HALF TIME SUMMARY !
“A few words to sum up the season so far for both, first team and reserves”
West Wight 1st TEAM
Normal state of affairs really, top of the league, pushing for 3 cups, Robbie unhappy.
The dominant island team for over 10 years now, the team has changed a bit in recent seasons, but continues to be an incredibly gifted squad and Robbie demands the best. I think from past experience he knows how easy it is to be the best in the league but not match that potential with honours. Lapses in concentration giving draws against lower opposition or not building up big scores leaving nervous title run-ins decided on goal difference.
It’s easy to see why he gets so uptight. Take the Oakfield game. WW pretty much wiped the floor with their Ryde based opposition in possession and chances….but lost. WW were 5 days away from a year unbeaten in the league (27/10/07 V Sandown). The result proved how so much hard work can be undone with lack of concentration or lack of killer instinct. The title is not there for anyone else to win this year its only there for WW to lose.
An undeserved loss could’ve turned in to a run of bad form with 15 minutes left away to Brighstone, trailing 3-1 in the following league game. A 5-3 victory turned that chance on its head erasing any doubts about the character of the team and probably inspiring the players in the process.
WW have a fantastic side, certainly playing below their potential in Island football. The Hants Cup run this year and in recent years shows the club has big capability. At the time of writing the current Hants Cup holders have been dumped out by the Camp Roaders, a 4th consecutive away win in the competition. Gone have the pickles, tights and making Dooke faint of previous campaigns. This team has discipline. Banana’s, moustaches and Andy Rann is more their style.
The strength of the squad is evident as wins are accumulating despite injuries this season , Lee (back), Mike (liver!), Alex (ankle?), Holmsey (back, ankle, knee, arm, toe, calf, thigh and flu) and Ben (weedy).
Although the defensive record is not on par with previous seasons (14 against, so far), the goals for tally makes impressive reading, over 50. What is especially good about it is how well they’ve been shared around, reducing the reliability on Bridges (40 last year) and Bubs (20+ for over 10 consecutive seasons). Adam continues to contribute, including several from the spot (including 3 out of 3 after missing in the Oakfield game). Casey nets a fair share of goal of the month contenders, Harry and Ben, although not prolific score vital and well timed goals. Even Alex normally a creator has scored goals this year, including 2 in the first 2 games of the campaign.
If WW are ever going to win the quadruple there won’t be a better chance…………..no pressure lads.
West Wight RESERVES
People keep reminding me how well WW reserves are doing, and to be fair this is as good a reserve squad as I can remember, at least since the old Hampshire league days and the reserves were in Division 2. Even then they seemed to be some way off the top and although this side is only a Combination side have proved this year they can compete with Division 2 teams. There is some quality in the side several worthy of Division 1 football, only failing to play there due to the strength of the first team. It is surely no coincidence that both teams are doing well in tandem. The club is strong.
Many games have been a rout. On a good day, we are very good. W and B for instance, 10 - 0, against a 4th place side who would’ve fancied turning us over. Several big score lines like that have meant Disco has helped himself to 28 goals, Nathan 18 and Jason 12 (at time of writing). However in typical WW fashion it seems if we thrash someone it’s because the opposition is rubbish, but if we lose its because we were rubbish. It seems that WW never play an excellent team and win or play an excellent team and lose?! It seems as a team we, and club, we don’t really like patting ourselves on the back too much. The other side of our story this term, when we’re not rattling up big scores is a battling spirit that hasn’t been channelled properly in previous seasons. This year we have shown a lot of motivation and determination. A good example is our whole Hampshire Cup run to date. In 3 tricky games we have come through when there has been a real chance of failure. The freezing and windy conditions in Basingstoke, the stubborn Test Park and the failure to convert chances for so long against Fairfield, problems that may have seen WW reserves buckle in the past. In the league at home to Binstead and losing 2-1 with 15 to go, it was will power alone that got the victory, and Disco and Dave K. They say you make your own luck; well we’ve made some of that too. In the cup at home to Newchurch 1st , WW capitalized on the their inability to score several chances at 1-1 to add 3 goals late on, (for ’their inability to score’ read; Richard).
Currently unbeaten, we have 3pts over Shanklin, who had won the title by this time last year. It looks like a 2 horse race for the 3rd year running, for the league at least because having knocked them out of the Junior A already (on their own turf with Mitch scoring a fantastic goal) they won’t be retaining that particular honour. The WW reserves’ strength this year seems to come from a settled squad with great togetherness. There is an enthusiasm both on and off the pitch.
Bally has not only scored this year but has also been drinking in Freshwater. With Dave K your guaranteed a good performance and that he’ll be the first there, he’s also playing very well and scoring goals. Even MDC is playing with self confidence, and his performances are all the more consistent for it. I think Grovesy is even feeling Younger (and younger is enjoying it) The harmony is largely due to the incredibly loyal and dedicated squad, with Dean, Jon and Jason and Darren Moore also giving strong performances when given the chance. Special mention to the sPEciAl one; Phil who is fierce as a manager and a lunatic in the pub after.
Only 1 disappointing result so far, 3-3 at home to Sandown. They scored from a corner and we gave them 2 own goals and we had players missing. However it goes to show that no matter how well it seems its going it doesn’t take much to throw it all away. That lead over Shanklin is only one bad game from being level points and so is getting knocked out of a cup.
West Wight WIN Challange Cup 
