Wheatley going out with a whimper?

WHEATLEY, having started the season with a bang, are in danger of ending it with nothing more than a whimper having not won a league game since the end of November.

A fixture against Hawkhill, a team enduring an even more barren spell, should have been the perfect opportunity to re-discover the winning feeling.

On a windswept and narrow pitch there was little for spectators to enthuse about as both teams struggled to string together any cohesive football with goals most likely to come from set pieces.

Danny Houlbrook conjured up a fine opening goal for Wheatley on the half hour picking up the ball on the half-way line before beating two men, advancing into space and curling a shot past the 'keeper from 25 yards.

With a goal advantage at half-time against a team lacking in confidence the Wheatley should have finished the game off. They were however even more lack lustre in the second-half.

The odd chances that were created were spurned. Haw's cross shot was spilled by the

keeper and both Beanland and Drew shunned the responsibility and the ball was cleared. Roberts then lifted the ball over the top for Drew whose weak effort was saved by the 'keeper.

With 15 minutes remaining Hawkhill levelled with a blistering shot from 25 yards which gave 'keeper Sheard no chance. Barely 30 seconds later the Wheatley were caught asleep and with Powell appealing in vain for off-side the home side went 2-1 up.

The Wheatley pressed for an equaliser but there was little shape to their attacks and the full-time whistle signalled a well-deserved victory for Hawkhill leaving Wheatley stuck in mid-table.

Match point went to Danny Houlbrook who was playing his last game before making a three month trip to America to celebrate his engagement. He scored a great goal and constantly tried to create openings for his team mates.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.