Wolves and Onions share the spoils
Wolves 0Flanagan’s Onions 0Wolves coach Don Vickers called for his side to show more effort after being held to a goalless draw by top-of-the-table Flanagan’s Onions at Devonshire Rec.Neither side budged an inch during last night’s keenly contested affair although the hosts arguably finished slightly stronger against a bellicose Onions outfit.While admitting he was encouraged by his team’s unbeaten start to the campaign, the former X’Roads coach said he was disappointed Wolves failed to edge past Onions, who have also made an unbeaten start to the Digicel Premier Division season.“I’m certainly not happy with the way we played,” he said. “We’ve set high standards for ourselves this season and I expected a better performance from us.“I think we didn’t show enough effort tonight, however, I have to be encouraged with the start we’ve made this season.”Both teams gained promotion from the First Division last term, Wolves as champions, and Vickers believes their opponents will prove to be a tough team to beat this campaign.“It was a very good game, a close game, and (Onions) are a very tactical and astute side. They are very organised and made it difficult for us tonight.”Although both sides struggled to create much in the way of clear-cut chances there was no shortage of attacking endeavour with both teams going close to breaking the deadlock.However, at the end of a night of entertaining football a share of the spoils seemed a far result.Wolves arguably crafted the better of the scoring chances during a high tempo first half with Daz Simons sending a volley from distance narrowly over the Stephen Gould’s crossbar. Then, with just a few minutes of the half remaining, Morricko Iris’ swung over a corner-kick which was met by Sergio Richardson but the Wolves man couldn’t direct his shot on goal with the ball ballooning harmlessly over.The game continued in a similar vein after the break with Wolves again going close from another set piece with Simons failing to get enough purchase on his glancing header. Onions, looking dangerous on the counter-attack, were also causing their opponents moments of concern with Keston Lewis latching onto a through ball from John Donnelly, showing the Wolves defence a clean set of heels, before pulling his shot well wide.Lewis, the focal point of almost all of Onions’ attacking play, then saw his acrobatic overhead kick scrambled off the line as the visitor’s started to pose greater threat midway through the second half.But they failed to capitilse when in the ascendancy with Brian Amoro showing poor composure after robbing Wolves keeper Jahne Shakir on the edge of the box, choosing to square the ball to Lewis rather than shoot himself, affording the Wolves defence time to recover.Wolves finished the stronger the of two teams with Iris firing wide from the edge of the area, although Lee Osborne nearly grabbed a winner for the visitors with a audacious left-foot lob from deep which drifted just over the bar.Wolves: J Shakir, M Williams, L Paynter, D Simons (T Davis, 80), H Burrows, M Iris, J Peniston, K Brangman, S Richardson, V Minors, D Brangman (A Zuill, 75)Substitutes not used: A Brangman, K SmithFlanagan’s Onions: S Gould, M Laws, J Donnelly (P Matthews, 80), S Butler, J Knight, A Kelly, L Osborne, S Lister, B Amoro (K Szmienek, 75), K Lewis, P Robey (P Falcucci, 75)Substitutes not used: D O’Sullivan, S UptonReferee: E HolmesMan of the match: S Butler (Onions)
