Wandle Wanderers Win, Rain and Shine at Home.
Wandle displayed a great performance in front of their home crowd for first home league game of the season.

The game started with Wandle demonstrating their intentions early, setting the tempo and getting into a nice attacking rhythm early. A few minutes into the game, Wandle were unlucky not be ahead, when some nice work down the wings allowed a cross to be delivered and a shot going narrowly wide. Moments later there was another chance went begging a cross in to the box was miss hit as the ball bobbled up.

Despite majority of the possession and the waves of Wandle attacks, down the wings and through the middle, there was no goal to show for the efforts. Wandle almost found themselves a goal behind from a sweeping corner which was met with a glancing header, which was destine for goal until a full stretched Gildarno pulled of a magnificent save.

Wandle were determined and continued show a high level of effort, they were soon rewarded, some neat wing play allowed Morgan to get to the bye line and pull the ball back to Ramone, who took a touch to set himself and drove the ball hard and low into the corner of the goal. That was his second goal in as many games.
With minutes to go until half time, Wandle went 2 – 0 up, a counter attack allowed Wandle to get the ball down left channel, where Ifeanyi flicked with his head into the path of Jessie, who then played a through ball into Morgan’s path down the left. Morgan pushed the ball ahead and used his pace to drive into the penalty area, opened his body and gave a right foot finish under the keeper (some fans comparing his style to that of Thierry Henrys) to get his first goal of the season.

At half time Josh was bought on for Jermaine, whom seemed to be carrying a slight knock.
After the interval Wandle continued in much the same way as they played in the first half, with attack after attack. Wandle had an opportunity to increase their lead when Ifeanyi (playing his first game of the season), threaded a penetrating through ball into the path of Markus (man of the match), who forced a great save from the Croydon keeper with a low drive.
The Croydon keeper pulled of another great save to thwart a wonderful turn and strike from Ifeanyi, who was revelling in his supporting striker’s role.

Midway through the second half Croydon dispossessed Wandle in their half, the ball was struck towards the goal, it somehow manage to elude the back tracking Gildarno and ended up in the back of the net. This gave Croydon belief that they could get something from the game, however Wandle were not going to let all their effort go to waste and recomposed themselves, showed character as well as spirit to defend their lead and run out deserved winners.

This was a great all round team performance, the team defended as a unit and attacked as a unit. They showed great teamwork, effort and communication, the full backs (Darius and Jake) were excellent in attack and defence. The centre backs (Adam and Daniel) are growing and becoming a formidable partnership, rarely did they allow Croydon to penetrate their penalty area. The wingers (Jermaine/Marcus and Josh) showed tremendous ability, using a combination of silky skills, technique and pace to create chance after chance, without shying away from their defensive duties. The energy demonstrated by the central midfield pairing of Jessie and Ramone was colossal. If this partnership continues to improve, it could become the envy of the division.
Ifeanyi demonstrated that with the right attitude, focus and attention, type of player he can become. Ifeanyi was asked to play in a role he is not familiar with, however he listened to instructions and passed with flying collars. His impact in this game has given the Wandle management a different option for the team dynamics.

Morgan, playing the lone striker, ruffled the Croydon defence by constantly applying pressure whenever the defenders were on the ball. His constant attacking runs behind the defence was rewarded with a cracking solo goal.

Although Wandle came out winners in this game and gave a great performance, the score line was unflattering and did not demonstrate their dominance. Wandle should have won this game by wider margin, however inadequate finishing let them down, this is something that must be given the utmost attention in training.
Remember working hard in training always pays off in matches!!!