Airbus failed to break down a well-organised
Welshpool defence but were their own worst enemies,
never varying their tactics, relying too much on
young Jack Rowlands as a winger, playing
unproductive sideways balls, missing out the
midfield link with too many aimless long balls and
generally losing possession with irritating
frequency. They had at least 70% of the play and to
not pick up points from games like this seriously
calls into question their ability to qualify for a
top ten position; without a bit more inventiveness
it will be Cymru Alliance again next season.
The 'Bus had a nervy start, struggling to stamp
their authority. There was always the worry The
Lilywhites might snatch something and after a
wayward Mark Allen clearance Marc Griffiths swept a
hurried shot wide. By the half hour mark Airbus
looked like they might be about to assert but they
were to continue to be foiled by Welshpool's spirit
although Marc Lloyd-Williams chested the ball down
for Danny Desormeaux to send a low drive curling
past the foot of the post with Dave Maguire beaten.
Airbus then made a defensive hash for Griffiths to
step up but he curled his shot over the bar and by
half time it was apparent this wasn't going to be
the Friday night goal fest everyone had been looking
for after the supposed resting of a quarter of the
side for the Llanelli game.
The second period consisted of a concerted but
ineffectual assault on the Welshpool half but with
too many balls hit at white shirts or far too near
Dave Maguire in goal and it became 45 minutes of
doing the same thing over and over again that the
home defence got so used to they barely bothered
attacking themselves and just soaked up, cleared,
battled and deflected away all that came at them
like a bunch of tenacious terriers. In fact until
the final overtime period the closest The Wingmen
got was a header off the line from a spooned
clearance. As is usual for Airbus there was the
obligatory wonder save in added time, of course, two
actually this week, Maguire somehow getting to a
looped shot dropping in and then a free kick heading
just under the bar but it should all have been over
by then anyway.
Airbus UK BroughtonKristian Rogers, Ryan Edwards, Giovanni Feliciello, Matty
Woodward, Mark Allen, Jamie Smith (Rhys Roberts 87'), Ashley Williams, Dan
Desormeaux, Carl Owen (Gary McConnell 71'), Marc Lloyd-Williams (James McIntosh
71'), Jack Abraham
