The postponed fixture against Coleshill was slotted in just before Xmas. A surprise frost did put the game in some doubt but by moving to the U14’s pitch and delaying the start to 11.15 the game was able to go ahead OK although initially the surface was quite hard.
Coleshill kicked off but Charlie chased the ball down before feeding it out to Albie, who unfortunately could not get his shot away before being closed down. However the early goal sequence was continued as in the 2nd minute Jack played the ball down the line to Albie. Albie jinked past a couple of players before playing the ball square to Jesse. He seemed to take an age to get his shot away but the rebound came out to Charlie who scored. In the 3rd minute a slide rule pas from Jesse sent Albie away but his dipping shot hit the apex of the right hand upright before going out of play. The 6th minute saw a Charlie shot from a corner cleared off the line and away to safety. The lads seemed to be in cruse mode and in the 7th minute almost paid the price as Coleshill broke but the shot cannoned off the post for a goal kick. Wickham were creating chances but still the normal passion did not seem to be there. In the16th minute a Coleshill corner was headed clear by Bert to Jesse. He feed the ball up-field to Charlie who laid it back to Karl for him to send Jack away down the right. He played an inside pass to Albie and went for the return but Albie spun round and chipped the keeper from the edge of the box for 2-0. in the 18th minute Wickham worked a throw on the right hand side which saw Albie whip a cross in which cleared Callum at the back post. Karl chased the ball down knocked it to Charlie who scored from the edge of the box.
The first Coleshill attack of the second half seemed to have been cleared up by William but as the attacked closed him down an over exuberant shoulder charge lead to a penalty being conceded. Despite James going the right way the ball found the back of the net. This spurred Coleshill on and they had plenty of position during the next 10 minutes, in fact they had a great chance to get another goal but James got his angles right and the forward shot wide. In the 15th Minute Ollie Norman, who was now on for Duncan, played a lovely ball between the two centre backs for Charlie to run onto and as the keeper came out he slotted the ball into the corner. Three minutes later the ball was bouncing around in the Coleshill box, with shots coming in from Albie, Karl and Charlie but eventually Albie put the ball away. Wickham now started to play their normal flowing football scoring four more times in the last 6 minutes. The first saw Ben drive in a cross fired in from the right. Straight from the centre Wickham won the ball back and played some lovely one touch football which eventually saw Karl through on goal. His shot was well saved but the ball was then played back into the box for Charlie to finish. In the 26th minute Charlie rattled the post following another slick passing movement which started with Olly at left back. Two minutes later following two cleared corners the third was played short and then out to William on the edge of the box. His drive was handled by a defender in the six yard box but Callum pounced on the ball to drill it home. In the final minute Albie found himself on the left hand side following a corner, so he dinked a cross into the box where Bert fired the ball home giving Wickham a, little flattering, 9-1 victory.
Player of the Day went to Charlie for a great attacking display which yielded four goals, but also for a great effort in working back and creating opportunities for other people.
James Davies
Jack Bolton, Bert Cherrill, William Herrington, Olly Sopp
Albie Oakman, Karl Admans, Duncan Lorraine, Jesse Bowers
Charlie de Fraine, Callum Johnson
Subs:- Ollie Norman, Ben Cipolla
