VWFC vs Chalfont Wasps
12/08/2017 Virginia Water 4 - 3 Chalfont Wasps
Hellenic League Division One East
Report by Ceri Jones
What a match for Virginia Water to start the new season, and debut in the Hellenic League Division One East!
Waters came out winners with a valuable three points in the end, and even if deservedly so, were made to work extremely hard by a well organised and equally determined Chalfont Wasps side.
Waters tried to play the most football, but Wasps were physical and battled exceptionally well, and initially thwarted all the home side could throw at them. Clear cut chances were not plentiful in the first half, although Lorenzo Di Felice, Marc Lansdowne, Paul Burrows, Ryan Curtis and the predatory Josh Guichard (MoM) all had efforts on goal.
The first goal came in the 40th minute, when Di Felice linked with the equally excellent Josh Hill down the right, to race through and rifle his shot into the bottom corner.
Uncharacteristically, Waters then conceded two sloppy goals, one when they failed to deal with a long throw, and almost immediately a second when the ball squirmed in from a tame shot, that the home side all thought was offside – but as the saying goes, you have to play to the whistle. A 2-1 deficit at half time was not what Waters’ football deserved, albeit the team talk and dressing room was very positive and there was total belief in getting something from the game.
Waters got level in the 50th minute, when Guichard latched on to a through ball, to calmly slot home over the advancing goalkeeper. Waters then kicked on, and from a short corner in the 56th minute, and great delivery by Hill to the back post, Lansdowne pounced to head home powerfully from close range.
To their credit, back came Chalfont and got a great equaliser when their striker Chris Hurst notched his hat-trick with a volley into the top corner.
In an entertaining game, the home side were not to be outdone, and from a Liam Hill corner in the 68th minute, Guichard got in front of his marker to volley home the winner, and his second.
From then on Waters were not troubled, and Di Felice, Paul Burrows, Steve Williams and Guichard all could have made it a more comfortable final 15-20 minutes, but were denied by some last ditch defending and goalkeeping.
Manager Ceri Jones was pleased with the result and added, “A very satisfying start to our campaign against, who we think will be one of the strongest teams in the league, and wish them well for the season.”
Well done lads
Team:
Matt Jones
Josh Hill
Adam Mills
Marc Lansdowne
Max Samyint
Paul Burrows
Steve Williams (c)
Joe McBride
Lorenzo Di Felice
Josh Guichard
Ryan Curtis
Subs:
Jake Baker
Liam Hill
Dan Whatford
Louis Sanders
Sam Devoil