Twelve months after their humbling defeat by the parents, the coaches finally extracted their revenge in a closely fought contest, restoring some much needed pride and putting to rest (for the time being anyway) any sarcastic jibes in relation to the much maligned UEFA B coaching badge.

Both sides were able to field full strength teams, however the Coaches were forced into an early change when Mitchell was forced out of the game; failing to recover from an injury aggravated during the warm up. 

Despite kicking up the slope, the Coaches took the early initiative forcing the Dads into some desperate defending and it was somewhat against the run of play that the Dads took the lead when Barr chipped home following a mix up in the Coaches rearguard. Almost immediately McNelis nearly doubled the advantage, but was thwarted when Ramsbottom flung himself to his right and diverted the ball over the bar from point blank range.  

Devoid of any natural width the Coaches packed the midfield to stifle the opposition and following some neat work down the right McKay skipped clear to level, tucking his shot inside the far post.  McNelis restored the parent’s advantage but all their good work was undone soon after when an innocuous cross was diverted past Mackay via Tittle’s head to bring honours even yet again.

Sensing that they needed to make the most of any advantage that the slope could offer before the interval, Dave Allen nodded in on the stroke of half time exposing more deficiencies in the Coaches backline.

 Despite having the lion’s share of possession for most of the second half, chances came and went for the coaching staff and a combination of stout defending and Mackays agility in the goal maintained the Dads slender advantage. At the other end the Dads were unable to convert the half chances that came their way and their profligacy was cruelly exposed when Bradley fired home a loose ball to make it three apiece.

Just when it appeared that the game would end in an honourable draw, Bradley slotted home from eight yards out and despite vain protestations for offside from the Dads, the goal stood. Straight from the kick-off McNelis almost equalised in dramatic fashion but miscued when well placed. 

Steve Woods – the main protagonist for the Coaches, victory was largely due to his orchestration of the midfield.   

Dave Mackay – the veteran keeper’s agility almost single-handedly brought back to back success for the Dads.

They say a week is a long time in politics but in football terms the last nine  months must seem like an eternity for the Wasps coaching staff, as West Kirby finally secured that elusive first victory at the seventh attempt. It is to the board’s credit that they have remained loyal to player manager Mitchell throughout this period. With the transfer kitty empty, he has had to rely on the services of a number of journeymen players, (in some cases past their sell by date), combining this with up and coming youth and experience via the odd free transfer.

With regular striker Bradley sidelined with flu, assistant first team coach Mike Jones was forced to lead the line and this paid off handsomely with Jones turning back the clock in a vintage performance. On loan midfielder Thorpe was also given the chance to impress, named amongst the substitutes for his first start.

With a swirling wind behind them the Wasps took the initiative from the start forcing their opponents onto the backfoot almost immediately. The first 15 minutes yielded few opportunities but West Kirby opened their account when Jones converted a loose ball from a corner. Five minutes later the Wasps thought that they had doubled their advantage when Mitchell’s in-swinging corner appeared to have crossed the line, before being hacked clear.  However referee Shone was having none of it and waved away the visitors protests, when slow motion replays later clearly showed the official’s gaffe.    

Following the best move of the match Jones carved out an excellent opportunity to add to his tally, but with the goal at his mercy somehow managed to trouble the ball boys more than the home keeper. However parity was restored almost immediately when McNelis tucked away his shot following some neat interplay down the left.

Little had been seen of the hosts at this point but OTC soon reduced the arrears when Allen finished smartly from inside the box on the stroke of half time.

Half-Time : OTC 1 West Kirby Wasps 2

The Wasps were forced to ring the changes at half time, Dave Allen failed to recover from the knock he picked up just before the interval, and Mike Wright returned to the fray following a lengthy lay off through injury.

Within ten minutes of the restart the Wasps were given an ideal opportunity to increase their advantage when an innocuous through ball struck the arm of the hosts and referee Shone had little option but to point to the spot. For the second successive game McKay converted the spot kick.  However this joy was short-lived as Allen latched on to a loose ball at the other end to reduce the arrears.

