Newton Athletic 2 v 4 AFC Waverton Wasps

Chester & District League (25th September 2011)

Waverton Scorers (season's total in brackets)

Charlie Jones  -  2 (3)

Alex Wilkinson  -  1 (4)

Raynor Gray  -  1 (4)

Report

An injury affected Wasps side could only call on 12 of their squad for this game, but despite an under par performance they still ran out 4-2 victors and recorded their sixth straight win of the campaign.

It was clear from the start that Newton, newly promoted from the second division, had strengthened their squad and would provide a strong physical challenge. It was also clear that they intended to defend in numbers, and for the first 15 minutes these tactics frustrated Waverton, until a breakthrough eventually came from a Newton defender's error, heading a cross straight to Alex Wilkinson who volleyed it in from 15 yards. The next period had a similar feel to it (season to date) with the Wasps dominating possession but not making the most of the openings created. Their pressure eventually told though after 30 minutes when Charlie Jones hit a post, but kept his composure to regain the rebound and fire it back home. Just when it looked like Waverton would finally take a cushion into the break however a rare defensive lapse, with 2/3 missed tackles down the left, let Newton back into the game before HT at 2-1.

The coaches asked for more passing football, and more calmness in the final third, but in reality the second half was almost a rerun of the first. As before the Wasps held most of the possession but didn't show the cutting edge (particularly from midfield) to turn it into the number of goals their dominance should have delivered. A good passing move put Raynor Gray in for his fourth goal of the season to give Waverton a 3-1 lead, but poor marking at a Newton corner soon afterwards allowed them to reduce the deficit to just one again at 3-2.

In previous years the Wasps may have panicked at this point, but despite not playing to their best the team is more resilient these days, and they held on to the one goal lead quite calmly for the next 15 minutes without looking in too much danger. That's not to say though that everybody didn't breath a big sigh of relief when Charlie Jones dropped off at the back post to volley in a Robbie Foster corner to make the score 4-2 with 6/7 minutes to go. This belatedly seemed to bring Waverton to life and they probably had their best spell in the final 5 minutes, and were unlucky not to add to the margin of victory.

The reports so far this year have all said that Waverton are not yet playing to their capacity, yet the result is six straight victories. There's no doubt however that a better, more clinical, performance will be needed to make that seven against Stockport Junior Blues in next week's Cheshire Cup second round game.

Coaches MoM: Charlie Jones & Jorge Pecival

Supporters MoM: Raynor Gray & Jordan Coxall

AFC Waverton Wasps 8 v 1 Groves Athletic

Chester & District League (18th September 2011)

 

Waverton Scorers (season's total in brackets)

 

Matt Sheen  -  2 (6)

Aaron Hassall  -  2 (3)

Charlie Nicholson  -  2 (3)

Jonny Lee  -  1 (5)

Alex Wilkinson  -  1 (3)

 

Report

 

Another comprehensive victory for the Wasps (with an 8-1 scoreline this time), extending their 100% start to the season. Waverton's competitive record for the season to date says everything about the team's domination so far (P5, W5, GF 33, GA 4), although the frightening thing is the team have probably not yet played to their full potential over a whole 80 minutes. Hopefully they're saving that for the harder challenges to come in the Cheshire Cup.

 

This was another fairly regulation victory. Groves always present a strong physical challenge, and for much of the first half they made things difficult for Waverton, although rarely threatening themselves. The deadlock was broken though after 20 minutes, with Alex Wilkinson finishing clinically from a Matt Sheen cross. As with the previous game the Wasps failed to build on this straight after the goal, and continued to be frustrated by some solid Groves defending, until a flurry of goals in the last 7/8 minutes before the break. Two goals from Matt Sheen and one each from Aaaron Hassall and Jonny Lee quickly gave the game a very different complexion, giving Waverton a 5-0 advantage to take into the break.

 

The floodgates didn't stay open as the second half kicked off though, and with the team looking increasingly tired the second period was fairly flat and uneventful. Lively performances (winning them MoM nominations) from Tom McAndrew and Matt Sheen (who worked tirelessly throughout) kept the Wasps on top going forward, and the second half saw them add three more goals, a second of the match from Aaron Hassall and two good finishes from a more unlikely source as Charlie Nicholson (free from much attacking threat from Groves) ventured further forward.

 

The Groves frontline had continued to work hard all afternoon (mostly finding the Waverton defence too strong to break down) so their perseverence probably deserved the late consolation goal, although the Wasps defence will be kicking themselves that a late lapse in concentration cost them a clean sheet for the second game in succession. Maybe that's a bit "picky" though as 4 goals conceded from 5 matches (or one goal every 100 minutes) is a pretty good defensive record!

 

With the mid-week game postponed the team should be well refreshed to take on Newton next Sunday, a game which in truth shouldn't be too stretching but needs to be used to build for Stockport in the Cheshire Cup the following week.  

