Tarvin Athletic 1 v 3 AFC Waverton Wasps

Doug Johnson Trophy (16th January 2011)

Waverton Scorers (season's total in brackets)

Sam Jones - 2 (18)

Matt Sheen - 1 (22)

Report

Waverton ran out fairly comfortable winners in this DJT cup tie, keeping their treble chances alive for the season. Although Tarvin proved to be tougher than expected opponents the Wasps outplayed them with some of their best passing football of the season.

The match kicked off on a very soggy Tarporley High School pitch, but the conditions didn't stop either side making a bright start to the game, with Waverton quickly playing some better passing football than they'd displayed in recent games, but with Tarvin standing up well to the challenge with some strong play of their own. After the opening exchanges Waverton started to take control of the match, and created a number of chances but some robust Tarvin defence, and good goalkeeping, meant the scores stayed level for the first 20 minutes. Eventually though the Wasps took the lead their territorial advantage deserved, with Sam Jones slotting home after being put through by a very good Aaron Hassall through ball. Waverton should really have built on this lead over the next ten minutes, but having missed a few chances the inevitable happened as Tarvin equalised from a good strike, following a rare attack, and then held on to take a 1-1 scoreline into the break.

Waverton's play had deserved better, and a calm half time talk from the manager simply asked for "more of the same", on the basis that continuing to create that many chances should prove to be enough to win the tie. The team duly delivered exactly what was asked of them. A strong defensive performance, led by Jordan Coxall, comfortably repelled any further Tarvin attacks, the midfield more than held their own against opponents that were strongest in that area, with Aaron Hassall & Robbie Simpson in particularly controlling the centre of the park, and the strikeforce delivered what was required with second half goals from Matt Sheen and Sam Jones, taking them to a tally of 40 goals between them season to date.

The performance was actually stronger than the final 3-1 scoreline would suggest, but this was more than enough to take Waverton through to the next round where they should be confident of progressing further whatever opposition the draw throws up next time.

Manager's MoM: Jordan Coxall

Supporters' MoM: Robbie Simpson/Aaron Hassall