Badgers Promotion Push Lift Off!

WCFC U14s The Badgers continued their push for promotion by beating 2nd placed Castle Coombe with 2 goals in 1 second half minute at a sun drenched Castle Coombe park on Sunday. The Badgers brought a 15 man squad with only Toby missing, and started with their customary 3-4-3 formation with Archie playing in the number 10 position. The first minutes were even, with both sides feeling each other out. The cut grass left on the pitch made it difficult for the Badgers to play their passing game whilst the Colts main tactic soon became clear: long ball over the top into the space behind the Badgers defence. It was a tactic that was ultimately to prove fruitless all game, with skipper Oli sweeping most things up and when he didn't, the Badgers keeper William was commanding, confidently clearing or claiming every ball. Slowly, the Badgers started to push the Colts back, forcing them to drop deep. The first chance came on 14 minutes when Archie went through but his shot from the angle went narrowly wide. Ashton, playing on the left, was next to test the Colts keeper on 22 minutes. On 26 minutes a corner from Bailey on the left, such a potent weapon for the Badgers all season, flashed across the goal with both Teddy and Eddie just failing to get a touch at the far post. Sonny then played a sumptuous through ball for Archie, who was only denied by an excellent last ditch tackle by the impressive Colts' centre half. The Colts however were starting to take control of the game so the Badgers made a tactical switch, bringing on Louis up front to stop their centre half playing out and Harvey at right back to neutralise their best striker. Both changes were highly effective but it still took a strong header from Eddie covering around the back from right midfield to stop a dangerous diagonal ball leading to chance. But it was the Badgers who finished the half stronger, with a free kick from Bailey and a shot from Korey both going just wide to leave it goalless at the end of an entertaining and competitive first half.

It was the Colts who started the second half quicker, enjoying their best spell of the game and it took a smart stop from William from a close range shot to prevent them taking the lead. After 42 minutes, somewhat against the run of play, Jack made a devastating solo burst down the left touchline, running from his own half leaving the full back trailing before cutting in only to fire narrowly into the side netting for what would've been a goal of the season contender. The game then turned on two bits of quality within 1 minute after 47 minutes. First was a dangerous ball in from deep from Ashton which the Colts keeper could only push out for Lewis, following in from right midfield, to tap into the net. Then from the kick off, Jack won a free kick and Bailey fired in a wonderful trademark long range free kick just under the bar to make it 2-0. The Badgers now had the measure of their opponents, with Theo in left midfield closing down their most creative midfielder. Archie had a fierce long range shot superbly saved saved at full strength by the impressive Colts keeper, who then denied Sonny from close range after a flowing Badgers move involving some first time passing between Nathan, Korey and Archie left the Badgers coaches purring. Teddy was now using his pace up front to stretch the Colts defence, giving them yet another problem on the break, but the Colts weren't finished and started to pile men forward. Only some great defending by Oli, Harvey and Bailey combined kept them out and their striker then fired their best chance over the bar from an angle to prevent a nervous last 5 minutes. However, it was Nathan who epitomised what the Badgers have been all about all season when, in the very last minute with the game won, he chased down a lost cause from 30 yards to win a corner. It was a fitting end to what was a complete team performance and victory over a very good competitive Colts side, where every one of the 15 players contributed what was required of them from start to finish, and the team had the extra quality when required to edge it. If this turns out to be the last league game we actually play this season, then they have gone out in style and kept the best result for last.