Badgers Draw with Wanderers.

WCFC U14s The Badgers staged a second half comeback to draw in a feisty opening league game against Westbury Wanderers at a sunny Northbrook Stadium. The Badgers made a lively start to the game, with a shot from Archie on the turn flashing just past the post. Winning the ball high, William D chipped a lovely ball across which Jack sweetly volleyed just over from the edge of the box. Archie then had a shot cleared off the line following confusion in the Wanderers box but slowly Westbury started to get into the game and header from a throw in flashed just wide. The Wanderers took the lead on 21 mins when following some indecision from a goal kick between Oli and William, Bailey brought down the Westbury striker in the box, who picked himself up to coolly dispatch the resultant penalty past William in the Badgers goal. Westbury were now in the ascendancy, putting concerted pressure on the Badgers in an increasingly competitive battle. The Badgers still were creating chances, with Jack and William D both having shots that went just wide but were lucky to avoid conceding a second penalty when William came together in the box robustly with the Westbury striker with the ref's decision going in the Badger's favour, leaving the score 0-1 at half-time.

The Badger's made a tactical change at half time, switching William D into midfield to go 3-5-2, which led to a better start to the second half. The WCFC coaches thought they had an equaliser when a corner from Bailey had gone in direct, only to find the ball had crept through a hole in the side netting. However, Wanderers competitive style was still disrupting the Badgers. Following an altercation at a corner, the Badgers' lost their focus, allowing Westbury to score a scruffy second from close in. Badger's moved to 4 at the back with Harvey coming on at right back to support Oli, Bailey and Theo. The switch enabled the Badgers to neutralise the Wanderers threat and the midfield of Toby, Sonny, Theo and Lewis to gain control for the first time since the opening minutes. The next goal was critical and it went to the Badgers when a fantastic long range shot from the left from Jack flashed over the Wanderers keeper to ripple the Westbury net. Now the game was end to end, with Eddie, now in goal for the Badgers, having to make a smart save with his feet. The Badgers however looked most likely to score next and a deserved equaliser finally came when a through ball from Nathan put Jack through to slot past the keeper for his second goal of the game. The Badgers finished the game the strongest and almost snatched the win when only some desperate last ditch blocks from the Wanderers stopped William D and then Ash from scoring in a goal mouth scramble. Thus the game ended 2-2, a game which demonstrated the character within the Badger's team and how competitive this division promises to be this season.