Wickham started off with some nice passing in the midfield. However, Appleton then pushed forward, and with the offside trap failing to work, Wickham were lucky that the Appleton shot went wide. Another attack and shot by Appleton saw the ball well cleared off the line by Jack. Play then moved back into Appleton's' half. Ollie played the ball into the box and when it eventually came back out to Ollie, he hit a big looping shot, which lobbed over the keeper's head; 1-0 to Wickham after 5 minutes. Play then moved back into Wickham's half with Appleton earning a corner. The corner practice on Thursday now came to the fore as the ball was eventually called, all be it off the line by some determined defenders. With 10 minutes gone it was Wickham’s turn to attack and to win a corner. Ben C. managed to get on the end of Ollie’s great corner to tuck it into the back of the net for 2-0. Appleton were very quick on the break and were using the ball over the top to good effect. On 15 minutes this finally brought a goal as the ball was knocked past Ben G. right hand and into the net. Play again shifted to the Appleton end, with another corner for Wickham. Ollie whipped in a great corner, but this time it was headed away. As the ball came out of the box, Appleton again worked their way through the Wickham defense and Ben was left exposed. Thus with 19 minute gone the game was all square. The Wickham midfield had now disappeared quit often in front of the forward line. Ben had to be on top form as he pulled off a couple of saves in quick succession. When Wickham did attack the shots were going directly at the keeper, which was now becoming a recurring theme. With 23 minutes gone Appleton again break down their right, and beat Ben in a one on one. A minute later and another chase which Ben saves. Steven then replaces “AO” and as the game moves into the last minute Ban makes a save and Ollie goes down injured. Ben C then has a chance but the keeper blocks the first effort and the second is blasted wide. Appleton then score again deep into injury time but Jordie has a chance to reduce the deficit with a shot from distance, but the keeper makes the save.
The Wickham midfield had played with a lot of determination and endeavor, but they always seemed to be short in numbers as players failed to get back to defend. However, in the second half, the midfield players covered the centre of the ground more effectively. The second half started with Appleton again attacking, but good close defending by Aiden put the attacker off as he struck the ball, which dribbled left of the goal. Under pressure, the Appleton defence conceded another corner. A well worked short corner saw the ball returned to Ollie, but unfortunately his shot hit the side netting. Wickham were playing with a bit more structure in the second half, but Appleton were a constant threat on the break. Wickham had some long range shots but all went wide of the mark. More Wickham Pressure saw 3 consecutive corners, but eventually the danger was cleared. What followed was to set the tone for the Wickham attacks for the rest of the game. In the 15th minute, Aiden went for a cutting run from deep in defense, weaving through a number of players before earning a corner. This time the corner was the converted by Fraser. Another run by Aiden ended up with a pass to Jordie, but unfortunately he couldn't get any pace on his shot, which went straight to the keeper. Unfortunately straight after this effort Appleton replied as the no.10 outran the Wickham defence latching onto a high through ball to make it 3-5. Appleton then had a few more shots go wide, before Aiden again broke down the right. Appleton had recognised the danger and a heavy tackle brought Aiden down. After recovering, Aiden took the subsequent free kick, which was directed at Alex, whose shot went just wide of the goal. With time running out Ollie had a shot but it was cleared for a corner. Both sides then had a number of shots, with Ben making an excellent save against a high looping shot. Aiden made another break, which ended in a free kick to Wickham which Ollie again took but it was cleared. Ben made another courageous save before Fraser shot wide on the break. In the last move of the game, Aiden again made a cutting run, this time going the whole way before hitting an excellent shot over the keeper.
Aiden received the man of the match award for an excellent game in defense. Ben earned a special mention for his ongoing positive attitude, even as a few goals went in. Wickham were left with a few areas to look at prior to the next game - more incisive shooting, better positioning for corners, the back line working on breaks by quick attackers. However, in an even game, Wickham executed some great passing at times and there were some great individual performances.
Declan Hess, Jack Wild, Jordan Shaw, Aiden Weeks
Alex Olford, Jordie Rowlands, Ollie Norman, Tom Farmer
Ben Cipolla, Fraser Roberts
Subs:- Stephen Enever, Harry Russell
