Walker Fires a Rocket to Stun Wakefield

Bonfire Weekend saw an evening game at Wakefield. But who would supply the fireworks?
Team news saw the return of Hutch, Flavio and Tomahawk Bandit to the squad. Big Dave and Walker Texas Ranger were also included. Previous week’s hero Von Ryan was missing, as was Wragg the Younger, Gina G and Bambi. The game was to be played on the smurf pitch so there was a little trepidation following the earlier experience at Sheffield.
This time though Chap started strongly. Keeping the formation from the previous week’s win against the Dragons the wide forwards, Mad Max and Ice Burg, saw plenty of early ball and an early penalty corner was gained. With IceBurgs injection a little unexpected, Homer improvised well to fire a decent shot on goal. The Wakey keeper saving well to clear the danger.
With Hutch and Flavio controlling the central areas and the energetic Fitbit and Texas Ranger intercepting anything out wide, Chap started playing some nice patient hockey, if a little guilty of being direct in the last third. They did however gain a second penalty corner. This time the ball found Dan Dare who shot to the far post. Hutch, running in at the near post, deflected to beat the keeper and give Chap the lead.
The goal spurted Wakey to life and they had a good period of possession. Up until this point the defence of Homer, Shep and Bigfoot had looked untroubled, though the Wakey forward looked tricky. With their first real threat to the D however Wakey found the corner of Big Dave’s goal to bring the scores level. Worse was to follow when the Wakey forward went on a mazy run (with an element of backing in to Homer) before scoring again to make it 2-1.
Chap were still dominating possession but were having a period of overplaying the ball in the final third. That was until eventually an effort was made to play the ball across the D from wide right. This paid instant dividends as Mad Max, beautifully positioned at the back post, calmly controlled the ball before slotting in the equaliser.
With half-time approaching there was still to be a sting in the tail for Chap. The Wakey forward got a run on Shep before firing through Big Dave’s pads to give them a 3-2 lead.
Coach for the day Buie geed up the troops at half time and gave some good pointers on how the team could improve going forward. Starting the second half undeservedly behind Chap were straight on the gas. With Chuckle#2 now bossing the central areas and Tomahawk Bandit providing fresh energy up top, the plan was not to give up but to instead grind Wakey down. Once again Chap dominated possession. Fitbit and Texas Ranger were both winning the ball back in wide areas and setting up Chap attacks in equal measures. Tomahawk Bandit had a mazy run down the left, beating the keeper only to see his effort agonisingly cleared off the line (with the ball half crossed according to Tomahawk!). Dan Dare was doing an excellent job of harassing Wakey defenders such that possession was regularly overturned. With time progressing and the score still 3-2 this team still didn’t panic. Regularly the ball was recycled through Shep, Homer or Bigfoot to set up play again as avenues were closed off.
The equaliser when it came was to be a very special moment indeed. The ball started at Bigfoot before being worked into the central areas through Fitbit. Chuckle#2 then found Texas Ranger unmarked at the top right corner of the D. Texas controlled the ball before firing a lifted shot at the far corner. A very slight deflection off a defenders stick gave the ball just enough loop to carry the ball over the keeper before dropping just under the bar at the far corner for what will surely be goal of the season.
The celebrations were short though as this team were not satisfied with the draw. Dan Dare and Tomahawk Bandit went on the attack again and a penalty corner was gained. With advice shouted from the large (and welcome) support on the sidelines the team once again fed the ball to Dan Dare. In an action replay of the first goal he shot to the far post where the ball was once again deflected by Hutch at the near post into the bottom corner of the net. Chap deservedly holding out for a 4-3 win.
Whilst enjoying the aftermatch Chilli the MOM StarBlazer was a close call between Homer and Texas, Homer just nudging it following a confident first game at centre back.
The DOD Hotdog was a little less close following Dan Dare’s advances on a certain young lady being observed by some of the team on Facebook.