14/02: BRAVE WOOLPACK WELL BEATEN BY CUP FAVOURITES
Category: Match Reports
Posted by: Dan
The Woolpack FC 1 - 6 Sporting Club Shepley
Starting Line-up: L.Stanger, Herbert, Gill, Z.Stanger, Martin, Ginty, Linford, Arnold, Ro.Hawkyard, A.Bailey, Newburn
Subs: C.Lockwood on for Gill, Turpin on for A.Bailey, Dawson on for Newburn
Subs not used: T.Dyson, B.Ramsden-Reilly
Goals: Ginty
Man of the Match: Herbert - A joint man of the match was awarded for Will Herbert and Zac Stanger who both had brilliant games at the back. But Will more than Zac as he was playing in an unfamiliar position and facing a constant threat to which he handled with composure and moments of brilliance.
Wooden Spoon: L.Stanger - After a solid first half he had a disaster in the second. He found himself totally out of position for the fourth goal, and he dropped the fifth.
With Shelpley sitting at the top of the first division and hoping to win the cup they have been runner-ups in two years in a row it was always going to be a tough day out for The Woolpack, but they decided to try and make it a contest with a valiant starting line-up.
After a narrow 4-0 defeat 3 weeks ago at Shepley, The Woolpack knew putting out a deep defensive team would reduce the pressure on the defence, but in a cup game why go for damage limitation? So a 4-4-2 was adopted, and with Nathan Adams, Chris Shaw and Calum Campbell missing from the usual starting 11, Zac Stanger returned to centre back, Daniel Martin made his first start in 18 months, Will Herbert moved to right back and Aaron Bailey and Adam Linford both got starts with Dean Arnold in midfield.
Things started pretty badly as Shepley took the lead on their first attack. It caught the defence unprepared as Martin was marking the quicker of the 2 strikers who found space and finished well. The second followed shortly after as Dave Ginty's out stretched leg knocked the ball into his own net. At 2-0 The defence continued to face non-stop attacks but the new partnerships handled it well at the expense of lots of corners and throw-ins - but with the height advantage they managed to sort these.
At the other end Scott Newburn missed a golden chance after a great ball by Dean Arnold, and Adam Linford hit a great cross which couldn't find anybody at the end. The through balls from Ginty and Arnold which were aimed at Aaron Bailey were the only regular threat for the Woolpack, until Gintys deflected long range shot dropped into the back of the net to make it 2-1.
This made for a competitive end to the first half with everybody still thinking they were in with a chance, until Shepley made it 3. After a succession of badly handled corners the goal came. First a header hit the bar, from the second the ball looked to have been kept out by the hand of Malcolm Gill on the post, but the third managed to beat Zac Stanger at the front post and after a scramble ended up in the net.
There was still time for both Herbert and Martin to clear off the line, and Zac Stanger to make a succession of great tackles.
As the second half started the Woolpack looked more of a threat going forward, and some space was opening up behind the Shepley midfield. This was until Luke Stanger gifted Shepley 2 quick goals which ultimately ended The Woolpacks chance of getting anything from the game. The first came from a great through ball onto which the striker found Stanger positioned in front of his post gifting him an easy finish. And the next goal seemed to be an easy collection for the keeper, but he dropped the ball at the feet of an on-coming striker and it was 5-1.
Now the Woolpack made a few subs to get some fresh legs on and Dean Arnold pushed forward, finding himself 2 difficult chances but going close both times. Dave Ginty also hit a screaming free-kick which the keeper saved well. But at the other end Shepley now had a free-for-all and were playing with 5 up front. Will Herbert was under constant pressure at right back, often out numbered 3 to 1, and Shepley hit the post and bar 3 times. It could easily have been another 4 or 5 goals in this last 20 minutes but they only managed 1, a well finished one on one.
In the end the Woolpack were well beaten but they would feel hard done by when looking at each goal individually, yet they could have conceded so many more. With a few players missing and others not having their best games it wasn't the best performance by the division 2 side, and they will be hoping to find some form next week against Wellington.
