A third meeting between the Dragons and the Dons today with the boys going into the game with a great run of form.

Our boys knew it was going to be a tough game as Willingdon have some good players but they gave it their all today.

A Big thank you to Willingdon who got the game on in a fantastic brand new stadium that gave the boys a proper match experience.

A few unavailable players today meant a bit of a shuffle from the last game we played. Oliver in between the sticks, Dean, Toby and Cam in our back line. Jack and Lewis W in the middle with Stephen dropping back to the LM and Harley coming in to the RM role. Sam, Kieron and Lewis B rounded off the attack and it was a strong line up with a bench to match.

We started strong with a lot of control of the ball, especially down the right hand side with Cam, Harley, Jack and Sam all linking up really well and driving the team forward. Willingdon had a lot of success previously on the break against us and today you could see that was their plan, soak up the pressure, play out and then hit a diagonal pass to set their danger man away.
First couple of times, Dean dominated the duel leading to the player swapping wings and going to the left side to slow down our progress on that side.

We created quite a few chances with Harley, Sam and Lewis B all coming close with Lewis B even hitting the bar with a fantastic shot. Harley was getting joy down the right and put in some brilliant crosses with a few wayward chances falling to Stephen.

A long ball down the middle almost caught us out with their Striker going through one on one with Oliver but Oli was outstanding and won the ball with a brilliant challenge.

A few minutes later, Willingdon took the lead after a sliced clearanced went towards the midfield, they were quicker to the ball and played it out to the right wing and their player looked up and whipped in what we thought was a cross but it nestled into the top left corner off the inside of the post. 1-0

This seemed to ignite the boys and we took the game to Willingdon from here. Lewis B, Sam and Kieron were all creating chaos running at the defence with Sam being synically tackled quite a few times. We had some brilliant opportunites from Deadball situations today with both Lewis W and Stephen putting in some top deliveries just struggled to get the final touch.

Our game came from a set piece with Stephen stepping up and hitting a great free kick that looked in only for it to be knocked up onto the bar and then cleared for a corner. Lewis W went out and whipped in a fantastic ball right on the 6 yard box. Sam lept up like a Salmon and met the ball square and looped it over the keeper! 1-1

HT - Willingdon - 1 - TD - 1

The boys were rightly bouyed by the goal and at the half they told us what they wanted to do going forward to get the win. Dean wasn't feeling well so had to come off with Ethan doing a great job to step up for the team and play Left back which isnt his normal role.

Willingdon came out of the blocks firing from the kick off, causing issues down our left with Stephen and Ethan working hard to stop them. The Willingdon number 11 was causing issues drifting inside and trying his best to get some shots away but Oliver was keeping on top of every shot.

There was one chance for Willingdon where the player was through 1 on 1 again but this time took the shot early and Oliver pulled off an outstanding save to tip the ball around the far post.

This seemed to give the boys a kick up the backside that they needed and from here we went on to dominate the next 15 minutes of the game. Sam, Lewis W and Lewis B were getting a lot of joy down the middle and out to the left targeting their Right back with passes and duels.

Our second goal came just after 45 minutes with a great bit of play on the left. Lewis B held up the ball and laid it back to Stephen who shielded the ball winning a throw. Stephen took the throw quickly inside to Lewis W who took a touch out of his feet and hit an absolute WORLDIE from 35 yards out into the top left corner! Unreal strike and the lead was ours. 1-2

We continued to create chances with Kieron, Sam and Harley causing issues on the right and Lewis B down the left. Considering Lewis B was playing way out of position, he was brilliant today, Creating a lot of chances for the team.

Our 3rd goal came from some top defending with Toby, Cam and Oliver all standing firm before playing the ball into Stan (Who came on for Jack). Stan held off his man before playing a pass into the path of Harley who looked up and saw the run of Kieron. Kieron put on the after burners and sprinted 50 yards across the pitch after giving their CB a 10 yard headstart and beat him to the ball just on the left corner of the box before turning back and laying it into the path of Sam. Sam took a touch out of his feet and after shaping his body as if he was going to whip it into the far corner but instead hit a great shot into the near post past the keeper! 1-3

We almost made it 4 shortly after with another great pass through from Lewis W into the path of Kieron who had 2 players trying to pull him down and do a shirt swap mid match before two footing him from behind! Nothing from the ref much to our surprise!

From here our resolve and defence showed up and kept Willingdon at bay. Oliver pulling off some fantastic stops and coming out to collect several crosses even getting a little shoulder or two in the process. Cam, Toby and Ethan held strong and Stan was having a brilliant half screening that back 3, stopping so many shots and passes getting through. Mase came on for Lewis B and almost set up another goal for us with Willingdon's keeper pulling off a great save.

There was a bit of handbags from Willingdon near the end with a few of their players losing their heads and putting in some late tackles and challenges which put a bit of a dampner on the 3 terrific games we had played against each other. Even one of their players got booked for a late challenge on Stephen who was shielding the ball out for a goal kick.

Ultimately our boys showed their maturity and level headedness to see the game out and got the well deserved win!

FT- Willingdon - 1 - TD - 3

A brilliant showing from every one of the boys today who stepped on the pitch. Gave it their all to get the result and get the 3 points for the team.

MOTM- Oliver K - Unbelievable performance from Oliver today, pulling off some very important saves at big points in the game including two 1 on 1s.

TD Shipley FC

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