OTC then took the game to the visitors and it was only Mackays agility in the Wasps goal that maintained the visitors slender lead. With ten minutes left McNelis was put through on goal, drawing the keeper before pulling it back for Ian Barr to convert from six yards. Almost immediately the Wasps added a fifth when from another dangerous corner the home keeper flapped at the ball leaving Jones unchallenged to head home one of the easiest goals in his illustrious career. 

The goal feast continued until the last minute when Billing grabbed a late consolation for the home team diverting a cross shot through keeper Mackay’s legs.

West Kirby Wasps were forced to ring the changes once again for the visit to Wirral Libs. Keeper Dave Mackay was recalled from his loan spell in Scotland and the experience gained north of the border obviously paying dividends with a far trimmer and leaner player on show. Dave Allen returned from injury and Sean Turner having put his “off field” misdemeanors behind him restored to the centre of defence. Former French winger Jean Paul Simpson was also given the nod and a chance to resurrect his career after a couple of false starts in the French first division.

The major talking point though was the omission of ever-present Mike Jones from the squad. Player Manager Mitchell refused to dwell on the subject and remained tight-lipped citing “personal family reasons” for his captain’s absence. Whether the breakdown in recent contract negotiations between the player’s agent and the club were attributable remains to be seen.

In driving wind and rain the Wasps took the game to their hosts and after 5 minutes opened the scoring when Barr converted a pinpoint cross from Mitchell. Within ten minutes West Kirby had the opportunity to double their advantage when Marland was upended in the box. The outcome of key matches often hinge on a turning point at a pivotal moment in a game, and this was to be no different. (Who can ever forget Sharp’s goalbound effort being denied by Grobbelaar’s athletic tip over in 1986 and Jancker’s chip rebounding from Peter Schmiechel’s cross bar in 1999 and how the fortunes for each were to change dramatically within minutes). Clearly this was not in Bradley’s mind as he strode up purposefully to hit the ball to the keeper’s right, however the Lib’s keeper guessed right and was able to palm Bradley’s weak effort away.

 Wasps Rating: ***

 Star Man: Dave Mackay – The “Flying Haggis” as he is affectionately known, was back to his inspired best and could not be faulted for any of the goals. (Myths about Scottish keepers on this performance are clearly misplaced !!)

West Kirby Wasps picked up a creditable draw in their latest encounter, coming from behind against local rivals Hoylake LTC.

The Wasps were forced to shuffle the pack due to the enforced absences of key players through injury and suspension. This meant that veteran goalkeeper Wally Ramsbottom, ageing midfielder Mike Fryer and free transfer signing Bren Tittle, who had all been languishing in the reserves were given their first starts of the season. In addition, player manager Mitchell pulled off a masterstroke rewarding former YTS trainee Mark Torgersen with his first senior outing since turning professional, and Mark justified his manager’s faith in him by producing an inspiring debut performance in the left back role.

The Wasps started strongly taking control of the game early on and winning a couple of early corners to underline their supremacy. Ian Barr went closest to opening the scoring for the Wasps when his shot on the turn hit the inside of the post, only for midfielder Parker to put the rebound wide with the goal at his mercy. It was therefore somewhat against the run of play that Hoylake opened the scoring when Kev Roberts slotted home from an acute angle from their first meaningful attack.

Despite this setback the Wasps continued to have the lions share of possession, but in fairness neither goalkeeper was seriously tested as the half drew to a close.   

 Half-Time : West Kirby Wasps 0 Hoylake 1

Within two minutes of the restart the Wasps drew level. Barr’s mazy run and pinpoint cross finding the head of Bradley who made no mistake from six yards. At this point there only looked one winner with Hoylake showing little enterprise and reduced to sporadic breakaways, that were dealt with comfortably by the Wasps defence.

