Wednesday 28 January 2009

Match Report - The Angel Baildon (19th January 2009)

Angel F.C. 7 - 1 Wheatley A.F.C.

ANGEL DELIGHT

Baildon’s Angel F.C gained valuable points against Wheatley A.F.C with a comfortable home win on Sunday.


There is no doubt Wheatley will be disappointed with their performance. A swirling wind caused havoc in the away team’s penalty area, but this was no excuse for some sluggish defending. They will need to improve in all departments for the return fixture next week at Ilkley. Angel took advantage early on, peppering the Wheatley goal with high crosses and attacks down both flanks. Inexperienced ‘keeper Jo Varley struggled throughout but was not helped by some slack marking.

Playing downhill in the first half, the home team will be delighted by the form of Andrew Radosevic, who netted three times for Angel. Three goals against in the first thirty minutes was hard for Wheatley to take. Pride was restored just before half time, however, with striker Woods displaying trademark poaching skills as he coolly poked in a six yard finish from a low-driven cross from the left.

At the stroke of half time the score was 3-1. This deficit wasn’t incurable, but Wheatley would now have to step up two gears to come away with a respectable score-line. The midfield powerhouse normally so commanding seemed to be running on empty, and for a short spell they were flagging. Again, there was no lack of effort, but the Wheatley players knew they had been outplayed so far.
Playing downhill in the second half was to Wheatley’s advantage, although they’ll regret not testing the Angel ‘keeper more times than they did. Andrew Kenyon and Liam Roche made it five goals to the good as the home side continued to dominate. Wheatley then made a tactical substitution as Joe McTigue was brought on to add some expertise in defence. But it was now testing times for Wheatley – Angel added a sixth, and then in the dying minutes Kyle Barber’s fierce shot sent the Baildon side into seven goal heaven.

Tuesday 27 January 2009

Goalkeeping debut...


Special mention to our keeper who made his Wheatley debut last minute against The Angel... cheers Chris!

Beautiful Bacon Butties!

Rick and Big Andy did the lads proud on Sunday making some awesome bacon butties for everyone after the match against Angel.

It was very poor form by the opposition not to turn up after being told food would be provided - at least it meant their was plenty left for us to enjoy! Thanks to Meg also for helping in the kitchen!

Match Action from Angel game...

All pictures courtesy of Gaynor Bott - thanks Gaynor!



So near yet, so far!





Bit crowded!


Good effort Danny Lad!





On your 'ed son!





Guppy with No. 8 in his pocket!




Ben Woods




Big Andy ready to pounce



Corner




Shoot!










Concentrate!






Head it!



Andy and JT bossing the defence



GET IN!





Great technique Danny!

Match Report - Angel Baildon (24th Jan 2008)

Wheatley AFC 2 Angel FC 2

What a difference a week makes.



Reeling on the back of a 7-1 thumping last week, Wheatley AFC displayed a truly rousing performance – both collectively and individually – to restore some pride and impress the biggest crowd of the season so far. It was vital for the home team to inject some self-belief into their game, and manager Mark Powell will be proud of his valiant players – Wheatley enjoyed the majority of possession and showed true grit to come from behind twice.


Angel FC had an encouraging start though, beating the off-side trap and forcing new keeper Chris Head to makes the game’s first save. For the past few weeks Wheatley have struggled to maintain a regular man between the sticks, but Head would later show his natural prowess with a flurry of fine blocks.


For the next fifteen minutes, Wheatley seized the initiative. What was evident in this passage of play was the determination to attack. Andy Hibbert’s thunderous right foot caused problems all morning and it was the defender’s long ball that released the bubbly Danny Bott down the right flank. Eager for an early shot, the young midfielder struck the keeper’s legs, with striker Ben Woods coming close with the follow-up. Moments later sprightly left winger Al Hey whipped in an inviting cross that had the Angel defence in turmoil. Central midfielder Andy Wheeler was bold in the air and although his header was directed straight at the opposition keeper, Wheatley were now taking the game by the scruff of the neck. This was highlighted further by Wood’s attacking partner Rick Arundel muscling his way past the gain-line, his shot fizzing despairingly wide. A fantastic period for Powell’s men, and Angel were undeniably rocked. A new and improved Wheatley model had definitely turned up today.


