SWRFC - Match Reports

August 16th

West Yorkshire Premier League First Team 2 - 2 Wetherby Athletic

Sherburn White Rose FC kicked off their West Yorkshire Premier League campaign at home to Wetherby Athlectic FC. This fixture has been a difficult one for Sherburn in the past and that continued today.

Wetherby's first attack five minutes into the game resulted in Sherburn conceding a penalty. Then after GK Simon Hudson saved it brilliantly, another penalty was conceded on the rebound this time and was subsequently scored comfortably.

At this stage Wetherby were certainly on top but fortunately for Sherburn, now a team in disarray, they did not create any worth while opportunities. Sherburn made personnel changes within the starting eleven and after twenty minutes began to get a foot hold in the game at last. Alex Booth now playing number 9 with Marc Bradley dropping into midfield enabled Sherburn to build better possession and get their passing game going. Adam Preistly began to get success against his full back but could not supply the quality end product required.

After half time Sherburn began the stronger and really started to take the game by the scruff of the neck and began to dominate. Alex Booth went close when he managed to break clear and his effort hit one post then rolled across the line and hit the other post and some how stayed out of the goal. With Sherburn now pressing, Wetherby had a rare counter attack and after some poor Sherburn defending they should have made it 2-0 but with the goal wide open Wetherby's attacker could only hit the bar.

The game turned Sherburn's way when they were awarded a direct free kick 25 yards out, Jamie Wainwright stepped up and scored a spectacular equaliser to the top corner.

With Sherburn now in charge of the game through good short passing Alex Booth broke through one on one with the goal keeper this time he made no mistake to finish and give Sherburn the lead. Sherburn now grew rampant towards the opposition goal but due to some excellent defending the home side failed to capitalise.

In the dying moments the bogey team tag came true when Wetherby delivered a wide free kick into the box and a soft finish left the game at two a-piece.

It was a well contested game, very competitive at times but it is true to say both teams must improve to achieve anything this season

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West Yorkshire Alliance Division 1 Reserves 1 - 0 Robin Hood Athletic

The reserves began their 2008/2009 campaign with a 1-0 victory away to Robin Hood Athletic. A sloppy start from Sherburn allowed Robin Hood to dominate the start of the first half with the back four working hard to keep out the home side's forwards who were quick and looking to score early. Eventually Sherburn came back into the game after settling and some good possession football soon led to a break through; Daniel Withington continued his pre-season scoring form by breaking through the back line to lob the goalkeeper with a neat finish.

Robin Hood continued to threaten, with both centre-halves Hudson and Collins making last ditch tackles after another break from the home side, and goalkeeper Quirk being forced into a good low save early in the second half. Although Sherburn's performance improved, Robin Hood continued to create chances and used the large pitch to their advantage, switching the ball well and breaking from midfield, however they failed to capitalise and were denied by some more last ditch defending from Horsfield and some poor finishing around the edge of the box.

Chris Young was brought on for Beaston and should have scored within minutes; some neat interplay placed him one on one with the keeper only to see his shot go wide of the right post. Withington also had a chance to finish the game and Wainwright blasted two efforts well over the bar from loose clearances.

In the end Sherburn were able to hold on and competed well with a physical Robin Hood team. Manager Iain Macdonald commented that he was pleased with the result knowing that the side can play much better football.

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