Badgers Narrowly Lose 7 Goal Epic to Aztecs

WCFC U15s The Badgers fell to a narrow defeat against league leaders Bradford Town Aztecs with history repeating itself in an uncompromising game at a grey overcast Northbrook on Sunday. Kicking off with a 3-4-1-2 formation towards the club house end, the Badgers made the worst possible start, falling behind when the Aztecs cut through down the right and scored in the first minute. It took the Badgers time to settle into the game but on 10 minutes, against the run of play, they equalised when Aiden won the ball in midfield to play in Jack S who slotted the ball across the keeper into the net with customary aplomb. The Badgers were now competing well in a fiercely competitive game, with Jack P, Bailey and Solly having tussles with the powerful Aztecs front three. Attacking wise, the Badgers were still creating chances, with Jack firing in a shot over the bar on 15 minutes and then having another blocked from an inviting cross in from the right from Eddie. Toby then tested the Aztec keeper with a fierce dipping drive but it was the Aztecs who took control of the game with 2 goals in 2 minutes. The first came on 22 minutes from an excellent free kick from the left which the Aztec striker curled expertly over the wall into the top corner leaving William helpless. Straight from the kick off it was 3-1 when the Aztecs burst straight through the centre of the Badgers to lash the ball into the net. Shell shocked again, it was all hands to pump in a desperate rear guard action with Ashton and Eddie dropping back to create a back 5 in an attempt to stem the flow of relentless Aztec attacks. In a rare counter attack, a superb long cross field ball from Lewis right off the training ground released Ashton, only for the Aztec keeper to make a smart save. The Badger's rode their luck when another Aztecs free kick went just past the post and another shot cannoned back from the bar, but with the last attack of the half a typically dangerous deep free kick from Bailey just alluded desperate lunges from Nathan, Sonny and Ashton at the far post to leave the score 3-1 at half time.

During half time, the Badgers made a tactical switch to 4-4-2 with Bailey partnering Jack in the centre, Lewis at left back, Ashton in left midfield and Aiden switching to right midfield with the injured Eddie withdrawn. The first action of the second half was in the Badgers box when man of the match William made an excellent double save after 44 minutes to keep the Badgers in the game. The importance was reinforced 2 minutes later when the Badgers got back in the game when Aiden again released Jack through on the left and, just as in the first half, he found the net to make it 3-2. The turning point of the game came on 51 minutes when history repeated itself. Teddy, now up front and using his pace to great effect, played a measured through ball for Jack but agonisingly his shot came back of the far post and rolled along the goal line into the arms of the keeper. Just as at Bradford earlier in the season, the Badgers were denied an equaliser by the woodwork. William then made arguably his best save of the season when he went full length to tip a shot around the post but he was helpless to stop the Aztecs making it 4-2 when they produced a flowing move down the right to square the ball inside for their striker to score on 56 minutes. It was tough on the Badgers who were the better team in the second half, and they deservedly came back into again on 63 minutes when a fierce shot from Toby crashed back off the cross bar for goal machine Jack S to head in the rebound and complete his second hat-trick in consecutive games, making it 21 in another extraordinary season. The game was now full-on with tackles flying in across the pitch and no quarter given by either team. Joe was now on bringing fresh legs to the defence and the Badgers were throwing people forward at every opportunity but try as they might, the ball just wouldn't fall for them to get a deserved 4th equaliser. And so it finished 3-4 to the Aztecs, the tough, combative attack minded league leaders, but it was harsh on the Badgers who fought hard right to the end and showed great character to keep coming back into game. But for the woodwork, they'd have drawn level in winning the second half. Another defeat in a hard season that leaves the Badgers 9th in the table but with games in hand and lots of positives to take into next week's crucial game against Castle Combe.