Just like last week a free kick was conceded wide on the Wickham right but this time it was successfully deal with. The ball was played up to Callum on the left and after getting past his man hit a left footed shot just wide. Two minutes later he was past his man again. This time he played the ball back to Karl who hit a cross to the far post. Albie was there to head back across the goal but the keeper just managed to make the save. Shaw’s plan seemed to be to hit balls over the top and then to chase. In the 7th minute such a cross field ball saw the left winger get free. The whole of the defence game across so as the ball was switched the right winger was totally unmarked. He hit is shot across James and into the far corner. In the 11th minute again the ball went out to Callum, he cut into the box and hit a shot which seemed destined for the top corner but somehow the keeper saved it. This was to be the story of the half as Wickham had the best of some scrappy play but when the shots went in the keeper just managed to make the save. In the 24th minute with both sides giving the ball away in midfield Duncan finally took control of the ball and hit it wide to Callum. With a player on his right he hit the ball low and hard into the middle and it somehow squeezed under the keeper for 1-1. Wickham almost scored again from the centre but the angle got too tight for Albie and his shot went into the side netting.
The guys were asked to calm down and take control of the ball in the second half; to pass the ball around and to do their own individual jobs. With a minute gone Albie was fouled near the touch line. He hit the ball into the box where Jesse rose to flick the ball in. This did calm the nerves a little bit and Wickham started to produce some better football but there was still the ball over the top to contend with. Despite Shaw changing the keeper after the goal the story was the same as finger tip saves were being made. After 13 minutes a ball was beautifully slotted through for Charlie to run onto. As the two central defenders closed in on him he drilled the shot into the back of the net for 3-1. From this point it should have been plain sailing but there was that Shaw ball over the top again. Bert missed the header and William was not close enough to cover so Shaw’s no.9 chipped the ball over the top of James and the bounce just stayed under the bar to pull the score back to 3-2. Shaw changed the keeper again but this time he did not look so confident as he would always use his feet. A minute later Albie was off down the right he cut inside and hit a great dipping shot over the keeper but it hit the bar and came out over Charlie and Callum. In the 19th minute Jesse tried his luck from outside the area and again it seemed to be in but the keeper just managed to make the parry and then grab the ball just before Callum arrived. 22nd minute saw Albie hit a free kick from distance which seemed to be going in at the near post but somehow a defender got up to clear the ball off the line. Shaw were now virtually encamped in the last 3rd of the pitch under the constant Wickham attacks. With 2 minutes remaining, following some probing passing from the Wickham midfield, the ball came out to Albie on the apex of the box. He hit a dipping shot over the keeper and into the far corner to finally make the game safe at 4-2 much to the relief of everyone.
The Player of the Day went to Duncan for his tireless efforts in midfield constantly working to get the ball down and trying to create space for both himself and his team mates.
Jack Bolton, William Herrington, Bert Cherrill, Olly Sopp,
Albie Oakman, Karl Admans, Jesse Bowers, Duncan Lorrain, Callum Johnson.
Charlie de Fraine.
Subs:- Jordan Shaw, Max Nicholls.
