Hounslow Wolves XI v Hanworth Sports

5th December 2021

Hounslow Wolves XI 2-2 Hanworth Sports

After the excitement of the Xmas Party and Wolves XI undefeated in 4 weeks, spirits were high for a home game against Hanworth Sunday reserves. Again, a mixed bag of players due to players moving to the 1s for the Cup quarter final, the XI still managed to boast a wealth of talent including the returning Marcus Drinkwater,  team captain Adam, keeper Kieren and first team attackers Ranveer and Nikhil V.

The team is showing a lot of confidence recently, and despite the overcast weather, a 5th victory on the cards was expected.  Due to some last minute team issues, Wolves went 4-4-1-1 boasting some real attacking flair. Much as the last 2 weeks, the instruction has been to attack hard and early. Wolves have conceded 1 in the last 4 games so know they can keep a lead.  For the first 20 minutes, Wolves played the best football they have this season. Shot after shot, cross after cross. It was one way traffic but with no final product. Keeper Kieren was just a spectator, with Arun and Dabeer just supporting with the early attacks. It was a joy to see but the longer the game stays at 0-0, the more the nerves kick in. After 30 minutes, you start to feel like you know the Wolves script – Dominate, but don’t score. 

Just gone 36 minutes, a blistering run from Abdulmajid ended with a shot, a fumble, another shot, before finally being slotted away by Nikhil V. We had our goal, a well-deserved goal. However, a mad 10 minutes saw players being subbed and Hanworth sensing a chance to nick a less than deserved equaliser. Ash ended up at left back, and after a hopeless through ball was found chasing the striker with only the keeper to beat. In usual Ash style, he managed to get back, lunging in for a crucial well timed saving tackle – Or so we thought. On came the Hanworth coaches and subs demanding a red card. The referee, was never going to admit it was  perfect tackle, giving Ash a yellow. Both wrong decisions as “last man” means a red – However it was barely a foul. We realised this now could be one of those games. The next 60 minutes was a masterclass in how to not referee a game. Not that this becomes an excuse, but it was only naturally going to upset players. The next 10 minutes saw sin bins, scraps, made up rules. Wolves did well to stay composed to go in 1 up at half time

Some more tactical changes made, introducing Raj who had his best half in a Wolves shirt. Garch took over the captains armband, looking like a true leader – much for what Wolves have been crying out for. The difference this half was the wind. 1-0 is always dangerous – Wolves have had that lead for the past 4 games and knew not scoring again would cost us.  Gaffa Deano loves to throw around a cliché and today was no different – “If you don’t buy a ticket, you don’t win the lottery” . Ranveer is the personification of this saying. Yes again, the Worlds most flukiest winger supplied another Ranveer special. A cross from the right hand side, high wide and hopeless some how dipped, took a gust of wind and dropped over the keeper. It doesn’t matter how they go in, a goal is a goal. Wolves go 2 up, no more than they deserved. 

As has been discussed with the 1s, complacency is brutal. We laugh and joke about missing sitters when you are winning. One day youll regret it. Wolves did exactly that. The Hanworth keeper should have bought a lottery ticket that night. Time after time, he pulled out a mad save, blocked a 1 on 1 on claimed a ball he shouldn’t have, Wolves shooting was better, he just saved it all. With that, the refereeing, and the wind, Wolves couldn’t maintain the momentum. Despite the solid back line recently,  Wolves have been prone to some lapses of concentration and players finding too much space in the back line. A through ball saw the same rapid striker as the first half take on the back line, before being tripped by Dabeer. It probably was a penalty but there was no point asking the man in black. Hanworth skipper stepped  up, calmly slotting home down the middle to make it 2-1. Game on. Wolves havent had a lead where a team had got back into it – it was going to be a nervy final 25. What followed was a totally different half to the 1st. Hanworth peppered the Wolves goal and looked like the only team playing. However such is the confidence in general and the ability, there was no real fear of conceding. Garch , Dabeer and Marcus won pretty much everything. Keeper Kieren showed his experience and Ash, Gugs and Raj were martialling the middle well.

Despite this, a momentary lapse saw another run at our back line leaving Garcha no other options than to bring down for a free kick just on the edge. With this wind and the bobbly pitch, it could be risky – and so it proved. A weak hit free kick over the wall landed at Kierens feet, unexplainably going through his legs to give Hanworth a deserved equaliser. Keeper Kieren has been immense since joining us and it was refreshing to see not one head shake or gasp of disappointment laid at his door. We collectively concede, we all take the blame

The game fizzled out for a 2-2 draw with Wolves feeling gutted after letting a lead slip away. There were huge positives. We are stacking. We looked good in parts. Training is working. The usual story of not scoring enough will continue to haunt us, and with the set up of the club and the 1st team taking priority, the XI must understand where they sit in the pecking order. Its tough sometimes, but this is where leaders are made

We go back to training, we work on where we went wrong and we grow again. It says a lot when you are so despondent after a draw. 5 games undefeated, players returning.  A very tough decision to make for MOTM with some real leaders today. Dabeer and Raj both had their best games for the XI, with Marcus, Gugs and Ranveer putting in excellent stints. Captain for the day Garcha didn’t miss a thing and was still pinpoint with his set piece deliveries alongside one of the hardest tackles of the season.  However Ash just about nicks it, playing in 2 positions, making numerous last ditch tackles, embodying what Wolves Spirit is all about. We go again

MOTM

Ash