Game Changer once again suffered defeat in the Fair Play League as they remain rooted to the foot of the table from their five league matches played out thus far this season. It was a hard-fought battle between the (then) bottom two clubs, Yorkshire Wanderers, and Game Changer – with the S6 club coming out on top. After a goalless first half, the Wanderers took the lead through a mixture of a keeping error and shear luck. They then added three more goals before The Oranges netted a scant consolation via the penalty spot.
It was the fourth time that these two clubs had gone head-to-head with Wanderers victorious on each occasion. Their last encounter, on 15th April 2023, resulted in a narrow 4-3 defeat for the Oranges at Winn Gardens.
Yorkshire Wanderers 4-1 Game Changer Saturday, 7th October 2023 – KO: 10:30 AM Sheffield & Hallamshire Fair Play League
Game Changer XI | Substitutes |
Liam Cole | Paul Holland |
Jack Rubino | Levi Wilkinson |
Joe Deakin | Leo Markham |
Matt Townsend (c) | Brandon Jones |
Ryan Hunter | |
Josh Payne | |
Kevin Laws | Manager |
Jamie Moore | Jamie Moore |
Jack Riley | |
Joe Stones | Physio |
Dean Crawford | Gavin Frost |
The visitors began the early exchange game with high - though neither side failed to test one another's keeper. The Oranges were awarded a free kick in the opening minutes and after winning several throw-ins were unable to apply necessary pressure in the final third. At the other end, The Wanderers fired an effort wide of goal on the angle.
Both sides cancelled each other out. On 20 minutes the hosts squandered a good opportunity to take the lead. They were presented with a corner after Liam Cole saved a one-on-one opportunity, and from the recycled delivery to the far post, they headed wide with the goal at his mercy. At the other end, a free kick from a foul on Jack Riley saw Kevin Laws fired wide from the edge of the area.
Wanderers came even closer on the half hour mark. A lack in concentration from the defence saw the hosts get round the back. Cole excellently denied their #11 at the near post but a recycled crossed ball drifted over the far post with a striker lying in wait as the ball flashed out for a throwing.
Keeper, Cole, once again kept the Oranges in the game on 37 minutes after the hosts was rewarded with a (what was considered a) soft penalty after the forward fell under his own momentum. However, the referee pointed to the spot. From the spot, Cole was equal to the attackers effort and kept the score goalless.
After the break the visitors came close once again to taking the lead after the ball was played into the final third a flashed effort cannoned off the crossbar.
The scores remained all square until 70th minute. Prior to that, substitute, Paul Holland fired an effort wide of the mark following a cleared corner.
The hosts took the lead from Cole's short goal kick was intercepted and headed by Wanderers #18 with the ball, unfortunately, bouncing off Holland and back into the strikers path, and his floated effort chipped over Coles head and into the net at the far post.
From then the flood gates opened up. From a free-kick, the set-piece cannoned off the post and the hosts bundled home the rebound. They added a third after an effort went in off the crossbar - however, prior to their third goal, once again, they struck the crossbar.
They added a fourth from a superb strike from the edge of the area before the Changer Team began to create chances. On the 80th minute mark, the hosts keeper pushed away Jamie Moore's goal bound set piece away. Laws saw his flashed effort across goal agonisingly kept out by a dramatic diving save.
On 85 minutes the Oranges put the ball in the net after they were awarded a penalty following a tug on Brandon Jones shirt. Laws took the penalty and sent the keeper the wrong way in what would prove to be a scant consolation for the visitors.
Owing to a mixture of a free weekend, and Dronfield FC’s cup involvement, the Oranges are without any Fair Play action until 28th October where they travel to Doncaster Vulcan.
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