Chester & District League (6th February 2011)
Waverton Scorers (season's total in brackets)
Robbie Foster - 2 (9)
Matt Sheen - 1 (24)
Jorge Percival - 1 (1)
Alex Wilkinson - 1 (7)
Report
Waverton found themselves on much more solid ground this time for their second consecutive game against a combative Princes Villa team, and despite a bit of a scare half way through, they played by far the better football and eventually ran out comfortable 5-2 winners.
For once the Wasps got off to a flying start, taking the lead after just a minute or two as Matt Sheen ran on to a penetrtaing through ball from Robbie Foster and calmly finished for his 24th goal of the campaign. After barely five minutes had gone they'd doubled their advantage, with the newly converted midfielder Jorge Percival chesting home a Robbie Foster cross from close range.
Coming so quickly after a defeat the previous week, Waverton's initial dominance, and the high quality of their early play put a Princes Villa side (who'd arrived full of confidence) on the back foot. There followed a number of chances within the next 15/20 minutes for the Wasps to drive this advantage home, and put the game beyond doubt, but instead the home team started to over complicate their play and, as a result, didn't add to their lead in the way they should have done. Inevitably Princes Villa took heart from this, and using a physical approach all over the field started to come back into the game. When Waverton tried, inadvisably, to play their way out of defence just before half time, they conceded a goal very much against the run of play to take only a slim 2-1 advantage into the break.
The conditions worsened in the second half, with Waverton having to play against an ever stronger wind, and with Princes Villa gaining in confidence (and using a very robust approach) it was clear Waverton were going to need a very strong performance to secure the three points, especially when, ten minutes into the second period, a series of weak Wasps clearances allowed the away team to pull level at 2-2.
From this point on though the Wasps showed real character, standing up very well to the growing physical challenge and, importantly, winning back the advantage by continuing to play good passing football. After a long spell of pressure Robbie Foster latched on to a loose ball in the Princes Villa box to restore a Waverton lead, and further deserved goals followed from a fine Alex Wilkinson strike and a second goal from Robbie Foster, this one a rare header from a good deep cross from Matt Sheen. This Princes Villa side, strengthened in mid-season, are now difficult opponents, but Waverton stood up well to the pressure and thoroughly deserved the final, comfortable, 5-2 scoreline.
Where this leaves the title chase now depends on whether the League decide to add a further (third) round of matches. If not, Waverton will, at the least, face a play-off for the title against either Boughton or Nomads (if one of them wins their last three games). If there are more matches though, then it will just give the Wasps, who at their best are the strongest team in the league, the chance to win the title all over again. Playing to their full potential a treble winning season remains firmly on the cards.
Manager's MoM: Alex Abraham
Supporters' MoM: Robbie Foster/Jorge Percival
