YFS
Relentless Wolves swept aside Broomhill with a classy display at Stepford Football Centre. Heavy favourites before the game, Wolves lived up to expectations and never looked back after Adam Blyth’s early strike put them ahead. Blyth went on to grab another, plus four from Kyle Durnan, a hattrick for Reiss Brady, a brace for captain Ben O’Brien, and Ben Queen’s solitary strike meant it was a comfortable day at the office for the Wolves boys.
Having lost their previous match against Wolves heavily, this match was just another part of the learning curve for the Broomhill players and their coaches who are attempting to put together a new team virtually from scratch. While the result reflects the difficult task ahead of them, the work ethic and determination shown by their boys until the final whistle suggests their work so far is showing promise.
By the time Blyth put his side ahead in the fourth minute with a powerful near post drive, Broomhill keeper Philip Davidson had already tipped an O’Brien over the bar and watched Kyle Mackay put one over, as Wolves dominated from the whistle.
It wouldn’t have been surprising to see Broomhill capitulate quickly after conceding the early goal but some good defensive work from David Icharia prevented Blyth linking up with Mackay and the big defender shielded the ball out of play.
Things could have turned out differently for Broomhill when they had their best chance of the match shortly after. Aaron Anderson chased after a long ball over the top and found himself one-on-one with Reece McLean, but the striker took the shot early and McLean had enough time to read it and get down low to make the save and prevent the equaliser.
Broomhill then had to face wave after wave of Wolves attack as they searched for the second. Durnan came close with a back post header, then after Mackay also forced a stop from Davidson, Queen’s ball back in was turned goalward by Durnan with a spectacular overhead kick but it was scrambled away to safety.
Pinned back in their own half, Wolves only out ball was the long punt from Davidson and it almost set free Anderson again but Junior Carscadden did well to dispossess him.
Brady shot over for Wolves and then his pass found Blyth who hit a dipping effort on the bounce from out wide that struck the top of the bar as they moved closer to the second goal. That goal came when Queen’s cross proved too much for Davidson and Durnan was on hand to knock it in from close range.
Davidson redeemed himself with an excellent stop at the feet of Blyth, with the ball eventually knocked clear with the help of left back Sean Browne. His side were still getting forward on occasion and after Anderson outmuscled Carscadden he tried to find Oliver Kennedy in the middle but Matthew Brasas got in the covering tackle.
A few goals in a few minutes effectively ended the tie as a contest, however. First Brady was in the right place at the right time as a corner was cleared to the edge of the box and he slammed it home first time into the bottom corner. Davidson was at full stretch with the dive but couldn’t get near it. Then a slick passing move ended with Brady to Queen who laid it on a plate for Durnan to drive home. Queen got in amongst the goals himself with a solo effort, showing good strength on the left wing to hold off his marker, drive into the box and finish low and hard into the bottom corner.
It was a whirlwind few minutes that put Wolves five goals up and out of sight. But they weren’t done yet done for the half.
Blyth forced his way down the touchline and, as the Wolves wingers so often did, found Brady perfectly with the cut back who showed good awareness to turn and lay off Durnan to hit high and hard into the roof of the net for his hat trick.
The final goal of the half was a team move that showed the best of Wolves, from Queen winning the ball in the centre circle and then a neat bit of play between Durnan and Mackay which ended with Durnan rounding the keeper and slotting home.