Cheshire Junior Cup (12th February 2012)
Waverton Scorers (season’s total in brackets)
Matt Sheen - 2 (22)
Report
Despite a brave effort, Waverton fell just short of reaching their second consecutive Cheshire Cup final, losing out 3-2 to a Ridgewood team who played better in the parts of the pitch that matter, and were more clinical finishing their chances. Waverton couldn’t make their greater possession count, and will now need to concentrate on retaining their Chester & District League & Cup double.
Waverton started the better of the two teams, despite kicking uphill, and had a couple of very good chances early on to take the lead against a Ridgewood defence that looked shaky, but the home team didn’t put either of them away. It was clear from the early exchanges that Ridgewood’s tactics were going to be to soak up the pressure and break quickly, and it was just this approach which led to a breakaway goal after 15 minutes, allowing them to take the lead against the run of play. The Wasps have kept their heads well when falling behind in earlier rounds, and did so again, keeping the pressure on until a loose ball fell to Matt Sheen to strike an equaliser. For the next ten minutes Waverton dominated, but again didn’t take any of the chances they created to get into the lead.
With ten minutes to go in the first half Ridgewood regained the advantage, after hesitation in the Waverton defence, allowing a long throw to bounce and letting a forward in to head home from close range. Once again though Waverton “upped a gear” after falling behind, and created a long period of pressure. After good work from Raynor Gray on the right, followed by a good cross, a Robbie Foster shot was blocked but fell to Matt Sheen to slot home his second equaliser.
2-2 at the break, it was anybody’s game in the second half. In the sticky, tiring conditions though there was much less goalmouth action in the second period (at both ends). Waverton never really got their passing football together, and Ridgewood started to dominate the midfield, particularly through their two strongest players, one sitting just in front of the defence and mopping everything up and the other playing just behind the strikers, continually finding the room to use his pace and skill. Halfway through the half, it was the latter player who again ran on to a through ball slotting the ball past Jack and into the corner of the net to put Ridgewood in front for the third time.
Waverton pushed hard in the last 20 minutes to get another equaliser, but couldn’t find the right quality of final ball. Their team spirit didn’t waver though, and for the final 5/10 minutes they played some strong pressing football, but once again they just couldn’t take advantage of any of the half chances created.
It’s always disappointing to go out of a big cup competition at the semi-final stage, but once again Waverton have proved themselves to be one of the best U15’s teams in the County, and (hard as it is!) they should look back and be proud of their efforts.
Coach’s MoM: Matt Sheen
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