AFC Waverton Wasps 4 v 1 Princes Villa

Chester & District League (14 April 2011)

Waverton Scorers (season's total in brackets)

Matt Sheen  -  3 (35)

Jorge Percival  -  1 (5)

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This was far from being Waverton's most convincing performance of the season, and with just five minutes to go the result looked in doubt. From somewhere though the Wasps found a spirited finish to run out 4-1 victors, leaving themselves just one more victory away (from three fixtures) from securing their second consecutive League title.

As always Princes Villa proved tough opponents to break down, and dangerous themselves on the break. Waverton looked like a team who were tired from their recent run of games, and weren't passing the ball as well as they have recently. They still created a number of chances in the first half though, but their finishing was again below par. At the other end Princes Villa had a couple of good long range efforts, but Ollie Tyler proved equal to both of them turning both shots away for corners. Unusually therefore Waverton went into the break at 0-0, the first scoreless half of the season.

The team applied themselves a bit better at the start of the second period, and their domination was finally rewarded as they took the lead from one of Matt Sheen's speciality crosses from the left, going over the keeper and landing in the side netting. What the Wasps needed at this point was a second goal, to take full control, but again they passed up a number of good opportunities, leaving Princes Villa still in with a shout. As a result it was no real surprise when the visitors equalised, direct from a free-kick, mid way through the half.

Waverton reacted well, and were soon back in front as Matt Sheen bundled home his second from close range, after a strong Jorge Percival run and cross. Yet again though they couldn't find the crucial two goal advantage. With five minutes remaining it looked like they'd end up paying for this, as Princes Villa were awarded a penalty after Matt Bannaghan blocked a goal bound effort with his arm. However, Ollie Tyler made a fantastic save diving to his left to keep the Waverton lead intact, and with the Princes Villa players a bit deflated Waverton took full advantage, breaking away a minute later with Jorge Percival finishing well, from a Will Doerr through ball, to make the score 3-1. It was finally "game over" and Waverton pushed home their advantage further with Matt Sheen completing his second consecutive hat-trick, with his best strike of the evening.

With a seasonal break now, until Nomads Colts on the 1 May (a potential title decider), the Waverton player can re-charge their batteries befor making one final effort to win three possible trophies.

Coach's MoM: Matt Sheen/Matt Bannaghan

Supporters MoM: Ollie Tyler

2010/11 Record: P21, W18, D1, L2. F118, A30. 

AFC Waverton Wasps 11 v 2 Newton Athletic

ATOL Cup Semi Final (10 April 2001)

Waverton Scorers (season's total in brackets)

Matt Sheen - 3 (32)

Sam Jones - 3 (27)

Aaron Hassall - 1 (15)

Alex Wilkinson - 1 (8)

Jorge Percival - 1 (4)

Charlie Nicholson - 1 (4)

Will Doerr - 1 (2)

Report

After beating Newton 14-0 earlier in the season, in the President's Cup, this never looked like being the trickiest of semi-final draws, and so it proved with Waverton coasting through 11-2 to face Nomads in the final next month, to be played at Chester's stadium.

For the first ten minutes or so though the match started as a fairly even contest. Newton are a big physical team and in the opening exchanges they gave as good as they got, and even had a couple of half chances to take a surprise lead. The Wasps had started a little bit nervously, perhaps beginning to realise that the chance of three trophies is getting ever nearer, but once they settled into their full passing game they began to take control of the match.

As usual it was the sixth or seventh clear chance before Waverton eventually took the lead, with a calm finish from Aaron Hassall, but then the floodgates opened. Matt Sheen and Jorge Percival added the second and third goals within the next five minutes, and from 3-0 the match was virtually over as a contest just half way through the first period. Waverton continued to add to their lead at regular intervals through the remainder of the half, with a second strike from Matt Sheen, a great long range effort from Will Doerr, and two goals from Sam Jones, the second from a long through ball from Matt Banaghan who performed very solidly as a stand in keeper. At the break the Wasps had taken a commanding 7-0 advantage.

The second period started with a rare Waverton defensive lapse, allowing Newton to open their account, but soon settled into a similar pattern to the first half with Waverton dominating both possession and territory. Both strikers completed deserved hat-tricks, with Matt Sheen in particular dominating the Newton defence throughout. Alex Wilkinson joined the scorers with a fine left foot strike into the top corner, and Charlie Nicholson kept up his recent fine record of scoring with a back post header. The defence looked strong throughout, with Jordan Coxall covering solidly for an occasionally "missing in action" left back, and Newton were only allowed one further consolation goal, late on, to make the final scoreline a very comfortable 11-2 to the Wasps.

With the retention of their league title almost secured (barring a number of mishaps) and two Final appearances booked, Waverton can, if they keep up this level of performance, go on to complete their best season yet. As somebody said today they just need to avoid "doing an Arsenal" from here on in!

Coach's MoM: Matt Banaghan

Supporters' MoM: Matt Sheen & Jordan Coxall

JFC Boughton 1 v 6 AFC Waverton Wasps

Chester & District League (3rd April 2011)

Waverton Scorers (season's total in brackets)

Alex Abraham - 2 (3)

Matt Sheen - 1 (29)

Robbie Foster - 1 (10)

Cameron Faulkner - 1 (4)

Charlie Nicholson - 1 (3)

Report

In years gone by any match against Boughton was the most difficult on Waverton's fixture list, but in recent times, with the opposition slipping to fourth in the table, it no longer holds quite the same fear. However the coaches made sure, in the pre-match warm up, that the Wasps players didn't take the game too lightly, and the team delivered with a very strong first half performance, after which the result was never in doubt. Waverton ran out easy 6-1 victors, consolidating their lead at the top of the table.

With a couple of "no shows" for Boughton they took the field with only ten players, making their task even harder, and as a result Waverton very quickly dominated in both territory and possession. It was no surprise therefore when Waverton took an early 1-0 lead through Matt Sheen's 29th goal of the season after a good passing move. Shortly afterwards however Boughton struck back, against the run of play, converting a penalty t0 bring the scores level at 1-1.

The scores stayed level for the next ten minutes, with Boughton's ten men frustrating Waverton, but the away team's dominance was bound to pay off eventually, and by sticking to a solid passing game the Wasps scored four excellent goals in the final ten minutes of the half; the first was a great strike from Cameron Faulkner which flew in off a post, the second was a chip over the keeper from Alex Abraham, the third was a clinical finish from Charlie Nicholson after a fast break, and the fourth a flashing header from Robbie Foster from a Matt Sheen cross finishing off a long passing movement. The 5-1 scoreline at the break was no more than Waverton deserved.

In the end the second half was a bit of an anti climax. Boughton asked for the half to be cut to 25 minutes, to protect a couple of injured players, and as a result both teams played the half very much as if it was a contest which was already over. Waverton didn't repeat the high quality of their first half play, with too many speculative attempts from long distance, and as a result added only one further goal, as a Boughton clearance went back in off Alex Abraham (for his second goal). At the other end though Boughton posed even less threat and never looked like adding to their single goal.

So, in the end, it was another comfortable win for Waverton, and with four remaining league games (Vicars Cross, Princes Villa, Groves and Colts) they know three wins will assure them of the title for the second year running. Alternatively if they can beat Colts, then only one further victory will be needed. Next week it's back to League Cup semi-final action, against opponents yet to be confirmed.

Coaches' MoM: Alex Abraham

Supporters: MoM: A team award