FRIENDLY MATCH REPORTS

Havant & Waterlooville Winter Walking Football Tournament

Sunday 20th November 2022 at Havant & Waterlooville FC (3g pitch)

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Winchester WFC’s tournament squad:

D.Kirkby (captain)

B.Poffley

S.Nash

R.Parker

E.Wills

I.Dowson

Heather (coach)

J.Lough

 

There were 10 competing teams, drawn in two groups of five. The other teams were: Fleet, Gosport, Hawks, Portsmouth, Worthing Gold, Hawks Originals, Bognor, Mountbatten, and Worthing Red.

6-a side, 3-touch, 15-minute games, no half-time.  

Winchester results:  v Hawks Originals 1-1

                                    Bognor 1-0

                                    Mountbatten 0-1

                                    Worthing Red 1-2

On a bright, sunny, but cold morning, Dave K was in goal for the first match. Barry P (who made some excellent saves) was keeper for the other games. Looking at the results overall, the passing ability shown and the general quality of our football compared very favourably with that of the teams who progressed from the groups to the Tournament semi-finals (complements on our performance received from other teams). If there was a bit of disappointment at the end, it was because in all the games we competed well and created good chances in front of goal, but so many shots were just off target. This was particularly the case against Hawks Originals, where we dominated the proceedings after going a goal down early on. Mountbatten and Worthing Red, incidentally, were the two teams who went on to  contest the final, with Worthing winning the tournament. The goal against Worthing was a spectacular, long-range effort from Steve N, which nestled high in the top corner! The other goalscorers on the day were Barry, Ian and Eugene.

 

Jeffrey Lough                                           

 

Friendly vs Southampton Striders Dec 3rd 2022.

 

On Saturday morning 3rd December, Winchester travelled for a friendly against Southampton Striders at the Oasis Academy.

Matchday squad:

GK: M. Kukla

Defenders: D. Kirkby (c), J. Lough

Midfielders: S. Davitt, I. Dowson, B. Poffley, E. Wills

Forwards: R. Walker, F. Willsher

 

The format of the morning was three 25 minute matches with the pitch easily big enough to accommodate 7-a-side. This resulted in late changes to captain Kirkby's meticulous pre-planned 6-a-side line-ups. Rolling subs meant everyone contributed significantly to each match.

Striders passed the ball around neatly but, as a result of sterling Winchester defending, they were largely restricted to shots from distance. When they did break through, they found "Keeper" Kukla in tremendous form, despite further aggravating an injury when calmly letting the ball slowly rebound to him off the post.

Winchester's forward-thinking approach paid dividends with a goal from Dowson in Match 1 and a "worldie" from Walker into the top right-hand corner in Match 2 - both resulting in 1-0 victories.

The three "W's" - not this time the legendary trio of West Indian cricketers, but our own Walker, Wills and Willsher - were unlucky not to add to Winchester's goals. Wills had several shots breaking from centre midfield, and up front Walker and Willsher both hit the post.

Striders were determined to get something out of Match 3. Their good play was rewarded with a goal in off the post, and a long-range scorcher two minutes from time - thus securing a 2-0 victory in Match 3.

So overall Winchester won 2-1 on the match count - or was it a 2-2 draw in a game of three halves ? Either way it was an enjoyable morning and much to positively reflect upon over lunch in a local hostelry.

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Brian Poffley

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See the 'positive reflections' here!