Report: WW U12 NW vs. Cricklade

Arriving at the ground for the 10.30 kick off, Cricklade were not keen to play but the pitch was taking a stud OK with the grass being lightly frosted. We were again treated to ¾ sized goals and a small pitch but this time even the goal mouths were ¾ sized measuring only 13 yards. We were without Charlie and Bert so Fraser and Jordan stepped into the starting line up. The question was how would yesterday’s game affect the boys.

The early chance to score in the first 2 minutes came and went as did the keeper dropping the ball and then being allowed to pick it up without penalty. However, in the 3^rd minute William cleared the ball to Karl who in turn sent Callum through on the left who neatly lifted the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net. In the 8^th minute Wickham again moved the ball from the back via Jack and Jesse to send Albie through. He was forced wide and just hit his shot over the top. When Wickham played through the middle of the park they were constantly being given off side but in the 10th minute it was Jordan’s turn to find Duncan and he sent Albie way. He neatly side stepped the keeper to tuck the ball into an empty net. Two minutes later Albie was pulled down and from the resulting free kick Callum slammed the ball home but he was given off side. In the 17^th minute a Cricklade throw was won by Duncan on the halfway line. He beat two players before slipping the ball between the two centre backs for Albie to run onto and score. In the 28^th William took a quick free kick on the halfway line after being fouled for Fraser to crash against the crossbar. The 30^th minute saw a great ball for Fraser run through the defenders to score but Callum on the other side of the pitch was given off side. The last kick of the half saw Albie drill a shot goal bound which hit the keeper in the face and go off for a throw in.

The 3^rd minute of the half again saw Wickham score as the ball was chipped forward for Callum to run onto. The keeper came out of his area but messed up the clearance giving the ball to Fraser to score. Albie added another a minute later and the game was effectively over. Two minutes later Olly played the big switch ball fro the left wing to Albie on the right. He got past the left back to score again. The game then went end to end as Wickham’s midfield started not to work back putting pressure on the back four. Jack Bolton came off for Jack Wild and Max replaced Fraser. With 15 minutes left Jesse hit a rasping drive which seemed to be in the back of the net but the ref decided that it went through the side netting. Cricklade went on the attack but William broke this up with a big clearance up field. The ball went out left where Karl controlled it and sprinted goal wards. Having drawn the keeper the birthday boy scored inside the left hand post. In a space of 2 minutes Wickham added three more goals. Having had one ruled out for off side, Cricklade made a mess of the free kick giving it straight to Albie who got his cross in for Callum to have a simple tap in. From the centre Albie won the ball and found himself out on the left wing. Again he hit his cross to the back post where Jesse was to tap in this time. From the next centre the ball came to William who clipped the ball over the advancing Cricklade side. Albie was in a 1 on 1 with the keeper but he made a great save only to see Max there to slot the ball home. All day the midfield players had been slipping diagonal passes through for the forwards to run onto so it was only fitting that in the 27^th minute Duncan played Albie in again for his to score his 5^th of the day matching is efforts of yesterday and bring up his 50^th goal for the club.

Player of the Day went to Jordan who stepped into Bert’s shoes with no problems what so ever. He was as solid as ever at the back inspiring confidence to all around him.

James Davies

Jack Bolton, Jordan Shaw, William Herrington, Olly Sopp

Albie Oakman, Karl Admans, Duncan Lorraine, Jesse Bowers

Fraser Roberts, Callum Johnson

Subs:- Aiden Weeks, Jack Wilds, Max Nicholls

Report: WW U12 NW vs. Maidenhead Girls & Boys

A cold afternoon saw the lads out on a Saturday to play the Berks & Bucks cup game against Maidenhead Boys & Girls since it was called off last weekend. The home side had an impressive record going into the game having won all their games except one which they had drawn. Wickham had played then in our six a side tournament, only beating them in extra time. Jesse was welcomed back having had his appendixes out after the Wroughton game plus there were fives subs…a full strength team then…but ¾ goals again and a small pitch.

In the last four games Wickham had opened the scoring in the first 2 minutes of the match. The first two minutes were all in the Maidenhead half. A partial clearance saw William hit a shot from deep which rebounded of a defender to Duncan. He gave the ball to Karl who drove the ball home with his left foot (1m 57 sec…so the run continues). Two minutes later some good work down the left by Callum saw the ball come into Charlie. He placed the ball between the centre back and the full back for Albie to run onto and his shot across the keeper nestled into the far corner. Two minutes later Charlie and Albie played a couple of 1-2’s with each other before Charlie’s shot came crashing off the bar. It was not long for the 3^rd goal to come as a Maidenhead clearance was blocked by William. He fired the ball to Callum on the left who immediately knocked it into the middle. It was then a foot race between Albie and Charlie which Albie won and scored with ease. In the 12^th minute a lovely move down the left saw Callum put through, he cut inside and drilled the ball inside the near post but for some reason Charlie was given offside in the middle, despite not having played any part in the move. Wickham’s first corner caused panic in the Maidenhead defence but eventually Duncan lifted the ball over the bar. Maidenhead got a goal back in the 17^th minute as a throw in was partially cleared by Duncan but a speculative shot cleared James, despite him only being 5 yards out of his goal. Wickham’s replay was immediate as the ball was played out to Albie. He flicked the ball inside to Duncan who passed it onto Callum. Callum hit his cross to the back where Albie powered the ball home. The 24^th minute produced the goal we had all been waiting for. Olly took a throw to Callum who played it to Ollie and then back to Olly who clipped the ball into the box. As the keeper came out Charlie slipped the ball past him to score his 100^th goal for the club. In the 28^th minute a Maidenhead goal kick was knocked out to Albie. As he went past his man he got his cross in which flew over the top of the keeper and into the back of the net for a 6-1 half time lead.

