Hounslow Wolves v Ickenhams

25th November 2021

Hounslow Wolves 2-2 Ickenhams

Starting XI: Raul, Rose, Sergio, Vik, Omar, Taylor, Sanjit, Abdulmajid, Tamim, A. Abdula, Nikhil V

Subs: A. Abdali, Rudy, Liam

After last week’s defeat in the Middlesex cup to the West London Warriors, the Wolves looked to bounce back against Ickenham’s, whom the wolves defeated in the season opener 3-0. One thing we know with this league is that teams grow in confidence as the season goes on so this wasn’t going to be an easy fixture. The Wolves saw 1st team debuts for Omar and Tay whilst also welcoming Rudy back from a knee injury. The Wolves knew a win would take them a point clear at the top with a game in hand.

The Wolves turned up to fresh and windy Brunel playing fields, arguably the best surface in the league, so no complaints about the surface today. Coach Jigga led a well organised and thought out warm up, with the tunes on blast the Wolves were ready for battle. Gaffer Rishi remained with the same system, of 4-3-3 which had proved successful early in the season. With kick off imminent, the ref was very meticulous in his wording of keeping the game flowing, which would suit the Wolves to a tee. With the game underway, the Wolves started slow and struggled to keep the ball, but fair play to the hams whom pressed well and put us under pressure early and to their avail, won a free kick on the edge of the Wolves box. With the Wolves set up for the set piece, Ickenham’s whipped a ball in which deflected off the wall onto the outstretched leg off Vik and onto the post and in the back of the net. 1-0 Ickenham’s. The Wolves reacted imminently and kept the ball well in passages, with the goal eluding them on every chance. With the ball cleared off the line from a Tamim shot, and several shots fired wide by the skipper Sanj, a goal looked imminent. With frustration building, the Wolves finally took their chance, which was calmly taken by Abdula, who pounced on a deflected free kick and showed great feet and composure to find the back of the net, 1-1. Nothing less than the Wolves deserved. As the second half drew to a close, Gaffer Rishi made a midfield change, Abdulmajid off and Liam on. The Wolves kept banging on the door, but squandered a few half chances before the half time whistle blew.

With the half time talk underway, the gaffer was very vocal in taking our chances, which were in abundance and didn’t want this to bite us at the end of the game. The Wolves knew that the Hams were there for the taking, but knew the end product was lacking. The front 5 needed to capitalise.

With the second half underway, and the Wolves really bossing the game and keeping the ball well, we knew a few goals needed to be scored to put some breathing space between the two sides. In search of the second, Nikhil V was replaced by Rudy, whom looked lively from the off. The change was inspirational, and prayers were answered, with Rudy carrying the ball from halfway and finding Abdula who sold 3 defenders to chop back leaving a gaping goal for Liam to slot into, 2-1. The perfect start for the Wolves. The Wolves continued to keep the ball really well, but once again similar to the first half, the end product was lacking, with tame shots at the keeper or overplaying it and not getting a shot off. Wolves knew a 1 goal lead wasn’t enough. The Wolves continued to play their football out the back, which in hindsight is risky, but this is the style the gaffer has stamped on the team and knew that this was more than achievable with the quality we had in the team. With just under 15 to play Abdali replaced Taylor to sure up the defence and protect the lead. The Wolves than had a slight lack of oomph after the second goal and were slightly nervous coming into the last 10 with a one goal lead. With a few questionable pass backs, footballing IQ under question and wasted chances, suddenly, the Hams looked dangerous on the press. As the Ham’s pressed, the Wolves invited pressure and eventually conceded a free kick on edge of the box. With the injured Omar coming off after conceding the free tick, Taylor joined the back line. With 3 minutes to play the free kick was whipped in, Young Raul failed to deal with it, the hams were the first to react and bundled in an equaliser. 2-2. This was completely against the script but wasted chances and not sticking with your man does catch up and eventually bit the Wolves in the backside. With less than a minute to go the Wolves pressed hard, but fair play to the Hams who stood up and saw the game out to share the points.

This was a hard one to take. Being in control for 80% of the game, but not being relentless in front of goal and not being able to see out the game really hurt the Wolves and even though this was a point, it felt like two point’s dropped more than anything. With the boys all pretty deflated about the defeat, this did give many of us a massive wakeup calls in regards to complacency and managing a game off football. The Wolves move onto next week back at Cranford School against a Struggling Hayes Town, where they look to put things right.

Motm: Liam