Men's 1st XI Vs Wawick

Telford and Wrekin Men’s 1st XI were the only team to play in their league on Saturday as they welcomed Warwick in a rearranged game. The weather building up to the game was far from ideal with slushy rain falling for most of the morning, the afternoon was blessed with sunshine and with the excess water disappearing the pitch was in perfect condition. 

Defenders Vince Richardson and Jack Mallett returned for the hosts but were without midfielder Luca Basini who already had plans for the half term weekend. 

Following a strong performance and good win at Warwick in the return fixture, Telford knew that they would have to be at the races to get a positive result. The opening 10 minutes was very evenly matched with Warwick having most of the possession but creating almost nothing. It was Telford who had the first clear cut chance of the game with Dave Tracey’s effort being saved well by Warwick’s keeper. 

Top goal scorer Tom Mallett got Telford up and running with a drag flick which hit the bottom right corner. Sean Huffer went close forcing a good save from Warwick’s keeper yet again. As the first half went on Telford saw more of the ball and continued to push for a second goal, but Warwick’s defence stood strong and with stray passing on the counterattack Telford could not extent their lead. 

With the score 1-0 to the good at half time, the hosts were confident that if they stuck to their plans, they would be able to take all three points. With Warwick chasing for an equaliser, the game opened for the hosts, and they were able to exploit the spaces. Tom Gough won a short corner which was dispatched by Tom Mallett with an almost identical drag flick into the bottom right corner. 

Two became three moments later when Noah Higginson was on hand to pick up the pieces from Mallett’s drag flick which was saved back into the middle of the ‘D’. Higginson batted the ball into the goal to give Telford and unassailable 3-0 lead. Warwick did not go down without a fight winning several short corners, but Neil Davies and his team held strong and nullified any chances of Warwick finding a way back into the game. Man of the Match was the returning Jack Mallett who denied Warwick with a superb goal line clearance with minutes left on the clock.

A superb three points for Telford from their game in hand now gives them a 7-point lead over 3rd placed Sutton Coldfield which puts them in a solid position for promotion. However the job is far from done with a tough test next week against Olton and West Warwick 2’s.