Wickham kicked off with Aiden on for Jack, Ben for Albie & Tom for Olly. In the second minute with, Callum now out on the right, he knocked the ball into the box straight to Charlie, who put the ball away to the keepers left. Wickham continued to attack and Callum seemed to be enjoying his role out on the right. In the 9^th minute he again was the provider, knocking the ball into the box for Charlie to finish. In the 15^th minute Wickham played the ball down the left with Ollie, Ben and Tom all involved. As the ball came into the area a few people tried to convert but eventually the ball came back to Charlie on the penalty spot and he smashed it into the roof of the net. With 20 minutes gone Wickham switched back to the starting line up. Four minutes later Wickham attacked down the left with the ball starting off at the back with Olly then onto Duncan and then Callum. The ball was switched into Charlie who moved the ball from his right then onto his left before hitting a sweet shot with the outside of his right foot into the net. With two minutes left a long clearance from the Maidenhead keeper was controlled by Bert before playing it forwards to Duncan. His diagonal ball went straight into Albie’s path but his shot was saved, only for Charlie to be on hand to tap the ball away. With time running out Maidenhead broke through but Jack Bolton came across from his right back position to make a great sliding tackle on the edge of the box. Jack then tidied up clearing the ball to Charlie. He knocked the ball through to Albie who deftly chipped the keeper with the last kick of the game, giving Wickham as 12-1 victory.

Player of the Day went to Charlie for some great work up front, scoring a double hat trick and also bringing up his hundredth goal for the club.

James Davies

Jack Bolton, Bert Cherrill, William Herrington, Olly Sopp

Albie Oakman, Karl Admans, Duncan Lorraine, Jesse Bowers

Charlie De Fraine, Callum Johnson

Subs:- Jordan Shaw, Ollie Norman, Tom Farman, Aiden Weeks, Ben Cipolla

Report: WW U12 NW vs. Statton Juniors B

After last weeks top of the table battle, it was off to Stratton Juniors B, who were rock bottom of the league with only 1 point to their name. Driving rain and a sloping pitch greeted the boys but just before the start of the match the rain eased off and then stopped. How lucky is this team. With Jesse having had an appendectomy during the week Tom came in on the left of midfield.

Wickham kicked off playing down the slope and with the wind needing to build a lead which could be defended against the conditions in the second half. The ball went out to Tom but the defender got across to concede a throw. This was quickly taken and the ball ended up with Charlie on the by-line. He cut back inside and then slotted the ball inside the near post for a goal in the first 30 seconds. With two minutes gone a free kick just inside the Stratton half saw Albie hit it long and hard towards the goal. The keeper could only parry the ball and Jack was there to score his 4^th goal in as many games. In the 3^rd minute Albie’s corner was controlled by Duncan at the near post. He laid it back to Bert who somehow drilled his shot wide. With such a good start everyone was pushing forwards but in the 6^th minute Stratton burst away with 2 attackers on 1 defender. James seemed to do everything right but a lovely chipped cleared him and went under the bar. In the 13^th minute a similar attack saw William slip over and this time three attackers with just Jack to cover. James came out and got a hand to the ball but could not stop it going in the far right hand corner. So the bottom side had pulled Wickham back to 2-2, now where have we seen that before? The next 5 minutes or so were a little tense as the lads came to terms with what had happened. Ollie Norman then replaced Tom on the left and had an immediate effect. An Albie free kick from the left hand side was hit into the box. This was partially cleared out to Karl who hit the ball towards the goal where Ollie jumped to head the ball into the top corner. This goal lifted the lads and they started to pass the ball again. In the 22^nd minute Duncan got to the by-line and squared the ball back but it was cleared out to Albie. He got past his man and hit the cross into the near post where Duncan got up before anyone else to score his normal goal against Stratton in the League. Two minute later a hopeful ball was pumped forward by Albie. The defenders let it bounce and it then “got big” on the keeper who could only parry the ball for Callum to run in & score into an empty net.

It was important for Wickham not to concede an early goal as they played against the conditions. In the first minute Stratton went down the right and swung a cross into the box. The wind drifted the ball over James and it seemed destined to go in but Jack had got back to clear off the line. Wickham’s first attack was not until the 6^th minute when Albie went down the line and got a great cross in but it went over Ollie in the middle. Olly however retrieved the ball firing it back into the middle for Charlie to crash home. A minute later saw Wickham play the ball out of defence as James passed the ball to Jack. He brought it forwards and then slipped it onto Albie. Albie eventually got his cross in to Callum at the back post but his shot was saved however the ball came out to Charlie who duly completed his hat trick. The wind seemed to get stronger but the chances which Stratton now created were either snuffed out by the defenders or James was able to deal with. Wickham did not create another clear cut chance but had already done enough to secure the points. The rain…yes you’ve guessed it…it started to come down again just as we left the ground.

Player of the Day went to Duncan for all his hard graft in midfield and...oh yes…. for scoring his usual goal against Stratton Juniors.

James Davies

Jack Bolton, Bert Cherrill, William Herrington, Olly Sopp

Albie Oakman, Karl Admans, Duncan Lorraine, Tom Farman

Charlie De Fraine, Callum Johnson

Subs:- Jordan Shaw, Ollie Norman