get his head to the ball but not good enough to put it in the net.

MOM performance's from Matthew Williams and stand in keeper Elliot Wrigley

Coach Wylie was happy with the performance and was good to get the win against a good side that never gave up.