Hounslow Wolves XI v Kensington Dragons

17h November 2021

Hounslow Wolves XI 2-1 Kensington Dragons

A week in football is a long time. 2 months ago Wolves XI started the season and after 6 weeks had failed to win or really even play well. Last week saw the boys produce a stirring performance and confidence had been high all week leading up to todays home game against a well drilled Kensington side. Missing several players through injury, Wolves cobbled together an 11 naming manager Deano on the bench alongside returning Amar

For the first time all season, Wolves were slack getting warmed up with the opponents warming up before Wolves had even arrived. We have often started slow and this was a huge wake up call. Sticking with the trusted 442, Wolves had to make a lot of positional changes. With the dynamic duo of Ash and Gugs both out, Garcha slotted into the middle allowing Jatty to start centre back alongside Mo. Arjun also returned for his first start of the season.

A long pre game talk discussed on how we need to start showing quality and not just relying on our desire and personality to win games. The talk clearly worked as the ever dangerous Anil hit an audacious 25 yard drive, bobbling just in front of the Dragons keeper to give Wolves their first ever opener to a game.  We tried capitalising with some half chances for the next 25 minutes but nothing much materialised. There were glimmers of quality but the game fell quite flat with neither team able to make any real clear cut chances. Despite the quality of Garch and Hans in the middle, Dragons kept going to 5 across the middle, forcing a half time change

Nikhil went into to bolter up the middle, pushing Harj left wing leaving danger man Anil leading the line on his own for the second half.

It was a nice feeling going in up at half time but were fully aware that 1 slip could cost us the game. Despite the 5 in the middle, Dragons continued to forge half openings but never really threatened keeper Rahul. Some crosses into the box were easily dealt with but the old Wolves habits kept creeping in with the ball not being help up in the final third. Amar came in on the right wing, giving Arjun a break after a good 70 mins return.  No teams looked like scoring another but as we have been saying all season to both the 1sand the XI, missing chances costs games. Out of nothing, Dragons found their way into the box and after a couple of ricochets ,the referee deemed a Wolves hand had struck the ball and a penalty was awarded. Rahul had nothing to do all game, so was always going to be hard to save a penalty. Despite guessing the right way, Dragons equalised and after 80 minutes, the game looked settled for a draw. Heart-breaking but  maybe it was what we needed to realise why scoring goals is so important. Dragons looked pumped but the Wolves spirit is so much stronger now.  Pride of a Wolf is vital

Wolves decided to allow multi positional skipper Adam a chance to roam on the righthand side and after a powerful run was brought down giving the referee no other choice but to award an 89th minute penalty. Only 1 man was going to take it and he didn’t let anyone down. Anil coolly slotted home for 2-1. Wolves knew they just needed to keep a solid back line as they had done for all of the previous 180 minutes of football and the game would be done. Despite some real pressure from Dragon, Wolves never really looked uncomfortable and the ref called the game giving the XI another vital win. A fair result, but still showing plenty of room to grow.

Across the teams, Wolves had 18 players missing today. Its incredible to think of the depth at the club and only a good sign for things to come. Another dominant defensive job from Wolves shows that back line getting more and more confident each week. Still work to be done going forward, but the quality is there the momentum is with us. We go again Thursday before another huge game Sunday

MOTM – Omar