Badgers Tame Weather and the Colts!

WCFC U15s The Badgers overcame injury and the weather to beat Castle Combe Colts at a gusty Northbrook stadium on Sunday. The Badgers, starting 4-4-2, were missing Sonny and Nathan so Aidan started in centre mid and Teddy upfront, with Lewis recovering from illness on the bench with Harvey and Joe. Making excellent use of the wind behind them, the Badgers made a strong start, hemming the Colts into their own half. Ashton was the first to test the tall Colts keeper with a shot from the left. After 4 minutes Solly dinked a lovely ball over the top for Jack to run on to but the wind carried his shot wide. It was all Badger's attacking and they deservedly took the lead after 9 minutes. In a move seen several times this season, Jack cut in from the left along the goal line and placed the ball across the keeper into the far corner. Toby then shot over the bar from distance before the Badger's made it 2-0 on 13 minutes. Jack S was this time provider with a cross form the left which Eddie gambled on, running in at the far post to beat the keeper and slot in his first goal of the season. Teddy almost made it 3 after 16 minutes when he nudged the ball past the keeper only for him to make a desperate lunge back towards his line and scramble it clear. The first Colts chance came on 16 minutes from a free kick which Ashton defended well at the far post. Theo then made two strong challenges in a row from left back, stopping the Colts No 10 from a dangerous attack. A dangerous free kick from Bailey went wide on 30 mins but it seemed like the Badgers could score anytime whilst at the back Jack P and Bailey were utterly dominant, winning both first and second ball. However, they inexplicably started to take their foot off the gas allowing the Colts back into the game with 2 goals in 3 minutes. The first came on 34 minutes from a ball in from the right, the Colts winger finding a yard to evade the defender and fire the ball across William into the far corner of the net. On 36 minutes it was 2-2, this time with a move through the centre, so at half time it was somehow all square in a half the Badgers completed dominated attacking wise.

The second half saw a tactical switch from the Badgers as the sought to win the game for a second time. Against the wind and expecting to be pushed back, Harvey was introduced to bring physical strength at right back, Solly pushed forward into right midfield, Aidan upfront and Lewis in centre mid. All those plans went out the window when Jack P was forced off after 10 minutes with injury, meaning Lewis and Aidan then dropped back one and Eddie went upfront. But it was the Badgers that were mastering the conditions best, keeping the ball on the ground. Toby started to dominate the midfield playing lovely little chipped balls through. One of these released Ashton who's cross from the left found Jack to bring a good save from the Colts keeper. With the game now heating up with tackles flying in the Colts had their first real chance with the ball coming back off the post, only for it to be offside. Teddy was desperately close to the goal his effort deserved when he almost turned in a Bailey free kick but finally on 52 minutes the Badgers got the run of the green that has been missing for a few weeks. The Colts keeper made a mistake in the box allowing Aidan to pounce to turn in his first goal for the club and make it 3-2. The 11th different scorer of the season. Still the excitement wasn't over. After making two smart saves William had to come off injured, meaning Eddie was in goal, his 3rd position of the game and seeing Joe introduced up front. The game was now really stretched. Ashton fired a fierce shot into the keeper's body and then Lewis saved a certain goal with a clearance out of the 6 yard box. On 66 minutes the Badgers produced one of their best counter attacks of the season to go 4-2 up. The move started deep in the Badgers half with a strong tackle from Solly, Toby then finding Aidan and his through ball released Jack to race through and score his second. Cue wild celebrations in the corner. The game wasn't yet won. Eddie produced an excellent fingertip save down to his right to push a shot onto the post. Joe was working his socks off occupying the whole Colts back four. Twice it seemed Jack was going to finish the game and score his third hat-trick in consecutive games but he fired one shot just wide and chipped another past the post when 1 on 1 with the keeper. When the Colts headed a final chance wide with 3 minutes left, the Badgers had recorded a tremendous, well deserved 4-2 victory. The commitment showed by all 14 players to overcome all the injures and enforced changes, the disappointment of being pegged back and the weather was testament to the character in the side. A victory over a hard-working competitive and talented Colts team in which the Badgers mastered the conditions better in both halves to produce one of their best performances of the season in another exciting game. One which pushes them up to 7th in Mid Wilts Youth Division Blue.