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WBAFC 2-0 Congleton Vale
Written by Baresi   
Monday, 19 December 2016 12:47

The home side, riven by injuries and suspension, overcame their often overly ‘noisy’ visitors to reach the Cheshire Football League Challenge Cup Final for the second time in consecutive seasons.

As now seems the norm Darryl had to juggle a depleted squad to make up a credible back four; Jake Drayson and promising young prospect Connor Isaacs starting in the full-back berths either side of semi-fit Captain Newton and the accomplished Tom Streets.

Whaley always seem to be at their best in adversity and so it proved today. Playing towards the park end Whaley piled on the pressure right from the off and leading scorer Tom Scorer duly fired the home side into a 2 goal lead within the first 15 minutes. Driving in from the left past a couple of defenders Tom unleashed a powerful shot from an acute angle to beat the goalkeeper at the near post. Minutes later he received the ball on the corner of the six yard box and with back to goal swivelled to slot a left foot second just inside the post.

After such an early set-back Congleton were in some disarray losing composure and, with Morris and Gregory playing all the football backed up by the non-stop Will Bailey, it looked odds on that a third and conclusive goal was inevitable. That didn’t happen though only one person in the 'world' thought Gregory wasn't tripped in the area as he drifted past several bemused Congleton bystanders!

As now seems the norm the Manager had to rejig the home side for the second half, moving Sutton back to replace the injured Newton and introducing Josh Bailey into midfield before switching him and Jake Drayson. Further into the half the cool Isaacs left the field with a recurring injury and with limited options Lee Morris filled in at left back. Kelly returning after a 5 week injury instantly looked the part as he latched onto and held the ball up in Whaley’s sporadic counter attacks.

Not surprisingly the tide changed; Congleton took control and so for Whaley it did turn into a bit of a rear-guard action culminating in a contested penalty that could have proved decisive had the visitor’s No. 10 not blasted the ball 20 yards over the bar! The changes obviously did disrupt Whaley but the enforced second half partnership of Sutton alongside Streets proved to be outstanding..... again!  New boys Isaacs and Hamilton always look to play football and have settled in well to improve the squad.

So top of the table Whaley now have another final to look forward to probably at Trafford and look forward to a mass of vocal local support to replicate last year.

Mom Tom Streets

Tattersall; Isaacs (Kelly); Newton (Bailey J); Streets; Drayson (Hamilton); Morris; Bailey W; Sutton; Gregory; Burgess J; Scorer

Kelly; Galley; Hamilton;

 
 
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