16/12 SJ 3:3 WHLRFC Scorers: Ade, Jason, Ritchie  MotM: Jason A beautifully floated cross from Jason was met by Clint who headed into the top corner only to see a dubious offside flag.  Shortly afterward the SJ forward was unmarked on the right hand edge of the box and ran through to hit past Dean. SJ were not long in the lead as a corner by Jason was only cleared back to him and he drove the ball back across the goal which allowed Ade the simply task of hanging out a leg and deflecting the ball in. SJ once more took the lead as a quickly taken throw in found a forward in space in the box unmarked and he turned and placed the ball in the net. SJ could have gone further ahead as Dean's weak goal kick was intercepted by the forward but Dean made a great recovery save from his shot. The goal of the game was scored by Jason who picked the ball up just inside the SJ half. He ran through the defence into the box and at 12 yards picked his spot and placed it into the right hand corner. Early in the 2nd half WH took the lead as Geordie squared from the left for Ritchie to tap home.  SJ soon equalised as the forward rampaged down the right wing with Nick in chase cut inside and scored his hatrick goal. Once more WH had the ball in the back of the net through Ritchie  but once again found the linesman had his flag in the air. Despite fielding a weakened team WH were very unlucky not to come away with the points and worked hard to earn a draw. Team: Dean, Nick, Toby, Liam, Dave (Ritchie Mate), Neil, Geordie, Jason, Ritchie, Clint, Ade

13/1 WHLR 1:6 Old Brewery Scorer: Clint        MotM: TT A litany of individual mistakes, fortuitous finishing and too much Christmas pud led to WH’s latest downfall. The first half was largely camped in the Brewery half but with their only two attacks they scored. A faultless cross was headed home after thirty minutes.  From the resulting kick off, Geordie picked up the ball beat two players and laid the ball off to Clint. With his first touch Clint found Ade on the edge of the box who then neatly returned the pass to Clint who had got behind the defence and hit the ball home powerfully past the visitors keeper, a candidate for goal of the season. A lapse in defence and good fortune led to Brewery’s second as their defender ran through to collect a throw in and his shot returned off the post back to him and he didn’t miss at the second attempt. In the second half the third goal was conceded when Dean dropped a simple cross to allow Brewery to tap home.  The fourth ricochet off Nick’s toes to lob the ball into the far corner of the net and the fifth resulted from a weak backpass from Ade.  The sixth shortly followed and WH were in disarray and were lucky to close out the final twenty minutes without further mishap. Team: Dean, Nick, Liam, Toby, Craig (Dave RM), Neil, Geordie, Ritchie, Neil, Ade, Clint

20 Jan Katun 3:0 WHLRFC MotM Dan Martin Seventy Years old and over thirty stone was the opening comment about the WH strikers.  They didn’t do too bad in negating the force of the imperious Sadler with his neck muscles bulging with every sinew at every exhortation to his team.  Lee and Ade constantly won flick ones but that subtle speed and thought of mind that creates chances was sorely lacking. For all that the WH played gallantly surviving 80 minutes before conceding the first goal.  WH had Jason back in midfield and Lee Martin’s younger and significantly better brother Dan filling in at centre back.  The work rate and effort was all nearly rewarded when Ade tucked home in the second half but the goal was ruled out for Lee’s challenge on the keeper. In truth WH won many free kicks as Katun showed a willingness to put the boot in but the delivery from the ensuing set pieces was woeful on each occasion. Following the opening goal Geordie was penalised for an innocuous tackle just inside the box and one quickly became two and then three as energy drained from the WH team on a wet and sodden ground. Overall the result in no way reflected a much improved performance. Team: Dean, Liam, Toby, Dan, Nick, Ritchie, Geordie, Jason, TT, Ade, Lee.