'Championes, Championes, Ole! Ole! Ole!'

WCFC U13s The Badgers produced a truly outstanding all round team performance to wash away title rivals Chippenham Town at a rain lashed Northbrook Stadium on Sunday. This eagerly anticipated 'winner-takes-all' title clash drew the biggest, socially distanced, crowd of the season despite the atrocious weather which made note taking impossible. Both teams made a strong start, the game evenly poised and it was Chippenham who showed the early threat forcing two corners which were dealt with by the Badgers defence but in a manner which did nothing for the nerves of the Badgers Coaches. However, it the Badgers who started to take control of the midfield, with Toby, Sonny, Lewis and Theo winning first ball and driving Chippenham back. From an incisive defence splitting through ball by Toby, Jack fired just wide. The first of numerous dangerous corners from Bailey, such a potent weapon in the Badgers arsenal, a flashing near post volley from Sonny hit the outside of the post. It was no surprise then that with the front 3 of Teddy, William and Jack exerting constant pressure on the Chippenham defence, the Badgers took the lead when Jack snapped up a typically sharp chance from just inside the box. In quick succession, the Badgers extended their lead with two outstanding low long range strikes from outside the box, first from Sonny and then from William D, to make it 3-0. However, the best was still to come. In the goal of the game, Jack cut in from the right and fired a thunderous shot right into the top bins of the Chippenham net. Even the ref was carried away with the excitement, blowing up 5 mins early for half-time, until reminded by the Chippenham bench. However, the 'extra' 5 minutes made no difference and it was still 4-0 at half time, a scoreline many couldn't have dreamed of but nevertheless was fully deserved as the Badgers dominated the game.

With the coaches message that the game was not over still ringing in their ears, the Badgers set about the second half as they ended the first. Any sign of an unlikely Chippenham comeback was extinguished within minutes when Jack pounced again to complete his hat trick to make it 5-0. Still Chippenham, to their credit, never gave up and kept pushing forward and only some hard tackling and outstanding individual and collective defending by captain Oli, Bailey, Ashton and Jenson kept them out. On the odd time they were beaten, goalie William, back to his commanding best, was there to clear and sweep up with authority. Chippenham almost got a consolation their continued effort deserved with a corner that hit the outside of the post but it was the Badgers who put the icing on an extraordinary day when an exquisite cross from Eddie, now causing havoc on the right, put in Man of the Match Jack for a final chance he put away with relish. Encouraged by the crowd which made such a difference, the Badgers pushed on right to the final minutes and only a desperate last lunge from a Chippenham defender denied Harvey, one of the most improved Badgers players of the season, from his maiden goal as he drove forward down the left.

So it ended 6-0, the best, amazing and most complete all round performance from the Badgers of the season in overcoming a very talented and hard working Chippenham Town, who's contribution to an excellent match despite the conditions shouldn't be overlooked. Their coaches were also commendably magnanimous in defeat. As well as displaying a ruthlessness in front of goal they have been threatening for a while, the first Badgers clean sheet of the season, finally, was also immensely satisfying. The final whistle was rightly the cue for delight and delirium both on the pitch and the touchline. Every one of the 14 players were heroes in White and Black and deserve the plaudits for an outstanding season like no other. Now with the title secured, one only one challenge remains, to remain unbeaten through the final league game of the season next week against Larkhall to earn the title 'Invincibles'. Bring it on!