Wollaston Athletic 4 Monyhull 0

On a warm spring morning with hearts full of hope and optimism the hull headed for the heart of the black country, trying to lift themselves off the bottom of the table against Wollaston, themselves looking for the win that might make them champions.

And with the leagues top scorer up against them the hull looked like they had it all to do. With Jankowski still out and Williams avoiding the stiff test with “work” Millist went for a back 3 of Mad Dog Pickett, Webber and Langston snr ahead of Smiley Joel Estridge with Rainbow and O’Saye at wing back. The usual centre midfield of Reeson, Burke and Madden were joined by Hales and Ward up front.

Then, from his vantage point up a tree Ben saw it, the Beast of Wollaston. He claims it was a leopard, I think it was probably a cat, while an internet search produced a pizza. Then the real Beast of Wollaston appeared, making the mountain of Webber into a molehill, the Wollaston centre back dwarfed most things, let alone the already dwarfish Monyhull midfield.

How would the hull frontline cope. Well, Ant Ward didn’t, having to come off fairly quickly with an injured shoulder after only a couple of challenges to be replaced by Watts. That isn’t a criticism, Wollaston are top of the table not just because of their strikers, but also because they have the second meanest defence across all three divisions. Would the veteran strikers experience pay off?

And how about the hull defence, would Webber et al cope with the Beast? A series of corners told us. The Wollaston team had too much nous, knowing when they could get away with a bit of pushing and pulling without the ref spotting it. A corner saw a Wollaston head put it back across the area, and on the post the hull defence couldn’t get high enough to stop Wollaston heading home.

But Saturdays Hull weren’t going to lie down and take it. Watts was looking sharp after his lay off while when they got the ball down Burke, Reeson, Madden and Hales were looking dangerous. At the back the much vaunted strike force didn’t get a sniff of a chance until Webber, looking for a little retribution gave a little push to his opposite number, but he didn’t do it in the middle of a mêlée at a corner and the ref had no hesitation pointing to the spot.

With plenty of competition for the keepers jersey Smiley Joel Estridge stepped up to the plate and turned the spot kick around the post. The corner was cleared and the hull breathed again, still in the match at one nil. Webber continued to chunter about the world in general and the referee in particular being against him, and how he never got a decision going his way, but free kicks always went to the opposition to which the Wollaston striker replied, “but mate, you’ve got a pony tail”.

Half time came, and Gaffer Millist gave his talk, the game is there for the taking, we’re right in this one.

Then we almost were, Watts through on goal with all the experience of his 20 years in the league and just the keeper to beat, and he took the ball round the keeper, who fouled him, but it wasn’t given and the defence got back to crowd the ball away to safety. Minutes later and it was 2:0 as the Beast held Webber down at a corner and headed home.

Millist brought himself on for Madden, and having denied the Wollaston strikers any chances for an hour(? - JM) Langston went off with a hamstring injury to be replaced by Willets, who was excellent and must be in line for a start in his proper midfield position next time (Yet very impressive at the back - JM).

The last half hour saw the Wollaston strikers begin to find a bit of space and another two goals, one an excellent chip over the onrushing Estridge.

So once again the hull found themselves on the wrong end of a 4:0 scoreline, rumour suggests a name change to FC 4:0 Monyhull over the summer break. Next Saturday sees another top v bottom clash where Chawn Hill need a win to take the title from Wollaston, while the hull still need to get something out of their remaining matches to avoid the wooden spoon.

With no clean sheets in two seasons goals are almost certain, but can the hull bag their first for nearly two months. If there is a clamour for Willets to start on Saturday then surely the clamour for the no nonsense Langston / Webber frontline must now be almost audible.