With a Wheatley team seemingly saturated with strikers, hot-shot Nick Cockcroft was given a run on the left wing. Fleet of foot and determined to boot, Cockcroft had a solid game and contributed with some nice touches and effective short passes. But the home team’s strength was not solely exhibited by the attacking options. Johnny Turnbull’s work rate at the back was at times staggering – his reward came on 20 minutes with a brilliantly executed tackle in his own box. Angel’s cries for a penalty were deplorable – make no mistake, this was defending of the highest order. Right-back Chris Lloyd never seems to have an average game, and his consistency reached new levels today. How long could Wheatley keep this up?


Angel FC’s attacks were largely ineffectual in the first-half. Keeper Head made two fine saves, but it was his opposite number that was working overtime. Hey’s trickery baffled both opposition and spectators alike – during one display of skill you’d be forgiven for thinking this was Copacabana Beach and not Ilkley. Although the half-time whistle couldn’t come soon enough for the weary Angel, the away team had to endure a genuine scare when Arundel blasted a shot from the right. The industrious striker’s effort skimmed the cross bar as the crowd gasped in agony.


Despite the surges of pressure heaped upon Angel, it was the away team that had the clearest opportunity in first half. A lucky ricochet meant keeper Head was left stranded with his goal unprotected. With the ball straight at Angel’s feet and an open goal fifteen yards out, the ball should have hit the net. This it did, although the net in question belonged to an angler relaxing on the banks of the River Wharfe thirty yards away.
0-0 at half-time, although the home team definitely deserved more.


Wheatley approached the second-half full of confidence. Andy Wheeler – live and unleashed – harassed and hounded, whilst his enforcing partner in the middle of the park, Chris Quaife, put the boot in on several occasions to defuse Angel’s momentum.


Then a moment of controversy. An Angel thrown-in looked illegal even from the far touch-line although referee John Reeves waved play on. As disputed as the thrown-in was, Angel’s striker allowed himself to rock back on his heels and hit a sweet shot on the turn. Chris Head was powerless to intervene and the ball found its way into the bottom right corner. A fair shot from unfair means. A kick in the teeth for Wheatley, no doubt, but they had the character needed to overcome such set-backs.


Five minutes later Wheeler, who impressed throughout, took charge of a free kick yards outside the Angel penalty area. His curling delivery was achieved with precision, causing the Angel keeper to flap behind his defenders. An alert Bott pounced on the parry and knocked in from close range. 1-1 with half an hour still to play.


Angel were quiet now, and Wheatley sensed blood. Woods and Arundel both came close and Bott saw three long-range efforts go wide from the outside of his boot. Nevertheless, Wheatley were on the attack.


But in sport nothing is guaranteed. All of a sudden the balanced shifted when Angel poached a lucky goal out of nothing. Bemused as they were, Wheatley responded by bringing on fresh legs in the form of Adam Emmott, taking over from the resilient Woods. The extra pace proved a tonic as Bott was released into the penalty area, only to be crudely upended by an over-zealous challenge. No penalty, and Bott was left fuming. Angel had been let off.


Chris Quaife was taken off on the 75 minute mark and replaced with Eric Bana. Wheatley would not give up. Arundel came close again with a speculative shot, and skipper Hibbert led the way with a superlative sliding tackle that epitomised the doggedness of this Wheatley side.


In an attempt to ply the opposition with more pressure, winger Cockcroft was promoted to playing alongside Arundel up front. This was inspirational. Bana just managed to stay on-side from an Arundel flick-on and let fly with a good effort that was saved well by the keeper. That said, the ball couldn’t be collected cleanly and fell sweetly to Cockcroft’s muddy feet. To say the striker’s shot was well struck would flirt dangerously with exaggeration. A fumbled effort was all that was required, however, as the ball trickled into the net.


A thoroughly deserved goal to draw level and Wheatley could consider themselves unlucky for not coming away with a victory. Well done to all.


Written by Joe 'Lager' Varley

Friday 16 January 2009

Match Report - Otley Town (11th January 2009)

Otley Town 6 Wheatley AFC 1

With no match practice the previous week due to a frozen pitch, Wheatley AFC travelled to rivals Otley Town for what promised to be an entertaining derby match.The blustery conditions were always going to prove tricky, but the game was played in admirable spirits and referee Tony Brown must be commended for arbitrating some free-flowing football. All too often officials bear the brunt of criticism. Neither side could have any grievances; Mr Brown was mostly spot on throughout the match.

