Whitchurch C 5-4 Devizes A

With a fight back worthy of Rocky and reminiscent of Wales against Scotland earlier this month, the 4s produced a result that stunned third placed Devizes. Trailing 4-1 at the break Whitchurch were effectively out of the match but they not only climbed the mountain they faced they put a flag on its summit.  

For the second successive Saturday the home side played at a wet (that’ll be the water-based astro-turf) Sophia Gardens. After seven minutes they fell behind to a well executed short corner which gave debutant goalkeeper Ian Ferguson little chance low down to his left. Whitchurch however, levelled five minutes later when, fresh from his four-goal blitz the previous week, Dave Joyce ran onto a through ball and his crisp shot found the corner of the net. Somewhat affronted (having had almost all the meaningful possession) Devizes hit back immediately, and in quick succession followed a scrappy 2nd with another successful short corner to lead 3-1. Just on the stroke of half time, Devizes were reduced to ten-men (their captain raising his hand to one of the ‘church defenders), however, they still took the opportunity to further increase their lead when the ball was forced home through a crowded ‘D’. 

So, at 4-1 behind, things were looking desperate. One can only speculate what was said during the half-time interval…..  Displaying admirable mental strength and sheer determination to extricate them from the hole they found themselves in, the 4s gradually overhauled their opponents and scored four goals without reply in the second period. 

For the first ten minutes play flowed evenly  but there were signs that the home team could make an impression. Eleven minutes in and Dave Joyce converted from the penalty spot after being blatantly impeded by a series of Devizes defenders. Shortly after this in, and in his first match back after the unfortunate event that befell his once healthy head of hair, Dan Potts made a fine break from mid-field and found Joyce with a neat pass from which the latter completed his hat trick. Back to 3-4, the equaliser nearly arrived when Ted Diment went close with a spectacular back stick effort; the disappointment was short-lived, as Potts reacted quickly to a sharp opportunity with a back stick flick to draw the scores level. 

With 15 minutes remaining, the match could have gone either way as Devizes sought to reassert their authority. To the 4s’ credit they were not to be denied and time and again substitute Grant Parker, Pete Donnison and Dave Saunders pressed forwards.  Captain Kieran Kingston was now getting round the back of the visitors defence at will but it was the impressive Adam Stone who was to make the final decisive break of the game. Driving up field he beat two Devizes players and found Potts, who, under pressure retained control of the bobbling ball and calmly slotted home the winner. 

This result should be a great encouragement to the team who have now taken points from the top three sides in their league since Christmas. There are three matches remaining in this league season and let’s hope, unlike the Welsh rugby team, the stunning comeback of one week isn’t followed by a rout at the hands of the ‘sophisticates’ (For France read City of Bath) the following week.

Whitchurch C  5 - 3 Team Bath Buccs C     

After the avoidable defeat against Gryphons seven days earlier the 4ths were determined that the only farce on offer on Saturday was that to be served later at the annual club pantomine. In a thrilling encounter at Sophia Gardens, in which their opponents played a full part, Whitchurch recorded a fine win. The game had everything, goals, end to end play, a hat trick and controversy. There was even a choice of villains.

From push back it was evident Bath intended to move the ball up field quickly with their forwards playing wide and high. Nevertheless it was Whitchurch who took the lead against the run of play after twenty minutes when Dave Joyce neatly converted a short corner. Two minutes later the score was doubled when a threaded pass from Ben Thomas found him in enough space to flick the ball home. Bath were too good a side to lay down, and undeterred promptly pulled a goal back only for Joyce to complete his hat trick when he alluded two defenders and sent an angled reverse stick shot across the advancing keeper (despite the promptings of his team mates to hold onto the ball and await support). Bath immediately dented the lead again when the ball was forced home from close range. With half time looming Whitchurch neatly opened up the visitors defence once more and Ted Diment increased the home sides lead from close range.

With more goals always likely it was Bath who claimed the first goal of the second half with what appeared a neat deflection, however, the goal actually deflected past the keeper off the defenders stick. Enter stage right controversy when Jon Watts received first a yellow and then a red card for verbal dissent. The umpire missed an obvious deflection off the defenders stick and despite the support of the opposition players to the home sides complaint, the umpire stubbornly refused to correct his mistake.

