without trace

Wheatley AFC 1 The Star 2

IN the year of the Titanic, the Wheatley's once promising season has finally been sunk without trace. Their last win was in November against their quarter-final opponents, The Star, yet they couldn't repeat that feat on Sunday.

On a heavy pitch the Wheatley enjoyed the majority of the possession but an inability to convert their chances proved their undoing. In the first half in particular, Galasso and Marshall made headway down the wings, but no end product was forthcoming.

With the central midfield pairing of Roberts and Forrest proving both competitive and creative the Wheatley dominated the opening 45 minutes before succumbing to a double whammy at the start of the second half.

An innocuous long ball over the top of the Wheatley defence should have been easily dealt with yet a lack of communication between Dale and 'keeper Wintersgill let in a Star forward to slip the ball into the empty net.

Ten minutes later the Star doubled their lead when the referee was alone in seeing a push on the edge of the area and awarded a penalty which was duly converted.

With half-an-hour left the Wheatley still created more than enough chances to salvage a draw - Ashton's shot from the edge of the area was parried into the path of Drew, but his effort from six yards was blocked by the 'keeper, Galasso's flicked header was cleared off the line and the 'keeper blocked Beanland's close-range effort from Haw's deep cross.

Eventually the breakthrough came when a hand ball gave the Wheatley a penalty from which Beanland scored to set up a frantic last ten minutes.

The Wheatley's best, and final, chance came from Haw's floated free kick which found Forrest with only the 'keeper to beat from ten yards - as he prepared to shoot, his teammate Ashton crashed into him, leaving the two of them on the floor and the ball in the 'keeper's hands.

The incident summed up the Wheatley's day - chances often created but always spurned. Wheatley were well-served by Ackroyd, Roberts, Forrest and Galasso but match point went to veteran Jim Dale.

This Sunday Wheatley entertain third-placed Horsforth. Kick-off 10.30am.

Wharfedale Sunday Cup

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