Aztecs Early Blitz Overpowers Badgers!

WCFC U15s The Badgers fell to defeat away at Bradford Town Aztecs in the sunshine at Victory Field today. Before the game, a vote of the players confirmed Jack as permanent team captain. Starting 4-4-2, within midfielder Toby missing through injury the Badgers sprung a selection surprise dropping Jack back into midfield, with Nathan and Teddy starting up front. The Aztecs made by far the stronger start. They had already had a header over the bar before they took the lead after just 4 minutes, their striker breaking down the left evading Lewis and Theo before cutting inside Bailey to fire into the corner of the net. 1-0 become 2-0 just 2 minutes later when this time they cut through down the right and swept the ball across the box for a tap in at the far post. Shell shocked, the Badgers defence was now at full stretch with the two powerful Aztecs central strikers proving a handful for both Jack P and Bailey and their wingers proving troublesome for full back Theo and Joe, winning first ball and the majority of 50:50s. The blitz meant it was hard to assess the success of Jack in midfield but the Badgers were also struggling to get a hold of the ball in the final third. On 20 minutes, The Badgers made a tactical change, introducing Louis to give more physical presence up front with Jack, and Ashton coming on to partner Sonny in the centre. The tactics worked and suddenly on 27 minutes they were back into the game. A long ball from keeper William through the centre was beautifully flicked on by Louis for Jack to burst clear and slot the ball confidently into the net for his 9th goal in 6 games. The rest of the half was even, with both sides struggling for composure on the ball and to keep it on the ground, but it was the Aztecs who looked more dangerous, with keeper William required to come out and confidently claim a few threatening through balls to keep it 2-1 at the break.

The Badger were forced into changes at half-time, with Jack P and William forced off with injury requiring Lewis to switch to centre half and Eddie to go between the sticks with Nathan on the right of midfield and Teddy left. Despite this rearrangement, to their immense credit the Badgers roared back into the game, becoming dominant. Joe and Theo switched sides at full back and now reduced the threats down the flanks, both getting on the front foot. The turning point of the whole game came on 58 minutes when a precise shot from Jack from just outside the box following a nice interchange between Teddy and Ashton came back off the inside of the post and rolled across the goal line. 2 minutes later and rather than 2-2, it was 3-1 when Teddy was adjudged to have fouled the Aztec striker in the box who picked himself up to slot the penalty past Eddie. 4-1 followed soon after when a teasing cross from the left could only be pushed on by Eddie to be swept in at the far post. The game was now end-to-end with tackles flying in all over the pitch. The Aztecs hit the crossbar and Eddie made 2 smart stops before the Badgers showed great character to pull one back. A Bailey corner from the right bounced in the box and man of the match Sonny, who worked tirelessly in midfield all game, dropped a shoulder and cut inside to fire the ball into the top of the net with his left foot for his first goal of the season. The Badgers then threw caution to the wind and almost pulled another back when Jack's shot flashed just wide and then his close range shot from the left hit the angle of post and crossbar. With the Badger's pushing forward, the Aztecs wrapped up the win with a close-range finish. And so it ended 5-2, a game the Aztecs probably shaded thanks to their strong start but with a slightly flattering scoreline. The Badgers showed great character in a much improved second half, especially with all the changes, and came within a lick of paint from equalising. The result leaves the Badgers going into the half term break in a respectable mid table, joint 5th with 2 wins and 2 defeats from their 4 games (and into the second round of the Wiltshire Cup), 3 points off second, in what again is proving to be a really entertaining, tough and competitive Mid Wilts Division Blue.