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 3rd 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 12th 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 17th 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 24th 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 100th goal for the club. In the 28th 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 9th minute he again was the provider, knocking the ball into the box for Charlie to finish. In the 15th 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
