05/10: HEAVY NIGHT AND NO SLEEP TAKES IT'S TOLL IN CUP
Category: Match Reports
Posted by: Dan
Elford FC 5 - 0 The Woolpack FC
Starting Line-up:
GK Battye
RB Campbell, CB Arnold (c), CB Z Stanger, LB Gill
RM Newburn, CM Adams, CM Fox, LM Kirby
CF Dawson, CF Ro Hawkyard
Subs: Herbert on for Fox, Lockwood on for Kirby
Man of the Match: Arnold - One of only a small handful of players not to show the effects of the night before, and handled Eflords attack with ease.
Wooden Spoon: Martin - Despite organising a cracking night out, with a more sensible approach The Woolpack could have won the game, blame the gaffer!
Losing 5-0 away from home, in the cup, to a side in a higher division in Leeds isn't a bad result on it's own, but when you factor in the volume of alcohol, McDonalds, plant fertilizer and god knows what else in the systems of The Woolpack players it's an even better result.
After setting off at 2.30 the following day, The Woolpack embarked on an all day and all night session of Leeds city centre with an over night stay in a hotel. Around 9.30 Sunday morning, Dan had to wake the sleeping and locate the rest of the players as he picked a team of who was there and available. After a threat of police action for an act of indecency it was time to get the cars and get to the pitch, via, 3 "shortcuts" and a trip to McDonalds (where somebody left the water-bottles).
Five minutes before kick off and only 7 players at the pitch, one including striker Ross Hawkyard throwing his guts up along the touchline the players seemed positive. At kick-off a full team was ready and the game started fairly well. Ben Fox and Nathan Adams as a new central midfield partnership seemed to be able to get the better of the Eflord midfield and take a foothold on the game. At the back though a few sleepy mistakes allowed Elford to take a 1-0 lead.
Soon after Ben Fox felt a pop in his banjo (hamstring) and had to be replaced by a slightly more sober and better slept Will Herbert, who brought some much needed fight to the midfield.
Despite a fairly well matched first half the Woolpack came off 3-0 down. Goals simply contributed to a fitter and more organised team. Battye maybe could have been in a bad position for the goals, but he had won countless crosses. Going forward Newburn and Campbell looked good down the left, but there was few options in the box.
Soon into the second half Lockwood came on for Kirby down the right to try and inject some fresh pace and while it seemed to be working, Elford snatched another goal at the other end against the run of play. Gill was moved up front, switching the team to a 3-4-3 formation, something which grabbed 2 late goals against the Irish Centre earlier in the season. But still very little was created going forward and Elford got a fifth goal. Towards the end Lockwood had to come off with a broken nose and The Woolpack played the last 15 minutes with 10-men for the second game in a row.
All in all 5-0 wasn't a bad result, and the players and fans had a thoroughly enjoyable night out. It's just a shame the game wasn't half as fun or exciting as the night.
Starting Line-up:
GK Battye
RB Campbell, CB Arnold (c), CB Z Stanger, LB Gill
RM Newburn, CM Adams, CM Fox, LM Kirby
CF Dawson, CF Ro Hawkyard
Subs: Herbert on for Fox, Lockwood on for Kirby
Man of the Match: Arnold - One of only a small handful of players not to show the effects of the night before, and handled Eflords attack with ease.
Wooden Spoon: Martin - Despite organising a cracking night out, with a more sensible approach The Woolpack could have won the game, blame the gaffer!
Losing 5-0 away from home, in the cup, to a side in a higher division in Leeds isn't a bad result on it's own, but when you factor in the volume of alcohol, McDonalds, plant fertilizer and god knows what else in the systems of The Woolpack players it's an even better result.
After setting off at 2.30 the following day, The Woolpack embarked on an all day and all night session of Leeds city centre with an over night stay in a hotel. Around 9.30 Sunday morning, Dan had to wake the sleeping and locate the rest of the players as he picked a team of who was there and available. After a threat of police action for an act of indecency it was time to get the cars and get to the pitch, via, 3 "shortcuts" and a trip to McDonalds (where somebody left the water-bottles).
Five minutes before kick off and only 7 players at the pitch, one including striker Ross Hawkyard throwing his guts up along the touchline the players seemed positive. At kick-off a full team was ready and the game started fairly well. Ben Fox and Nathan Adams as a new central midfield partnership seemed to be able to get the better of the Eflord midfield and take a foothold on the game. At the back though a few sleepy mistakes allowed Elford to take a 1-0 lead.
Soon after Ben Fox felt a pop in his banjo (hamstring) and had to be replaced by a slightly more sober and better slept Will Herbert, who brought some much needed fight to the midfield.
Despite a fairly well matched first half the Woolpack came off 3-0 down. Goals simply contributed to a fitter and more organised team. Battye maybe could have been in a bad position for the goals, but he had won countless crosses. Going forward Newburn and Campbell looked good down the left, but there was few options in the box.
Soon into the second half Lockwood came on for Kirby down the right to try and inject some fresh pace and while it seemed to be working, Elford snatched another goal at the other end against the run of play. Gill was moved up front, switching the team to a 3-4-3 formation, something which grabbed 2 late goals against the Irish Centre earlier in the season. But still very little was created going forward and Elford got a fifth goal. Towards the end Lockwood had to come off with a broken nose and The Woolpack played the last 15 minutes with 10-men for the second game in a row.
All in all 5-0 wasn't a bad result, and the players and fans had a thoroughly enjoyable night out. It's just a shame the game wasn't half as fun or exciting as the night.
