The Relics over 65’s broke new ground as they took part in Round 3 of the Pharmacy 2U Walking Football Association (WFA) National Cup.
Todays opponents were The Oakwood Glossop who had progressed to Round 3 with an impressive 2 -1 win at Bolton Arena in round 2. They had an early start to travel the twenty odd miles to Goshen for a 9:30am kick off.
The ref planted the ball firmly on the centre spot and the Relics kicked off. Straight from the kick off the Relics were in control, after a passing move between John W, Tex, Jomo and Stewart, John W had a left foot shot that was just wide of the Glossop right hand post. John W had another great double-chance shortly after, the Glossop keeper got down awkwardly to John’s right foot shot but somehow managed to knock the ball under his body, the ball bounced up sharply and hit the top right hand corner of the goal frame and bounced out back to John W, he hit a powerful side-foot shot but the keeper had recovered well and slid down to block the shot out for a corner.
After another good passing move from the Relics, JoMo had a shot that was comfortably saved buy the Glossop keeper.
Glossop finally had a bit of possession but the move was broken up by Stewart in midfield. Good passing and moving from the Relics resulted in another chance for John W,. He received the ball from Tex on the edge of the Glossop area, he dummied the keeper onto his knees, did a quick shimmy to the right and shot passed the keeper, but Johns shot hit the post and was collected by the Glossop defence.
Glossop had a bit of possession, the resultant shot was saved comfortably by Gaz in the Relics net.
That was a rare moment for Glossop, the Relics were dominating the game, good passing and moving creating space for all the Relics, and leaving Glossop chasing shadows. The next chance for the Relics came from a pass out from the back from Pete Shev that Stewart latched onto, turned and hit a good shot, but the Glossop keeper knocked over for a corner.
From the corner a move from Stewart > Tex > Stewart > John W > JoMo on the edge of the area with 2 defenders around him did a quick draw back to flat foot the defenders but his left foot shot went wide.
On the rare occasions that Glossop got forward they were met by the wall better known as Pete Shev with not many shots getting through to Gaz in the Relics goal.
The Glossop keeper was having a great game and frustrating the Relics. Yet again he got down well to save from JoMo, and shortly after from John W. A period of Glossop possession was broken up by JoMo and John W in midfield which led to a great passing move John W > Pete Shev at the back > Stewart > John W > JoMo > Tex > John W > Tex > Stewart on the edge of the box who was smothered by the Glossop defence.
A Glossop free kick on the Relics left hand side was intercepted by Stewart who played the ball back to Pete Shev, his long cross field ball had JoMo doing his John Cleese fast walk impression down the left wing to get to the ball, his superb lay off to John W in the centre was perfectly weighted to allow John W to step up and hammer a low shot that finally beat the Glossop keeper. 1 – 0 to the Relics and fully deserved.
The Relics continued to dominate and could have gone further ahead when JoMo was free on the edge of the area, his shot sent the Glossop keeper the wrong way but hit the post and went out for a goal kick.
The Glossop keeper was still frustrating the Relics with another great save from John W following a Relics free kick.
Before half rime Glossop had a rare shot, from distance, but Gaz got down well to his left to keep the ball out.
Half time and the Relics are 1 – 0 up, but it could have been a lot more if it wasn’t for the Glossop keeper who was in great form.
The second half started with a pre arranged change with Alan B on for Pete Shev. The play was more of the same from the Relics, with Alan directing things from the back like Franz Beckenbauer at his best. The Glossop keeper was still frustrating the Relics with saves from JoMo and John W who twice had the keeper down but still couldn’t get the ball into the net. Stewart also had a double chance that was well by the keeper, first with his feet and then got down well to hold onto Stewarts second shot. A few minutes later Stewart was denied again when the Glossop keeper saved with his feet.
Glossop didn’t have many chances and were restricted to speculative shots from distance that Gaz was more than equal to.
In the last few minutes Glossop put the keeper into a striker position and brought a different keeper in off the bench, but the new keeper was in good form too, keeping shots from JoMo and John W out. Stewart could have made the Relics life a bit more comfortable but his left foot shot was wide.
Final score Relics 1 – Glossop 0
A dominant performance from the Relics, that wasn’t reflected in the score, sees them progress to the next round where their opponents will be either Kingsmaid or Wigan Walkers.
Well played to all the Relics squad of Gaz, Pete Shev, Tex, Alan B, JoMo, John W and Stewart. Also manager Ken. Thanks to Glossop for a game played in the right sporting spirit and well done to the Ref.
Video Highlights
Full highlights click-here
Gaz saves montage click-here
Just the goal click-here
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