05/01/19

CFL top scorer in all competitions Leadbetter bags 2 more to move 'in-form' Whaley up to 8th.

Whaley, currently the CFL's top recent form team over the last 6 games started today's game in 10th place, welcomed a confident Eagle side looking to improve on their 4th place.

The home side, playing towards the park end, enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half hour but didn't really trouble the Eagle keeper apart from one fabulous 35 yard effort from Kay that crashed against the bar.  Eagle played some good stuff and with their 2 centre backs looking particularly sound never resorted to the long ball and eventually started to play their way into the game creating problems on the break and from corners and set pieces.  Kay and Toseland dealt confidently with everything, Toseland in particular made some telling interceptions and looks to get better game by game.

All 4 goals came after the break. Following a magnificent save Tattersall cleared down the right for Bailey to free Leadbetter who blasted a terrific right footer into the far top corner on the hour.  Although now nip and tuck the Whaley forwards looked to be the more dangerous and the more likely to add to the one goal advantage.  However, probably against the run of play Eagle produced a great flowing move down their right flank, the winger's flashing cross ultimately met on the volley to level the scores and all in a matter of seconds from start to end.

The home side now produced a few minutes of sustained pressure in the last quarter with flashing crosses, corners and free kicks all creating havoc in the Eagle defense, Laedbetter and Sutton both coming close.  The game seemed to be drifting towards a draw until Dwyer, somewhat frustrated up until this point, produced a mazy run down the left drifting passed a plethora of players to cross into the 6 yard box for Leadbetter to slide the ball home.  A couple of minutes later and just before full-time Sutton headed in from a lovely Dwyer free kick to finish the scoring.

So all in all an entertaining game played in good spirit against a very good competitive Warrington outfit, the Whaley management also very much appreciated Eagle's off the field attitude having left their changing room immaculate and all attending for after match refreshments.

Next week Whaley host Matlock Town Res in the Derbyshire Divisional Cup semi-final; KO 1:30 pm. Be there !

Tattersall: Peatfield; Toseland; Kay; Bailey; Sutton (2); Gilbride; Broome; Dodds; Dwyer; Leadbetter (2)

Drayson(75); O'Donnell(65); Gemmell(80); Dwolitka