Football is like a religion to me. I worship the ball, and I treat it like a god. Too many players think of a football as something to kick. They should be taught to caress it and to treat it like a precious gem. Pele
8 Wavertonites downed their Weetabix and made the early morning journey up the M53 to Wallasey along with a number of parents, supporters and Emma's dogs. No complaints to UEFA from us about kick off times or travel arrangements.
The Delph was the scene of the first away game in the league back in September against Wanderers' other team and it took a few weeks to recover from the shock of that heavy defeat. Against the Reds though there was more hope give the close encounter at Waverton in the Autumn. Kiera took charge of the warm up and what an excellent job she did of it too with running, stretching and shooting routines all organised.
Waverton lined up with Cara in expansive Delph nets, a back two of Emma and Ellie M, Nicola in centre of midfield with Lily and Kiera alongside and Little Laura up front in the hope of bagging another couple of goals like she did last week. Ellie R was the super sub. The ground was very hard, especially in the centre, following the recent dry spell.
Straight from the start, unusually, the Waverton girls looked up for it. Cara looked bang on form with her goal kicks and it was from a long kick by Cara that the ball came to Kiera on the left who fired a great shot home. 1-0. Nosebleed time.
Wallasey weren't going to lie down easily and grabbed one back to make it 1-1. Nicola was using her strength in the middle and Kiera and Lily were proving to be very tricky alongside. Ellie was looking very classy at the back bringing out the ball from the defence comfortably, whilst Emma was solid as a rock alongside her. Laura looked lively but just needed the ball on the ground to go forward. Wanderers got another goal and then another. Two decent free kick chances were given to Waverton, one given after Nicola was brought down in full attacking flow injuring her wrist, but in either case Nicola couldn't make it count.
Ellie R was thrown onto the left wing to use her speed and then other changes took place as the team was rotated. In the second half Kiera had a chance in front of goal but hit it at the keeper and then did it again soon after. Another chance looked like the same outcome except that the keeper lost control of the ball and it wobbled through her legs into the net just as Kiera had turned away angry with missing the chance. Nicola had a number of chances but just couldn't find the target and Ellie R deceptive shot was inches wide of the left post. Kiera completed her hattrick in brilliant fashion when excellent work by Nicola resulted in her shot being parried by the keeper but the captain was there to thrash the ball home. By that time Wanderers had scored a fourth and the last 5 minutes saw Waverton pressure to get the equaliser, but despite trying, it just couldn't come. Just before the end, Nicola banged her head with another player in a challenge and was a bit dazed but bravely carried on.
A good game all round, a great performance and one that deserved at least a point. There were so many positives, particularly at the back where Cara was a relevation in goal and Emma and Ellie M were as good as any defensive pairing in the League this season. It gets better with each game and it's a shame that this team only has one more League game to play before it is broken up.
MOM - Nicola Jones and for Wanderers Natasha Kearney.
Training this Wednesday evening 6-7 with Mike and Heather.
UPDATE - NO GAME ON SATURDAY MAY 1 BUT OUR ONE REMAINING GAME AGAINST WIRRAL HAWKS IS LIKELY TO BE PLAYED ON SATURDAY MAY 8TH.
