Badgers Back to Winning Ways!

WCFC U14s The Badgers came from behind to extend their unbeaten start to the season with a comfortable win over the Bradford Town Aztecs at a sunny Northbrook yesterday. With injuries depriving them of skipper Oli and midfielder Toby, the Badgers reverted to their usual 3-4-3 formation with Jack, Sonny, Jenson and Lewis all making a welcome return to the squad after missing the cup defeat at Titans last week. The Badgers made a strong start, with early chances for Jack, Ashton and the lively Teddy. From a cross from the left by Teddy, a header from Jack hit the angle of crossbar and post. It was therefore against the run of play when on 15 minutes the Aztecs took the lead. Not for the first time this season, the Badgers failed to clear a corner and a Bradford midfielder hit a firm low shot from the edge of the box that Badgers keeper William got a strong hand to but couldn't quite keep out. The lead didn't last long however. On 18 minutes, a quick first time through ball from Sonny put Jack clear and he slipped the ball coolly under the advancing Aztecs keeper to equalize. Three minutes later Ashton, pressing high from left wing back, stole the ball off the Aztec defender following a goal kick and calmly lobbed the ball back over the Aztec keeper into the net. Two become three 4 minutes later when following more concerted pressure from the Badgers, Jack broke away again down the right to fire a thunderbolt past the helpless Bradford keeper. The Badgers were now firmly in control and rounded off a great half when William D won the ball on the edge of the box, jinxed onto his favoured left foot and fired a fierce shot into the bottom corner to make it 4-1 to the Badgers at half time.

The second half saw Jenson introduced on the right hand side of midfield, putting in a typical all action display of non-stop running, but it was the Aztecs who made the better start, enjoying their best spell of the game. However, the Badgers back three of Korey, Theo and Bailey stood up to the test well, with some typically strong tackling, blocks and covering, and despite the pressure another Melksham style collapse was never likely. The game was now very scrappy and only a brave save from William G combined with a great last ditch tackle from Korey prevented the Aztecs from scoring a second. in a bid to regain control, The Badgers switched to 3-5-2, with Lewis joining Archie and Sonny in centre midfield. Slowly, the Badgers upper the tempo and work rate and regained the initiative. Ashton made a stunning 50 yard run from his own half in a great example of wing play to narrowly miss getting on a cross from the right. Only a stunning one handed diving save from the Aztecs keeper prevented Nathan, now marauding up front, scoring his first goal for the Badgers. The 5th goal when it came on 58 minutes, summed up the life of a keeper when a shot from Man of the Match Jack from the edge of the box somehow squirmed under his body and was adjudged to have just crossed the line by the Aztecs linesman, despite the keeper's desperate attempt to claw it back. If there was an element of good fortune about his hat-trick goal, there was none about his 4th, a final goal which epitomised what the Badgers are all about. With only 5 minutes to go, tremendous work rate from Eddie to not give up a lost cause closed down the Aztec's full back forcing him to play a loose ball into midfield where it was intercepted by Archie pressing high. His swift pass to Nathan went one touch wide to Eddie who whipped a first time cross into the box for Jack to head powerfully into the Aztecs net. So it ended 6-1, a comfortable and deserved win for the Badgers against a spirited and determined Aztec who worked hard and defied their lowly league position but perhaps lacked a cutting edge to their play. The win keeps the Badgers handily placed in 4th going into the half-term break, only 1 point behind the 3 teams above them but having played a game more.