We were critical of Whaley Bridge's lack of a ruthless streak in front of goal last week but the team today were a lot more clinical with their finishing. From the very start Whaley looked sharper with Lee Morris beating two defenders; his shot grazed the far post.  Lee then made amends cutting in and rifling a left foot belter giving O’connor no chance in the Garswood goal.  Then Hopkins was found on the edge of the box by Bailey he shot early shot viciously dipped over the keeper for 2.  Whaley should have then put this game to bed as the normally reliable Scorer was through one on one but O’connor guessed the right way & smothered the ball.  Garswood then broke and Tom Jackson was afforded too much time and he beat Tattersall from 18 yards.  Similar to his first Morris gave Whaley the two goal advantage and then Jamie Wood outwitted Garswood's keeper curling his free kick into the far bottom corner; 4 1 at half time.

Whaley came out looking for more as Tom Scorer finished a good Whaley move involving Broome & Jamie Wood.  Jamie got his second with another excellent free kick into the keepers near side.  Then arguably goal of the game came from Garswood as No 10 Darrel Hale controlled his keepers goal kick then spun and hit a 40 yard power strike into the top corner of Whaleys goal taking everyone by surprise.  Jamie wood worked his way into the box played in by Morris when he could have shot himself for a deserved hatrick; unselfishly he squared for Scorer only to shoot wide.  Whaley made changes & Joe Burgess got to grips straight away going through on goal and fooling the keeper for his first and Whaleys seventh then Burgess became creator squaring for Tom Scorer to get his brace from close range, Burgess finished off with another fine individual goal taking Whaleys tally to 9.

Garswood didn’t deserve to lose by this many but Whaley were clinical today, Garswood's Hale & Norbury stood out who had a good battle with Whaley's Broome.  A well refereed game by Michael Johnson & his assistants who showed lots of common sense in his approach given how frustration was creeping into the Garswood team; it just wasn’t their day but never gave up throughout & we're sure they will get things right in the next couple of weeks.

Team J Tattersall J Gregory B Sutton R Newton (c) J Wood (2) D Hopkins (1) J Broome W Bailey L Morris (2) J Kelly T Scorer (2)

Subs R Dwolitka J Burgess (2) A Barlow