Hounslow Wolves v AFC Heathrow

23rd January

Hounslow Wolves 4-2 AFC Heathrow

Starting XI: Mario, Rudy, Mo, Sergio, Ali, Tamim, Liam, Harms, Sanjit (C), Bilal, Raj Hans

Subs : Arjun, Abdulmajid, Yas

The Wolves returned to fortress Cranford for the first time in 2022 and were facing a confident AFC Heathrow side whom have not lost since we last met back in November. The lads knew they were in for a battle against a decent side with their tails up. But the Wolves, now unbeaten since October in the league, were full of confidence.

With kick off around the corner the Wolves took to their usual pre-match ritual lunges, stretches and not forgetting motivational quotes from all the hungover backroom staff to G up the squad. With the whistle imminent, Rishi once again opted for none other than a 4-3-3, knowing once again that a midfield battle had to be won. With the game underway, and on what was a slightly warmer January morning, the Wolves started with great intensity, putting all the pressure on the AFC defence leaving them no time to breath and before you knew the ball was hunted my Liam and Bilal causing a mistake, which ended up at Tamim’s feet at the edge of the box who neatly chipped the keeper from 25 yards out. 1-0. But this then caused the Wolves to settle into the game, in a less intense fashion than they started off in, which in turn harmed the lads, and a sense of complacency crept in. This gave the AFC lads a chance to settle in and they started winning the first and second balls, whom got their reward, dispossessing the midfield and ball played through to their big man up top who slotted home nicely. 1-1. The Wolves currently working at 60% knew they had to up it, but the intensity was lacking and mistakes from too many touches in dangerous places was starting to build up and was only a matter of time till AFC capitalised. Capitalise they did - with a slight bit of miscommunication, Rudy headed home to Mario and with him coming off his line to collect, ended up going over him leaving an open goal for the striker to slot into. A poor goal to concede. 2-1. The Wolves needed to respond and get themselves back in the game. The gaffer asked for the wingers to switch sides, which brought instant success and allowed the Wolves to play football in the AFC half and be the outlets for the midfield. With wave after wave the Wolves threw at AFC, the lads finally got their reward. A corner taken AFC cleared, but the Wolves reacted and Mo beat a man and squared the ball nicely to Liam on the penalty spot who made no mistake and put it in the bottom left corner.  2-2. And the half time whistle blew. 

With the wolves not even near performing at their best, the gaffer reiterated how important this game was going to be and wanted a reaction to that first half. But undoubtedly coming in even was very satisfying for the lads and left the momentum with the wolves to take into the second half. No changes from the gaffer. 

With the second half underway the wolves reacted very well, with intricate pieces of play in the middle and some lovely football being played it was a near matter of time before the wolves got their goal. The Wolves were threatening and came very close with Mo smashing the cross bar and most were unsure how it wasn’t bundled in. It looked certain the Wolves were going to take the lead which they eventually did through a set piece in the 70th minute, which was cleverly won by Tamim, who looked to bounce back on what was a subpar performance last week. Tamim stepped up to take the free kick from around 30 yards out of the left-hand side of the goal, and he proceeded to put it in the top right corner leaving the keeper no chance. 3-2. The Wolves led for the second time this match, and now it was about putting some distance between themselves and AFC Heathrow. AFC Heathrow did have some chances, but this was defended very well by the CB partnership of both Sergio and Mo, who put their bodies on the line to hold the lead, which in turn led to a wonderful counter attacking goal. Wolves cleared a corner, Harms found Sanj who put Tamim through and caught the AFC defence sleeping, and Tamim could do no wrong, who went all the way before beating the keeper for his hat-trick. Game set match 4-2. The Wolves had some breathing space and just had to manage the game. This didn’t stop AFC from trying to claw one back, as the Wolves sat deeper this allowed AFC more space, with Mario denying Heathrow multiple time, this really was a great second half performance from the lads and a massively deserved 3 points.

The Wolves stay top with a point on the next best, Spelthorne Spartans whom we face this weekend in what will pretty much be the title decider at Cranford school. Up the Wolves.

MOTM: Tamim