ROLLING BACK THE YEARS
Posted on: Wed 24 Jun 2009
By Callum Medcraft
Assistant manager Junior Lewis showed the Wanderers faithful that he still has what it takes as he pulled on the famous quarters to face Colchester Utd reserves on Wednesday night.
With just one recognised centre back available for selection in the form of Sam Grayley, Junior was forced into a player/manager role by filling in at the heart of defence.
The former premiership player quickly settled into his stride and went about barking orders at his team mates from the first whistle to the last. Peter Taylor's number two couldn't help standing out like a sore thumb amongst a youthful reserve line up featuring no fewer than 8 of Richard Dobson's under 18's. A fine first half display saw the blues score three unanswered goals. Goals supplied by Daniel Fitchett, Magno Vieira and an unfortunate Colchester defender who headed a dangerous Nathan Ashton set piece into his own net.
Colchester began the second half far better and quickly started to create chances. A half time team talk from spectator and manager Paul Lambert, no doubt demanded a rousing response. The U's did manage to find the next early in the second half but failed to build momentum as the game progressed. The final third of the game produced little in the way of chances for either side and the Wanderers ran out 3-1 victors.
Junior's debut at Oak Tree Road included flashes of excellence in terms of positioning, passing and leadership. If it wasn't for a few occasions where the big mans lack of pace let him down you would have thought he had never retired.
Still. I don't think Dave McCracken has too much to worry about just yet.
Assistant manager Junior Lewis showed the Wanderers faithful that he still has what it takes as he pulled on the famous quarters to face Colchester Utd reserves on Wednesday night.
With just one recognised centre back available for selection in the form of Sam Grayley, Junior was forced into a player/manager role by filling in at the heart of defence.
The former premiership player quickly settled into his stride and went about barking orders at his team mates from the first whistle to the last. Peter Taylor's number two couldn't help standing out like a sore thumb amongst a youthful reserve line up featuring no fewer than 8 of Richard Dobson's under 18's. A fine first half display saw the blues score three unanswered goals. Goals supplied by Daniel Fitchett, Magno Vieira and an unfortunate Colchester defender who headed a dangerous Nathan Ashton set piece into his own net.
Colchester began the second half far better and quickly started to create chances. A half time team talk from spectator and manager Paul Lambert, no doubt demanded a rousing response. The U's did manage to find the next early in the second half but failed to build momentum as the game progressed. The final third of the game produced little in the way of chances for either side and the Wanderers ran out 3-1 victors.
Junior's debut at Oak Tree Road included flashes of excellence in terms of positioning, passing and leadership. If it wasn't for a few occasions where the big mans lack of pace let him down you would have thought he had never retired.
Still. I don't think Dave McCracken has too much to worry about just yet.
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