Wickham kicked off and were immediately on the attack down the slope on this ¾ sized pitch. It only took Wickham 2 minutes to open the scoring. A corner on the left was swung in by Albie and there was Bert at the front post to firmly head the ball home. After five minutes Albie got past his marker and hit a deep cross to Callum at the back post. After controlling the ball he hit a rasping shot with his left foot which cannoned back off the post. Charlie hit a snap shot from the rebound but this was blocked on the line and then cleared. This was to be the story of the first half as Highworth mounted very few attacks on the Wickham goal and when they did the back 4 dealt with most things. Charlie, Karl, Albie and Duncan all had shots which just cleared the bar and you began to wonder if the 2nd goal would ever come. Eventually in the 29th minute it arrived. A goal kick was headed back by Duncan for Charlie to race onto. He lobbed the ball over the keeper for Albie to force the ball into an empty net.
The half time chat was all about more effort in the second half playing up the hill. We would now see if the fitness training had paid off! Wickham were still in control but Highworth were now attacking down their right hand flank giving Olly and William something to think about. However after 5 minute Wickham increased their lead. Olly broke up one of these Highworth attacks and sent Callum away down the left. He tucked the ball inside to Karl who seemed to have 3 defenders around him. Following what seemed endless turns one way then the other he threaded the ball into the box for Charlie to arrive at the back post to score. This made up for a cracking shot by Karl minutes earlier which just drifted past the right apex of the goal. This goal spurred on Highworth who now attacked in waves. After 10 minutes Albie was adjudged to have handled the ball 25 yards out. Wickham set the defensive line and as the kick was taken 3 Highworth players were in an offside position, however none of these players touched the ball as the kick went straight in and the goal was correctly allowed to stand. A little amount of belief seemed to be lost by the lads as Highworth continued to attack. There next chance came in the 18th minute again coming down their right. William tried to get across and cover but as James came out the forward clipped the ball goal wards but it hit the top of the bar and away to safety. This seemed to get Wickham going again and in the 21st minute the 3 goal advantage was restored. Albie went down the right then switched it wide left to Fraser who had just come on. He tucked the ball inside to Karl, who having gone past his man sent the ball to Charlie at the back post. His first shot was blocked on the line but he put the rebound away. Highworth hit the bar again after 25 minutes but this was their last chance. Wickham dominated the last 5 minutes and with 2 minute to go Jesse took a throw in which Albie knocked back to him. He whipped the cross into the near post where Fraser squeezed between two defenders to knock the ball home.
The Player of the day award went to Jack. He was never flustered at the back and never put a foot wrong. Overall a good first game performance by everyone.
Jack Bolton, William Herrington, Bert Cherrill, Olly Sopp,
Albie Oakman, Karl Admans, Jesse Bowers, Duncan Lorrain, Callum Johnson.
Charlie de Fraine.
Subs:- Aiden Weeks, Fraser Roberts.
