This was the first game for myself (Daz Barker) back as WSFC manager, after a breif self impossed exile. The team has been on a downward spiral of late, and I was 50/50 as to whether me coming back, was the right thing to do, but I seemed to have the backing of the playing squad, so we all thought we'd give it a go. (If I'm honest, with the amount of players missing from the regular 11, I thought we were in danger of getting a mauling!! but.............

What a performance !!!!!

We went into this game missing 6 regular players. (2x Centre half / 2x Centre mid a Winger and a Striker)

Add to this the recent lack of confidence shown by the players..... all the indications pointed to a long afternoon, away, at the current league champions.

How wrong could I be??

There was a stern wind in our faces in the first half, and although we started very brightly, we went behind to a counter attack, and from there on in, we would always to be chasing the game.
More good play went un-rewarded, and then unfortunatly, we conceded a 2nd just before half time.

The half time team talk was easy......
We'd played brilliantly, with nothing to show for it. We'd have a ferocious wind at our backs second half, and momentum was building for us, just prior to the second goal going in, so I was quietly confident going into the second half.

This proved to be the case.
Wave after wave of Wrexham attacks were to be thwarted by Liverpool, until finally..... Curly was put through with a neat pass from young Matty, to finish cooly, for what was to be sadly, our only goal.
Luke (who switched to Left Back after about 20 mins of the first half) was in great form as ever, and clipped the top of the corss-bar, from 30yds, and bubble had a couple of chances. The first when he was put through, by a deft glancing header from Curly, which he lashed wide, with (possibly) too much time to think about what he was going to do with it!
He almost made ammends, with a MUCH harder chance 2 mins later, when he rolled his defender perfectly, and curled one in, from 25yds, beating the keeper all ends up, and just missing the far post.
Seb was also very unlucky, with a chance near the death, after somewhat of a scramble, the ball just wouldn't sit for him, and the chance was cleared.

That was about that, but overall a fantastic performance, in what was the start of my 2nd stint as wsfc manager. I'm really proud of the team, for the commitment / desire shown today.
Special praise, must go to Luke & Slap, who were quite honestly, different class. they are 2 of only a handfull of players, who have or still do, play at a much better level on a saturday, and that experience told today.
Buxton was as solid as ever at right back, Dave Parry again Mr consistent, and young Matty is improving game on game.....
Everyone played there part today, and I'm more than happy with the whole team, although gutted we couldn't come away, with what would have been a well deserved point.
Well done.

Manager's Player ratings.......

Arron Scott - 7
Luke Walker - 9
Slap -9
Jamie Jones - 8
Stuart Buxton - 8
Sam Taylor - 6
Matty Sutherland - 7
Dave Parry - 8
Tony Perkins - 7
Bubble - 7
Curly - 8

Subs -
Seb Huber - 7
Steff Walker - 7