| Match Report
A record attendance at Heathervale park saw Bilbao striker Denny hit Woodthorpe with four second half goals to keep up the Pride of Bilbao's perfect start to the season. Bilbao rocked by the news that summer signing centre back Phil would be out a few weeks with a fractured cheek bone, moved skipper Neil Parker into the back 4 and with Bruce making his return in goal after some impressive work in training Bilbao looked to go on the offensive from the off.
The first half started very badly, both teams were unable to get the ball down and start playing football and the game became a scrappy affair. Woodthorpe started to take control and it was up to the Bilbao team to hold strong and battle away the opposing attackers, Bilbao were holding on for dear life and every foul, offside and throw-in were good breathers for the under pressure back 4. The half time whistle blew to end what was a very scrappy and poor performance for the men in red and white but going in at half time 0-0 meant that we were still in with a great chance of winning.
The start of the second half saw an enforced Bilbao change, Kyd coming on at right back for the injured Wilf, this saw Andy J go to left wing, Ben Heather to Centre Midfield and Eddie dropping back to Centre Back. From the start of the second half you could see that the Bilbao team had started with more of a purpose and focus then the first half and it wasn't long before they were 1-0 up. A great ball saw Denny put through 1 on 1 with the keeper, as the keeper came out to close him down Denny calmly 'nutmeged' him to send Bilbao into the lead. Bilbao were starting to play the better football now and looking more and more confident of scoring, a great bit of play down the left from Jenkins and a cross from the bye-line met Denny at the far post and from the tightest of angles he side footed it home to make it 2-0.
Denny didn't have to wait long for his and Bilbao's third, a free kick from Reynolds met the head of Calver, a flick down into the danger area saw a goal mouth scramble before that man Denny was there again to hit the ball in with his knee!!! Changes to the Bilbao team were made with Carl coming on for Calver and Richard Sutton coming on for Tim Cox and with Bilbao playing the way they were the game as a contest was now over. As the end of the game approached Denny and Jenkins were causing the Woodthorpe defence a whole host of problems and when Denny was put through 1 on 1 with the keeper by Jenkins the ball found itself bouncing off one post and nestling in the other side of the net to put Bilbao 4 up.
A great win by a Bilbao team high in confidence with some great performances along the way, Jenkins was stunning going forward, Denny taking his tally to 12 in 3 games and Edwards putting in a gritty and determined hard working display saw Bilbao home. Next week will be a real test and should be a marker for how much we have improved as a team as we take on last years big rivals Walton Town away from home, can the men in red and white carry on the 100% start to the season.
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