The sending off left the 4ths with over twenty minutes to survive and to the credit of the team, well marshalled by Andy King and Kieran Kingston, they did so. Two fine saves from Dewy Robin and driving runs from Thomas and Adam Unit ensured that the home side finished the stronger. Three points were secured when a long ball from the tireless Mark Eggar found Joyce who again ran at the Bath defence and fired home his fourth.

Overall an excellent performance and a timely fillip looking ahead to next weeks game against high-flying Devizes; a positive result against whom would just about secure Whitchurch’s 3rd team promotion from this league.

Somerset Gryphons A 4-3 Whitchurch C

The 4ths recent run of success came to an abrupt end at Cleveden on Saturday. For the second time since Christmas Whitchurch contrived to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, having fought their way back into the match after a disastrous opening quarter.

After only twelve minutes Whitchurch found themselves two nil down.  Their play was sluggish and was not helped by the fact several regulars were missing which meant some players were forced to play out of position. The defence in particular looked nervous, and Gryphons took the lead when the visitor’s defence was slow to clear an attack. Shortly after, they increased this with a deflection into the roof of the net from a well rehearsed short corner routine. This second setback spurred Whitchurch into life at long last and Dave Joyce promptly converted a short corner before Dougie Young fired home a crisp equalizer on his return to action after injury. At half time the scores were level but the visitors play was rapidly getting on top.

A series of missed chances and ‘interesting’  umpiring decisions seemed to deflate the Whitchurch team, and despite largely dominating possession, against the run of play, however, the home side struck twice more to lead 4-2. A fierce shot from Dave Joyce found the Gryphons net after a fine pass from Ted Diment to close the 4s to within one goal of the home side, but it proved too little too late.

Swansea University 0-2 Whitchurch C

What a difference seven days makes!  After the disappointment of the previous week’s result at Robinsons the 4s produced one of their best performances of the campaign to stun the table leaders, and at the same time assist the 3s in their promotion push. 

This win was a complete team effort. The defence was well organised by Andy King in his first game back after a long-term injury. Midfield was orchestrated by acting captain Mark Eggar with eager prompting by Mo Uzman. But it is wrong to single out any individual because everybody contributed in inflicting only Swansea’s second defeat of the season. 

The visitors had the best of the exchanges in the opening minutes of the match. With their first touch play and running off the ball it was evident why they have been so successful.  Early on Pete Bowles made two fine reflex saves at close quarters to prevent the visitors taking the lead.  Whitchurch gradually asserted themselves and began to find success with their close passing game.  Pressing forward they came close to making the breakthrough just as the half-time whistle came.  

As the second half progressed the home side increasingly took the game to Swansea.  With the defence holding firm the 4s eventually took the lead with fifteen minutes left.  A perceptive pass by Tom Riley split the Swansea midfield and found Jasper Joyce in space.  His initial (topped) shot from the edge of the D was saved but the rebound was crisply converted.  The league leaders rallied as they tried to retrieve something from the afternoon but a fine interchange of passes between Dan Potts and Jasper Joyce led to the latter firing home to complete an excellent 2-0 victory. 

It had been a few months since the previous inter-club encounter between Whitchurch 3s and 4s, but it is safe to say that the 4s were still smarting for the injustice of losing narrowly in the manner that they did (a back-stick dribble in the last minute of a game that they had dominated). Even though motivation was high, this hardened even more when it was noted that at least one of the 3s squad had been drafted in following the Saturday morning postponement of the 2nd X1 fixture.  