Starting Line-up: L.Stanger, Herbert, Gill, Z.Stanger, Martin, Ginty, Linford, Arnold, Ro.Hawkyard, A.Bailey, Newburn
Subs: C.Lockwood on for Gill, Turpin on for A.Bailey, Dawson on for Newburn
Subs not used: T.Dyson, B.Ramsden-Reilly
Goals: Ginty
Man of the Match: Herbert - A joint man of the match was awarded for Will Herbert and Zac Stanger who both had brilliant games at the back. But Will more than Zac as he was playing in an unfamiliar position and facing a constant threat to which he handled with composure and moments of brilliance.
Wooden Spoon: L.Stanger - After a solid first half he had a disaster in the second. He found himself totally out of position for the fourth goal, and he dropped the fifth.
With Shelpley sitting at the top of the first division and hoping to win the cup they have been runner-ups in two years in a row it was always going to be a tough day out for The Woolpack, but they decided to try and make it a contest with a valiant starting line-up.
After a narrow 4-0 defeat 3 weeks ago at Shepley, The Woolpack knew putting out a deep defensive team would reduce the pressure on the defence, but in a cup game why go for damage limitation? So a 4-4-2 was adopted, and with Nathan Adams, Chris Shaw and Calum Campbell missing from the usual starting 11, Zac Stanger returned to centre back, Daniel Martin made his first start in 18 months, Will Herbert moved to right back and Aaron Bailey and Adam Linford both got starts with Dean Arnold in midfield.
Things started pretty badly as Shepley took the lead on their first attack. It caught the defence unprepared as Martin was marking the quicker of the 2 strikers who found space and finished well. The second followed shortly after as Dave Ginty's out stretched leg knocked the ball into his own net. At 2-0 The defence continued to face non-stop attacks but the new partnerships handled it well at the expense of lots of corners and throw-ins - but with the height advantage they managed to sort these.
At the other end Scott Newburn missed a golden chance after a great ball by Dean Arnold, and Adam Linford hit a great cross which couldn't find anybody at the end. The through balls from Ginty and Arnold which were aimed at Aaron Bailey were the only regular threat for the Woolpack, until Gintys deflected long range shot dropped into the back of the net to make it 2-1.
This made for a competitive end to the first half with everybody still thinking they were in with a chance, until Shepley made it 3. After a succession of badly handled corners the goal came. First a header hit the bar, from the second the ball looked to have been kept out by the hand of Malcolm Gill on the post, but the third managed to beat Zac Stanger at the front post and after a scramble ended up in the net.
There was still time for both Herbert and Martin to clear off the line, and Zac Stanger to make a succession of great tackles.
As the second half started the Woolpack looked more of a threat going forward, and some space was opening up behind the Shepley midfield. This was until Luke Stanger gifted Shepley 2 quick goals which ultimately ended The Woolpacks chance of getting anything from the game. The first came from a great through ball onto which the striker found Stanger positioned in front of his post gifting him an easy finish. And the next goal seemed to be an easy collection for the keeper, but he dropped the ball at the feet of an on-coming striker and it was 5-1.
Now the Woolpack made a few subs to get some fresh legs on and Dean Arnold pushed forward, finding himself 2 difficult chances but going close both times. Dave Ginty also hit a screaming free-kick which the keeper saved well. But at the other end Shepley now had a free-for-all and were playing with 5 up front. Will Herbert was under constant pressure at right back, often out numbered 3 to 1, and Shepley hit the post and bar 3 times. It could easily have been another 4 or 5 goals in this last 20 minutes but they only managed 1, a well finished one on one.
In the end the Woolpack were well beaten but they would feel hard done by when looking at each goal individually, yet they could have conceded so many more. With a few players missing and others not having their best games it wasn't the best performance by the division 2 side, and they will be hoping to find some form next week against Wellington.
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