Badgers Take Down the Eagles!

WCFC U14s The Badgers blew away Trowbridge Town Eagles with an awesome display at a grey and chilly Trowbridge on Sunday, avenging their only home league defeat of the season. Retaining the same starting 11 and 3-4-1-2 formation so impressive in the last 2 games, the Badgers made their characteristic strong start, taking the lead in 3 minutes. In what is rapidly becoming a devastating attacking partnership, Jack slide in Teddy who finished calmly from just inside the box. He almost had a second a few minutes later but was denied by a sharp save from the Eagles keeper with his feet. On a heavy cloggy pitch, the Badgers were playing some impressive flowing attacking football across the pitch. The Eagles were countering with a more direct style, looking dangerous with runners off the back of throw ins which were causing the Badgers problems. William G in the Badgers goal made a sharp save from a corner on 18 mins but a minute later the Eagles equalised when, for the only time in the game, the Eagles striker got the better of both Badgers skipper Oli and Ashton to burst into the box and rifle the ball high into the net. That just inspired the Badgers to roar back. Korey and Sonny were again dominating midfield, winning first and second ball and feeding sharp passes through to Archie, now really settling into the number 10 position. On the flanks, man of the match Ashton showed great anticipation racing forward at every opportunity on the left, whilst on the right Eddie pocketed the dangerous Eagles number 7 and put in some dangerous crosses. They took the lead on 24 minutes when Jack dropped deep, collected the ball on the right and cut into the centre before firing an excellent low shot into the bottom left hand corner from outside the box. They were unlucky not to increase the lead before half time with chances falling to Teddy and Jack, a rasping long range shot from Eddie just skimming the bar and Bailey firing in a fierce free kick from the edge of the box which the Eagles keeper saved well low down, in the last action of an eventful first half which ended with the Badgers 2-1 up.

The second half saw a welcome return to action for Toby, coming on as substitute after a period of illness to give Sonny a breather having run his socks off. As in the first half, the Badgers scored 3 minutes in, this time from another enticing corner from Bailey from the left which the unfortunate Eagles keeper could only help into the top corner of his own net. 3 became 4 two minutes later when Korey showed great tenacity and individual skill to first win the ball and then beat 3 or 4 men on the left hand side before breaking into the box and putting the ball on a plate for Jack to score his second of the game. Teddy was next to get his second and the Badgers' 5th when he and Nathan did a slick interchange outside the box, defying the pitch conditions, and Teddy's shot found the bottom corner, albeit with the aid of a deflection. Jack could have completed his hat-trick a few minutes later when he was upended in the box but unfortunately his penalty rebounded off the post. Putting that disappointment behind him like all good strikers, his 3rd hat-trick of the season did come a minute later when this time it was Archie bursting into the box from the right leaving defenders in his wake to chip to the far post for Jack to nod in. Nathan and Lewis were now in the action, bringing fresh legs and energy to what was a dominant Badgers performance. Despite still competing, the Eagles had limited attacking options and when they did try to come forward they found the Badgers defence of Oli, Bailey and Theo rock solid, tackling fiercely, covering each other, winning first and second ball and pushing the Badgers forward. Collectively, they reduced the Eagles to just one shot in the whole of the 2nd half, a shot which William, showing great concentration, did excellently to force wide by spreading himself in front of the striker to put him off. In another contender for goal of the season and reminiscent of a goal he scored last season at Corsham, Lewis, who had taken over from Eddie in successfully neutralising the threat from the Eagles number 7 then looped a high shot from the right touch line in languid style high over the keeper into the top corner. It was left to Teddy to wrestle jack for the match ball when he completed his hat-trick, and the scoring, on 65 minutes. In a move that epitomised the outstanding work effort from every Badgers player and the team ethos, Ashton led the press from a Eagles goal kick, was joined by Nathan who won the ball and drew a save from the Eagles keeper leaving Teddy to slot home the rebound. So it ended 8-1, another fantastic all round team performance against a commendable, hard working and talented Eagles team on a difficult pitch in a game played in good spirt. The win makes it 3 on the spin in '22: 18 scored and only 2 conceded, leaving the Badgers a point behind leaders Westbury but having played 3 games more.