 

 

Coach's MoM: Tom McAndrew

Supporters MoM: Matt Sheen   

AFC Waverton Wasps 3 v 1 Upton JFC North

Chester & District League (15th September 2011)

 

Waverton Scorers (season's total in brackets)

 

Matt Sheen  -  1 (4)

Raynor Gray  -  1 (3)

Charlie Jones  -  1 (1)

 

Report

 

Given that this was a game against opponents who, on paper, looked like Waverton's most serious title challengers, it was in the end won very easily, by a 3-1 scoreline which really should have been more convincing. So, while it's early days yet, the Wasps squad (with its added depth) appear to be well on course for a third consecutive title.

 

A rare evening kick off, and some late arrivals, resulted in an unfamiliar look to the Wasps starting line-up. As a result the team, while gaining the early initiative, often looked a little disjointed early on and couldn't turn their domination into any advantage on the scoreboard. It took around 20 minutes for the deadlock to be broken, with Charlie Jones turning in a Sam Jones cross to score his debut goal for Waverton (hopefully the first of many).

 

As the half progressed, and some substitutions started to help build the team's usual shape, the Wasps began to dominate even more. In what became the story of the evening however, the team were too often guilty of over-complicating their forward play, and didn't make the most of the many chances created. Just before half-time they could have paid for this, as Ollie Knight, in a rare Upton opportunity, struck a great free-kick, but it couldn't beat Jack Minshull who pulled off a great save to turn it onto the bar and over. The game got to half-time then, unbelievably given the balance of play, with just a slender 1-0 lead for Waverton.

 

The second period was more of the same. Strong Waverton defence, right across the backline, restricted Upton to no more than half chances, while going forward the Wasps had all the possession, but failed to turn it into the number of goals they should have done. After ten minutes of the half, there was an exception to this trend as Matt Sheen struck a great long range shot from wide left to make the score 2-0, but this still didn't prompt the opening of the floodgates that Waverton were always threatening but never quite delivered. The game always looked safe though, with the defence only really breached on one occasion and even then Jack made a great "one on one" save.

 

The game looked to be settling at 2-0, until a couple of very late goals. Firstly a good run and cross by Jonny Lee was turned in by Raynor Gray to give the Wasps a 3-0 lead, only for the defence to go to sleep for the first time (it was getting dark!) allowing Upton a consolation virtually straight from the kick off and just before the final whistle blew. It may say 3-1 on the report, but anybody watching will wonder why it wasn't 7 or 8, which on possession and chances it really ought to have been. While it didn't matter in the end for this game, Waverton may live to regret it if they're not more clinical with their finishing later on in the season, particularly when it comes to the Cheshire Cup.

 

Nonetheless, in the end it was a comfortable victory against opponents who might have been expected to provide a tougher challenge. Next up it's Groves on Sunday, a team who always present a physical challenge.

 

Coach's MoM: Alex Abraham

Supporters MoM: Jack Minshull & Jordan Coxall   

Chester Nomads Colts 0 v 3 AFC Waverton Wasps

Chester & District League (11 September 2011)

Waverton Scorers (season's total in brackets)

Sam Jones  -  1 (6)

Alex Abraham  -  1 (1)

Robbie Foster  -  1 (1)

Report

At a windy (as usual) Garrison Ground, Waverton turned in a fairly subdued performance, lacking some of their early season fireworks, but it was still comfortably enough to earn them a clear victory against Nomads Colts to maintain their 100% start to the season.

After a fairly flat start to the first half, it was Colts who had the first couple of chances, with Jack Powell, playing in an unusual striking role, breaking away from the Wasps defence a couple of times but not able to convert either of the chances. Nomads Colts are a big competitive team and their style of play is effective in counteracting the Waverton passing game, and so it proved for the remainder of the first half. Although Waverton started to dominate the game in terms of possession they really only created a few half chances, and it wasn't surprising to see the game reach the half time break goalless.

A calm half time talk from the Coaches just advised Waverton to keep believing, and showed confidence that continuing to build patiently would eventually be rewarded. This proved to be exactly the case ten minutes into the second half when a reverse ball from Sam Jones was met with a powerful volley by Alex Abraham, overlapping from full back, and although the Colts keeper parried it if fell back into the net to finally break the deadlock. Five minutes later it was 2-0, with the Colts keeper mishitting a clearance from outside the box which unfortunately (for him!) went straight to Sam Jones, who calmly lifted it back over him from 35 yards into the empty net, ensuring he has his usual "bragging rights" at school this week!

