In the early stages Wickham were able to hold their own and in the 2nd minute AO worked an angle down the right but saw his shot fly across the goal and just wide. Three minutes later two corners followed in quick succession but Abingdon were able to scramble both away. The 7th minute saw Abingdon’s first genuine chance as they broke with pace. Jack Wild was able to get a partial block in but the forward went around Ben. The shot was cleared off the line by Jordie but only to another forward who shot into Ben’s arms. Abingdon’s no5 was looking dangerous down the right and in the 11th minute he got around Tom and then past Jack as he came across to cover. Fortunately he went directly for goal, instead of passing to the free player in the middle, and Ben made the save. A minute later Abingdon again broke down the right. A cross came in which Jack tried to clear first time, but he miss-kicked it to a forward for a tap in. Wickham kept battling and in the 15th minute Ben had a chance but hit the ball straight at the keeper from the edge of the box. A minute later Ollie’s cross was headed over by Ben and then Max hit a shot across the keeper but wide of the far post. Abingdon dominated the last section of the half but without really troubling Ben in goal.
With 10 minutes of the second half gone Wickham were looking tired but they were beginning to dominate without creating clear chances. The Tom feed Stephen down the left he got his cross in and Ben’s shot was deflected wide. The corner came in and was played back to Tom whose shot just cleared the bar. Abingdon’s attacks were now limited but when they did get through Ben either got his angles correct or times his intercepts perfectly. In the 17th minute and Abingdon corner was cleared and Wickham came out. As the ball was dinked back in the ball was put into the net but both the scorer and 2 other players were off side. With 9 minutes left the switch to 3-5-2 was made as both Tom and AO pushed forwards more, and it was all Wickham pressure. With 4 minutes left a corner came out to Jack but he shot straight at the keeper. With 2 minute left a defensive Abingdon throw was won by Ollie who hit a shot goal bound. It cleared the keeper but came back off the bar and Tom’s follow up shot was saved. In the last minute a corner flashed across the box and Max’s volley went just wide. Finally with 30 seconds left another corner was cleared out to Ben at the edge of the box (what was he doing there!) and he drilled it into the roof of the net.
Extra time was dominated by Abingdon but neither side created a decent chance so it was down to penalties. Abingdon missed their first two and with Jack scoring Wickham’s second they were 1 up. However, Abingdon scored all their remaining kicks with only Tom scoring for Wickham so Wickham went out 3-2. The player of the Day Award went to Ben Grey who had a great game in goal, remembering all the positional tips he was given during training and then carrying them out. He could not be blamed for either the goal during the match or not getting to any of the penalties which were well placed in the corners of the goal
Ben Grey,
Alex Olford, Luke Evans, Jordie Rowlands, Ollie Norman, Max Nicholls
Ben Cipolla
Sub:- Stephen Enever.
