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 4th goal in as many games. In the 3rd 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 6th 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 13th 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 22nd 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 6th 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