Wheatley goalkeeper Andy Rhodes started brightly, parrying a low shot to his right after a clinical Otley build-up down the right flank. This installed some confidence in the Wheatley defence and was all the more remarkable since Rhodes made the save without gloves. Wearing bright orange in the same vein as Holland, Otley turned on the style in a bid to play “total football”. Short, crisp passes were the order of the day. The home team was awarded two free kicks on the edge of the penalty area in successive minutes. The first was charged down by the gutsy Wheatley defenders; the second headed inches over the bar. It was all Otley now but Wheatley managed to endure the onslaught. Wheatley skipper Andy Hibbert then played in midfielder Danny Bott with a sweeping long range pass. Bott’s shot clattered into the side-netting, but at least it was an attack with intent.

Otley were increasingly looking like to take the lead, so when Wheatley striker Rory Kroon opened the scoring after 25 minutes, it left the home bench bewildered. Kroon was put in on goal by a superb pass down the left wing by Al Hey. Keeping a calm head, the striker nicknamed K-Dog dinked across goal and slotted his shot in at the bottom left corner.

Although jubilant, Wheatley manager Mark Powell must have been wary. Wheatley have been guilty of late of conceding straight after scoring. The trend did not lie. Otley opened their account two minutes later with a terrific shot by Richard Sharpe. He gave himself time to pick his spot and Rhodes could do nothing but watch the ball sail into the top left corner. Otley deserved their goal, and were now starting to dictate proceedings. However, contrary to their dominance, it was Wheatley who should have gone 2-1 up. Young striker Danny Knight put Kroon in one-on-one with the Otley keeper. Both teams held their breath as the keeper went to ground, the ball falling to Kroon six yards in front of an open goal. Kroon tried to hit the back of the net with a powerful thump but only succeeded in hitting a Vauxhall Corsa in the busy car park.

A Wheatley lead would have been hard for Otley to take. Kroon’s open goal howler sparked a call to arms in the Otley ranks. Rhodes pulled off a fine save on 40 minutes and left back Dave Healey worked overtime to thwart waves of Otley attacks. 1-1 at half-time told only half the story. Otley stepped up a gear in the second half. Danny Royston’s 55th minute shot was hit with venom, comfortably beating Rhodes at his near post. The home team was now eager to make it three, which they did courtesy of a Scott Firth free kick on 60 minutes.

No one could dispute the Wheatley efforts but it was looking more and more likely that Otley would increase their two goal lead. A golden opportunity to do exactly that was handed to them on a plate. Robust Wheatley defender Johnny Turnbull lunged earnestly in the box but the ball was nowhere to be seen. Penalty to Otley. The ball was again nowhere to be seen as it flew high over the bar from the penalty spot. A chance wasted by the home side from an effort more commonly seen half a mile up the road at Otley Rugby Club.

Nevertheless, Otley were fired up for the last twenty minutes. Danny Royston bagged his second of the day with a coolly placed shot, and followed this up five minutes later with his hat-trick from a feeble goal clearance by Rhodes. 5-1 to Otley with ten minutes left to play.

It would have been understandable had Wheatley thrown in the towel, but this is not in their nature. Midfield duo Andy Wheeler and Chris Quaife never gave up, and Richard Arundel made a triumphant return to the side at right-back. Sam Dexter piled on the Wheatley misery with a rasping shot in the dying minutes. 6-1 may have flattered Otley Town, but there was no denying who were the better team. To add to Rhodes’s woes, referee Mr Brown labelled the young keeper “uncouth”. This will surely rally the troops for next week’s fixture. Compliments go to all players for a keenly contested match, and to loyal supporter John Wood for providing goalkeeping gloves to Rhodes in the 20th minute. Wheatley AFC travel to Angel FC next week hungry for victory. Manager Powell has hinted a return to the side in a bid to restore the side’s winning ways. There is indeed plenty to play for in 2009.