West Kirby should have moved into the ascendancy when Barr latched onto a through ball and rounded the visitor’s keeper only to see his effort trickle wide of the far post a` la Ryan Giggs. The Wasps continued to press for a late winner but were unable to press home their superiority and player manager Mitchell will be disappointed he couldn’t convert the two half chances that came his way in the last 15 minutes.

Whilst the Wasps management will be pleased to have halted their losing streak, ironically this showing was below some of their most recent performances against far better opposition. 

The Wasps miserable run of form continued with yet another defeat against their old adversaries, putting increasing pressure on Player Manager, Neil Mitchell with only one win in their last five matches. With the transfer window firmly shut, the word on the inside is that Neil has only two games to save himself before the PLC vultures are expected to swoop. Despite the defeat Neil was upbeat about the performance “this was one of the best performances during my reign in charge “ he said, “I’m proud of the players who showed great character and on another day we would have come away with a victory. The fans deserve better but if they stick with us our time will come”.

On a heavy pitch West Kirby Wasps took the initiative early on with the 3 new additions to the squad, McNelis, Parker and Badley signed on the eve of the transfer deadline featuring prominently. Indeed two of the new signings played a significant role in the Wasps taking the lead, some neat interplay enabling Parker to feed McNelis for a cool finish.  

Unfortunately the lead lasted barely 10 minutes when Parkinson equalised for Irby sliding in at the far post. Soon after the Wasps defence was exposed again when Ian Johnson added a second when put through in the box, despite a vain attempt from Ian Adams to stop the ball going over the line.

However undeterred the Wasps came back in dramatic fashion with McNelis bagging his second of the game following a neat turn and shot from the edge of the box. Within ten minutes Irby had the advantage again when defending that wouldn’t have been out of place in the “Keystone Cops” let Bellfield in to score capitalising on some woeful communication between Westby and Mitchell.

With half time looming the Wasps were given a lifeline when Ian Barr’s looping cross shot sneaked in “Ronaldino” style at the far post.

Half-Time : Irby CC  3 West Kirby Wasps 3

The second half appeared to be a case of ‘deja vu’ with Johnson doubling his tally from Irby’s first attack of the half in keeping with the last encounter between the two sides.  Unfortunately the enterprising play that had been the hallmark of their first half performance deserted the Wasps and it came as no surprise when Marland netted for the home team, cracking the ball home superbly from a tight angle. 

Despite this the Wasps refused to lie down and Barr added to his tally with a neat header at the near post to give them some hope. Half chances came and went for both sides and Bradley will feel he should have done better when faced with an opportunity late on to reduce the arrears. However Irby always looked dangerous on the break and their defence marshalled by Daniel and Neil Parkinson were never given the same examination in the second period.   

This performance should give the management team of Mitchell and Jones some heart. The team was more cohesive and no doubt benefited from the change of personnel, however the defensive frailties continue to cause alarm and the return of veteran Mike Wright from suspension and regular keeper Dave Mackay from his extended loan spell in Scotland should prove a welcome boost.

Star Man: Simon Bradley – an imperious “Jan Molby” like performance, obviously benefiting from his recent recuperation from alcohol addiction in Germany and France.   

West Kirby Wasps were put to the sword in their most recent encounter, suffering a back to back reversal against an in form Irby Cricket Club. However the margin of victory somewhat flattered the hosts with the Wasps enjoying long periods of possession but unable to capitalise on the opportunities that came their way.

Irby started strongly forcing Wasps keeper Shone into a couple of fine early saves. Against the run of play Irby broke the deadlock when one of their forwards latched on to a through ball and having drawn the keeper, coolly finished in the corner.

With half time looming Irby increased their advantage when one of their midfielders latched on to a loose ball from the edge of the box, hitting a first time shot that went in off the underside of the bar.

On the plus side, the defence was superbly marshalled by Mike Wright and Sean Turner whose performances belied their advancing years. The Wasps management will no doubt be concerned about the extent of the injury to goalkeeper Shone and will no doubt recall veteran keeper Dave McKay from his loan spell in time for their next outing.