Spurred on by the growing crowd, for the second successive week the 4ths dented the title aspirations of one of the league leaders. As with the previous weeks defeat of Swansea Uni 1st, the success was built around a solid defensive display. Andy King again marshalled the defence, and the pre-game tactic to try and stifle the opposition attacks at source proved effective. Special mention needs to go to Dave Saunders who, in addition to carrying out his defensive roles, often turned defence into attack with speed and precision. In a robust first-half, both sides sought to exert their will onto their opponents and, after a sustained (yet relatively brief) period of possession it was the thirds who opened the scoring when a smart break by Dan Potts from midfield drew the defence and set up Jasper Joyce who shot past the advancing goalkeeper. The 3rds for one of the few times in the match upped their play and on the breakaway, the ever ready Rhodri Ryland, wriggled free of the defender chasing back and on-coming goalkeeper to slot home an excellent close range finish. Half-time 1-1. 

The second half saw no further scores though both sides had chances to take all three points. With five minutes to go the 4s could not force home a shot corner when well-placed, and in the dying seconds Dave Joyce shot narrowly wide when perhaps a pass would have given the 4s what they truly deserved from the game – ultimately both sides though had to settle for the draw.  

Overall, a point shared is a fair reflection of the match; a triumph one might say of team work and tactics over speed and individualism… The point gained continues to aid the 4s survival in this league, and for the remainder of the season it is hoped that they maintain their momentum and in doing so lend a helping hand to the 3s promotion push from North 2.

What a difference seven days makes!  After the disappointment of the previous week’s result at Robinsons the 4s produced one of their best performances of the campaign to stun the table leaders, and at the same time assist the 3s in their promotion push. 

This win was a complete team effort. The defence was well organised by Andy King in his first game back after a long-term injury. Midfield was orchestrated by acting captain Mark Eggar with eager prompting by Mo Uzman. But it is wrong to single out any individual because everybody contributed in inflicting only Swansea’s second defeat of the season. 

The visitors had the best of the exchanges in the opening minutes of the match. With their first touch play and running off the ball it was evident why they have been so successful.  Early on Pete Bowles made two fine reflex saves at close quarters to prevent the visitors taking the lead.  Whitchurch gradually asserted themselves and began to find success with their close passing game.  Pressing forward they came close to making the breakthrough just as the half-time whistle came.  

As the second half progressed the home side increasingly took the game to Swansea.  With the defence holding firm the 4s eventually took the lead with fifteen minutes left.  A perceptive pass by Tom Riley split the Swansea midfield and found Jasper Joyce in space.  His initial (topped) shot from the edge of the D was saved but the rebound was crisply converted.  The league leaders rallied as they tried to retrieve something from the afternoon but a fine interchange of passes between Dan Potts and Jasper Joyce led to the latter firing home to complete an excellent 2-0 victory. 

The Blue Army

Christmas indulgence bit back with avengeance as the New Year started on a bad note for the mighty 4s. Robinsons had failed to gain a single point all season, yet Whitchurch lost a match which they had dominated for all but the last fifteen minutes.

From the start the visitors camped in the R’s half and retained possession with ease. A strong run by Dan Potts nearly brought success and Ted Diment also came close with a fine shot from the edge of the D. Whitchurch eventually took the lead when Jasper Joyce neatly wrong footed  the Robinsons  goalkeeper from close range.  Shortly afterwards he hit the post with the goalie well beaten before another goal attempt by him was surprisingly disallowed on appeal (not the only suspicious umpiring decision made on the day). At half time the visitors were well in control with the defence ably marshalled by Sam Fishpool and incisive breaks being made by Martin Gray and Pete Donnison.

Shortly after the break the lead was doubled when Jasper Joyce fired home strongly from a short corner.  However, Whitchurch then seemed to think it was all over, rested on their laurels, spurned possession and stopped working for each other… Unsurprisingly, even though against the general run of play Robinsons pulled a goal back when they scored in debatable circumstances, Spurred on by a blatantly biased Robinsion’s umpire, and in fairness with increased work rate they levelled the match.  For some reason the Cs’ did not respond and they paid the price when a long cross field pass was well finished.  Anther umpiring decision went against the visitors when a clear foot infringement by a defender robbed them of a probable third goal. In the dying seconds Whitchurch came agonisingly close at another short corner, but the failure to capitalise on chances ultimately cost them the game.

This match provided proof that the Cs’ can easily compete at this level but they must learn to close matches out, not be naive and to do the simple things efficiently over the whole seventy minutes.

The Blue Army