In the first minute, following a Wickham attack, the Newbury left winger got past Jack and cut inside. Bert came across and produced a crunching tackle, taking man and not ball to give away a free kick. Was this to be the first yellow card……...…..fortunately not. Despite Wickham lining up the wall the kick was well placed over the top and the ball flew into the top left hand corner despite James getting both hands to the ball, 1-0 down after 2 minutes. This set back seemed to panic the boys. Gone was the flowing football. Everything was rushed, control was nowhere to be seen and when headers were actually attempted two people would go for the same ball. Having said that all the majority of the next 15 minutes were spent in the Newbury half. Three corners came in with two headed over by William and one volleyed over by Callum. Shots were coming in from outside the box which the keeper always deal with, and when the keeper was beaten there were recovering defenders to put off the Wickham players. With 10 minutes gone Newbury had a breakaway which saw James come out and slice his kick but Bert had got back to cover and put the ball out for a throw in. Finally the pressure told as Callum took a throw in and after receiving the ball back whipped a cross to the back post where Albie headed the ball in. In the 22 minute following a defended Newbury free kick, Charlie was sent though. He rounded the keeper and went into the box but cut back onto his right foot by which time the defence had made it back to block his way and the shot went wide. Right on time Wickham had two corners the first cleared off the line and the second eventually cleared.
Wickham were more controlled in the second half passing the ball around much better. With four minutes gone Charlie raced through the middle and got his shot away but the keeper made a great save pushing the ball wide out to the right. Albie got there first getting past the defender before chipping the ball to the back post for Charlie to head in. Two minute later Wickham attacked down the left. This time Olly hit the cross to the back post where Albie’s cushioned header went just over. The next attack saw Albie given off side but the free kick was intercepted by Duncan. He knocked the ball up to Charlie who sent it out right to Albie. Albie cut into the area and got his shot away only for the keeper to make the save but Charlie was on hand to clip the ball over the keeper for 3-1. The next attack saw Albie switch the ball to the left hand side. Callum crossed it into the box and Charlie completed his hat trick with another header. A long ball hit out of defence cleared the Newbury defenders and Charlie ran onto the ball heading it over the advancing keeper and into the empty net but Albie was given off side, so the goal did not stand. With 20 minutes gone
Albie tried to bend the ball into the far post but this turned out to be a great cross for Charlie but the angle was just too tight as Charlie’s shot came back off the post. Shortly after this Albie broke through the centre and after drawing the keeper slotted it inside the far post for 5-1. Wickham continued to press forwards creating chances but the final goal did not arrive until the 26th minute when Jesse gathered in a goal kick and from the edge of the area chipped it over the keeper for a 6-1 win.
The Player of the Day votes were quite close but by one vote Jesse kept the trophy for another week.
Jack Bolton, William Herrington, Bert Cherrill, Olly Sopp,
Albie Oakman, Karl Admans, Jesse Bowers, Duncan Lorrain, Callum Johnson.
Charlie de Fraine.
Subs:- Jordan Shaw, Aiden Weeks, Ben Cipolla, Olly Norman, Fraser Roberts.