(Written by Lager)

Monday 5 January 2009

Match Report - Moortown Merlins

Moortown Merlins 5 - 4 The Mighty Wheatley

After a month of inactivity, Wheatley AFC travelled to Leeds looking for a pre-Christmas victory against Moortown Merlins.
Moortown struck first from a throw-in after a mix-up in The Wheatley defence. Wheatley striker Rory Kroon levelled on 15 minutes with a calmly taken finish. This provided the impetus for attacks from both sides as the wintry conditions deteriorated.
When Moortown pinched a goal back, Kroon bagged his second of the match to level again on the half-hour mark. Then the Moortown goalkeeper was left red-faced when he let the ball slip through slippery hands courtesy of Wheatley defender Chris Lloyd’s cross-cum shot. A half-time score of 3-2 left Wheatley manager Mark Powell cock-a-hoop and it was all to play for.
Wheatley then came out of the blocks with all guns blazing. Midfielder Danny Bott was unlucky to have a curled free-kick hit the bar. Playing in thick mud did nothing to encourage free-flowing football, although when The Merlins pulled one back on 70 minutes and then followed up with another two minutes later, it was The Wheatley who were chasing the game.
Battling Chris Quaife worked tirelessly in the centre and when Wheatley pulled one back in the 80th minute after good work on the wing from the versatile Kroon, it was game on.
With the score level at 4-4 it was always going to be a nervous finish. Moortown were awarded a penalty with five minutes to go leaving Wheatley ’keeper Lord no chance. Two blistering shots from Wheatley Man-of-the-Match Johnny Turnbull went close in the dying minutes but The Merlins held on for a 5-4 win.

New catering facilities


It seems that The Mighty Wheatley have a closet chef in their ranks! Rick got a new slow cooker for Christmas and has promised the lads to a culinary masterpiece in two weeks time when we are next at home! We look forward to it Ricky Boy!

Team breakfast

It says much of the spirit and camaraderie that Sparky has managed to instil this season that after the game was cancelled yesterday The Mighty Wheatley enjoyed a team breakfast at Booths. Much debate was had on the merits of a 'Booths Full English' or 'Booths Country Breakfast' and after much disagreement and conflict is was finally decided that both are poor and far too expensive. Good brew mind!

Match cancelled

The first game of 2009 due to be played yesterday against Horsforth Rangers A was called off due to a frozen pitch. It looks like Wheels Lad will have to wait another week to try his new boots out!

Friday 2 January 2009

Results

14th September 2008
Ilkley Dynamo 1 - 4 Wheatley

21st September 2008
Wheatley 2 - 3 Otley Wharfeside

5th October 2008
Wheatley 1 - 2 Yeadon Veterans

12th October 2008
Horsforth Rangers A 1 - 0 Wheatley

2nd November 2008
Otley Wharfeside 0 - 2 Wheatley

9th November 2008
Yeadon Veterans 8 - 5 Wheatley

21st December 2008
Moortown Merlins 5 - 4 Wheatley

Injury news

Jon Keith - torn thigh muscle, hoping to be back Mid-February

Rory Kroon - damaged thumb but fit to play outfield

Chris Quaife - cracked rib but fit to play

Terry Pearson - stubbed toe, chipped nail, bruised ear, sniffly cold, tickly cough, sore little finger... someone please put him down.

The Fans...

The Mighty Wheatley are proud of their strong following and their foolhardy fans follow the teams exploits home and away, wind, rain or shine! Here are a few of the teams more committed fans...

John Wood - a keen follower, although often arrives late so as to avoid not playing if the team are short!

Paul Dawson - the first in the crowd to get the chants going. An extremely vocal and loyal Wheatley fan.

Meg Jarvis - can often be seen sat on the touchline cheering on the lads in her multi purpose deckchair. Makes a mean chilli for after the game too!

Gaynor Bott - the teams official photographer and psychotherapist to one of the teams more fiery midfielders, Gaynor is hoping 2009 brings promotion for The Mighty Wheatley!

The Squad

Manager - Mark Powell aka Sparky


Keeper
Chris Head
Richard Lord

Defenders

Andy Hibbert (Captain)
Mark Powell
Jon Turnbull
Chris Lloyd
Dave Healey
Marc Coldwell
John Wood
Martin Foster

Midfielders

Andy Wheeler
Chris Quaife
Danny Bott
Al Hey
Jon Keith
Ben Cater
Joe Varley
Paul Dawson
Adam Emmott

Forwards

Richard Arundel
Ben Woods
Nick Cockcroft
Rory Kroon Dog
Danny Knight