From that point on, both sides seemed to accept that the game was largely over as a contest, and (spoilt partly by the wind) the match went into another quiet spell. Waverton's dominance was probably worth more than a two goal advantage however, so a third goal was no more than they deserved as Robbie Foster met an Aaron Hassall cross with five minutes remaining to make it 3-0 to the visitors at the final whistle. Good solid performances all round across the 16 man squad (with Charlie Jones making his competitive debut), but a few performances were picked out for MoM awards. The Coaches went for Robbie Foster, for another battling performance, and Alex Wilkinson, for some top quality passing, while the Supporters acknowledged two of the defenders who helped keep a clean sheet, Cameron Faulkner, who balanced solid defending with a lot of good work down the right, and Jordan Coxall, for stopping Jack Powell's impact on the game.

Next up it's Upton on Wednesday night. Probably too early in the season to be talking "title deciders", but whoever comes out on top in this game will have a big psychological advantage for the remainder of the campaign.

AFC Waverton 7 v 1 Chester Nomads

Chester & District JFL (7 September 2011)

Waverton Scorers (season's total in brackets)

Jonathan Lee  -  2 (4)

Matt Sheen  -  2 (3)

Sam Jones  -  1 (5)

Alex Wilkinson  -  1 (2)

Charlie Nicholson  -  1 (1)

Report

Short of a full squad, without Jordan, and awaiting clearance for our next major signing we anticipated a tough challenge against a team that has great speed and attacking quality and has started to push us rather close in the last couple of seasons.

After a stunning first time strike from Sam following our first attack, within the opening two minutes, that was indeed the way it started to look. Beaten by pace and a good finish, Nomads drew level within 5 minutes and for the next 10 minutes were fast and entertaining in spite of the tricky weather conditions and the gathering gloom!! Waverton then started to take control however with their trade mark passing and movement and a fumble from the Nomads Keeper allowing Alex Wilkinson's long range shot to sneak in plus a fine finish on the turn from Matt Sheen made the position look rather more comfortable. 3-1 at Half time.

More of the same followed in the second as the need for floodlights diminished and further goals followed from Matt Sheen,Charlie and 2 from Jonny Lee. The coach continued to rotate the squad with great dexterity and just about managed to keep himself and the lads satisfied - yet rather wet!!.

Next up, Chester Nomads Colts away on Sunday.

AFC Waverton 12 v 1 Shaftesbury Youth Club

Cheshire FA Junior Cup - Round 1 (4 September 2011)

Waverton Scorers

Sam Jones  -  4

Jonny Lee  -  2

Raynor Gray  -  2

Aaron Hassall  -  1

Matt Sheen  -  1

Alex Wilkinson  -  1

Own Goal  -  1

Report

After a comprehensive pre-season victory over a strong Stork team it was back to competitive action for the Wasps with a Cheshire Cup first round tie against Shaftesbury Youth Club (from Tranmere). Although Shaftesbury were a strong competitive team they were no match for Waverton who ran out comfortable 12-1 winners.

The Wasps dominated from the start, so it was no surprise when, after five minutes, Alex Wilkinson met a Sam Jones cross with a header which deflected off a defender on the line to open the scoring. When another cross (or was it a shot?) from Sam dropped into the side netting at the back post five minutes later to make it 2-0 the game was already over as a contest. Waverton added four more goals before the break, one from Asa, two from Raynor (within five minutes of coming on as sub) and a second from Sam. One rare lapse in an otherwise faultless defensive performance allowed Shaftesbury a consolation to make the scoreline 6-1 at the break. This domination had been delivered through some great passing football, with the new debutants fitting in quickly with the core of last year's treble winning side, giving great encouragement that this can be another very successful season.

After a slight loss of momentum in the first fifteen minutes of the second period Waverton quickly got back to their best, with some fantastic one-touch passing football which simply proved too much for their opponents. Inevitably there were more goals, with two goals from Jonny Lee, an own goal, two more from Sam and a well deserved strike from Matt Sheen who had let the attack strongly all afternoon, making the final score 12-1, which was no more than the performance deserved. With strong players all over the park selecting MoM awards wasn't easy, but the manager chose Alex Abraham for another improved performance at right back, and the supporters acknowledged Sam Jones, not just for his four goals but equally for an improved passing performance which saw him set up the chances for three others.

Overall then not the most difficult challenge first game up, but the team did everything they needed to and looked like they were well prepared for the tougher games which will follow. Next up it's the opening league fixture of the season, against Chester Nomads, while the 2nd Round Cheshire Cup draw has thrown up a tough match against a strong Stockport Junior Blues team, who Waverton last met in the Cheshire Cup SF two seasons ago, and only just managed to overcome 2-1. With the way the Wasps' team has developed and strengthened since though they wll go into this tie with great confidence 

AFC Waverton 12 v 1 Shaftesbury Youth Club

Chester FA Junior Cup - Round 1 (4 September 2011)

Waverton Scorers

Sam Jones   -   4

Raynor Gray   -   2

Jonny Lee   -   2

Aaron Hassall   -   1

Matt Sheen   -   1

Alex Wilkinson   -   1

Own Goal   -   1

Report (to follow)