Northern Premier 2 league favourites Wilmslow squared off away to Norbury this past Saturday, looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. However a sluggish start on a poor pitch resulted in the team being dragged into a competitive match, which was only decided in the final quarter.
With possession from the face being shared 50/50 and their attack uncharacteristically throwing the ball away, Wilmslow had goalie Alex Pearson with 10 saves to thank for leading at halftime 2-3. Andy Farrington, Chris Mountney and Luke Keesing all scored individual efforts; whilst missed shots, unforced errors and silly penalties were shared across the whole team.
The second half finally saw Wilmslow progress through the gears with improved fight on the face offs and ground balls. Mike Jordan and Farrington scored a goal a piece whilst top goal scorer Tim Witt finally got off the mark with a brace in the third quarter which finished 3-7 to Wilmslow.
The final quarter saw Matt Smith score his first senior 1st team goal as the Styal Road team finally put the game to bed 6-12.
Pearson continued his good form throughout making 15 saves, the defence (including Man of the Match Danny Ingham) kept a stubborn opposition with skilled individuals at bay, and although Witt failed to reach the performance level of recent games in which he almost scored double figures, the Wilmslow attack did enough to comfortably win the game.
Goal scorers = Farrington (4 goals, 2 assists), Mountney (2,3), Witt (3,0), Keesing (1,1), Jordan (1,1), Smith (1,0), Acton (0,1)
Wilmslow A-Team beat Manchester WACS A 7-2
U12's beat Timperley U12A 15-7
U14's lost to Timperley U14A 20-0
U16's lost to Poynton U16A 14-4
Match report by James Acton
