21/09/2026
Whits started the game against Everett in good spirits after the midweek thriller against Rothwell, but also knowing that the last fixture against Premier Division opponents was a major disappointment, on the end of a comprehensive 0-4 thumping against Tring.
Last season Whits had shared the points in the two games against eventual Div 1 winners Everett, so there was never any chance of them being over-awed.
After his late goals against Corinthians, Daniel Uche came into the starting XI and Tanka made his debut on the bench.
Whits started the brighter and sharper and it was no surprise on 9mins when Remy once again got free down the right after good work by Mason and his cross was met by Nathan who glanced a good finish home at the near post. 1-0.
Everett were getting back into he game and the big forward looked a handful for Nathan and Zak and they got themselves back into the game on 20mins with a decent finish. 1-1
Both sides had chances and it was an entertaining game. Niall made two good saves down to his left and Whits looked likely to score from Ryan’s in-swinging corners. However Whits grabbed the lead back after a ball over the top was chased down by Uche and he shrugged the defender off and smashed home to make it 2-1 on 24mins.
Within 30 seconds, Everett were level. I still don’t know how the forward had got so much space in behind, it was like the ref allowed the kick off and nobody in red & black moved. There was some discussion as to whether the forward had hidden behind the fence until they kicked off, as nobody saw him. By the time Niall had come out to meet the forward he slipped it past him and in off the far post. 2-2.
Half time came and went and the wind seemed to have picked up at the start of the half, as the boys were struggling to get out of their own half, kicking towards the Dog & Duck end.
Even so, it was Whits who had the clearest chance as Jacob beat the offside trap and headed for goal only to see his shot go wide. As is often the case in football, having missed one great chance at one end, the lads conceded straight away at the other. A well-worked move from end-to-end was finished nicely and Everett were ahead 2-3.
5 mins later and the visitors made in 2-4 and the lads were up against it. A number of subs were made to try and change the flow of the game, and it felt like the next goal would be critical.
The chance did come Whits way, as Sted chased down a hopeful ball forward and the visiting keeper thought twice and only put in a half-hearted challenge. With the empty goal at his mercy, his right foot shot cannoned against the post and went out for a goal-kick, along with Whits hopes of getting back into it.
Minutes later, as Whits continued to push and leave themselves short at the back, a breakaway fifth goal put the game to bed. A sixth goal in injury time made the final score 2-6.
Another game against higher division opponents, but it did feel like the lads gave it a better go this week. Fine margins today - a lapse of concentration from a kick-off, a couple of really good chances not being taken, not playing against the wind as well as we’d hope.
With the FA Vase and Gladwish Trophy now both out of the way, aside from the Hillier Senior Cup, the League, League Cup and Junior Cup can all be realistic targets and should be firmly in the lad’s sights for the rest of the season.
Man of the match is a tough one today, but for continuing to try and play out against the wind and pushing the lads on all game, MoM goes to Ryan.
