Wasps Defeat Old Foes AFC Birmingham

Following last week’s double figure display against bottom of the league Black Country Cobras, this week saw a much tougher task in our away day journey to AFC Birmingham. With this being the only ground we have experience defeat on for over a year, there was a score to settle against the team that we managed to pip to the title last season.

Wasps started well on the boggy pitch, seeing a lot of the ball and working it well down the flanks, with Harry and Jasper being a thorn in the side of Birmingham in the opening exchanges. Alfie was causing their defence all sorts of problems, pressurising the back line into mistakes and creating chances only to see this efforts saved well or go narrowly wide. AFC were able to ride out this Wasps storm and settled into the game and started to get the better of the play. They were able to capitalise on this good spell to take a deserved 1-Nil lead after we failed to clear a long goal kick and then a hard drilled right wing cross, which found their striker in the box to tap home. AFC gained confidence from this and came close to doubling their lead when another cross caused trouble but evaded everyone in the box.

However, showing our true winning spirit, Wasps rallied just before half time and Jensen showing commanding form at the back following his introduction. Our midfield started to get the upper hand again and this lead to quick goals scored by Mason in 2 minutes. Taylor finding space for both and in identical fashion, slotted Mason through for the striker to find the net on both occasions.

The half time message was clear, we needed the third goal to kill off the game and take the wind out of our opponents. The loss of Alex at half time to injury was a blow but Jensen, Ethan and AJ stuck to their task and shone throughout the second half. The second half started off tight, with both sides fighting for dominance, but it was Wasps who struck when neat work between Mason and Taylor found our number 10 in space but a long way out from goal. Taylor decided to tackle the strike on and he managed to find the bottom left hand corner to give us a commanding lead. Birmingham rallied quickly and it required a spectacular double save from Ben to keep the score at 3-1 .This goal and Ben’s shut out had the desired effect as we found ourselves 4-1 up a minute later when Taylor slotted Alfie through and the striker finished neatly to get the goal that his hard work had deserved.

The crowd didn’t have to wait long to witness Mason complete his first hatrick in the black and whiter stripes, since his arrival at the club a few weeks ago and Taylor provided an impressive 4th assist of the game.

Player of the match awards went out to Mason, Taylor and Harry. An extremely pleasing performance and the whole team epitomised the strength that is needed to stay unbeaten and a never say die spirit.