The first game in the New Year was against last years runners up Ferndale Rodbourne. These are always highly competitive games and one which the lads would have to be up for. James was suffering with illness so Ben Grey returned back into the side after a year and a half away.
The opening exchanges must have been exciting since the first check of the watch saw that 5 minutes had already gone, but shortly after this the first goal arrived. Jesse threaded the ball through the middle, up Charlie who laid it out wide to Albie. He simply advanced into the area before blasting the ball over the keeper. From the centre Ferndale just went straight through the middle of the Wickham defence but fortunately Olly got across to make the saving tackle. The warning signs should have been seen, however, within a minute Ferndale again attacked and three Wickham players had the chance to clear the ball but went for the playing it out option. Eventually, the ball fell to the Ferndale forward who hit his shot first time over Ben and into the net. This set off wild celebrations both on and off the field. Ferndale were able to limit Wickham to half chances in the box and long range efforts during the next 15 minutes. Olly hit a cross shot into the area which Charlie just failed to get his head to and the ball fell into the keepers arms. An Albie free kick was headed just over by Charlie and in the 21st minute Charlie was set free by a quick throw in but he was forced wide and his shot went into the side netting. The last 5 minutes saw Wickham encamped in the final third of the pitch but just could not put the ball away. In the 28th minute Jesse let fly from outside the box beating the keeper all ends up but the ball came back off the post. Charlie raced in and put the ball away but Callum was adjudged to have been off side when the initial shot came in, becoming active after the ball hit the post, so the goal did not stand and it was 1-1 at half time.
Wickham attacked from the start but in the 5th minute it was Ferndale who had the first chance. A free kick was hit into the area; Bert made a great sliding tackle, with the ball coming out to Duncan. He placed the ball between the centre backs for Albie to run on to. Despite the defender getting close enough to push him in the back, Albie coolly slotting the ball home for 2-1. Three minutes later Charlie and Albie worked the ball between themselves down the right hand side. Charlie laid the ball back to Karl who drove the shot goal bound only to see the keeper make a great save, however Fraser was following in and, despite an initial miscontrol, he squeezed the ball home from a tight angle. More Wickham pressure followed and you felt that a 4th would kill the game off. In the 14th minute an Albie corner went to the back post but some how the ball was eventually cleared off the line. Ferndale, as expected, were always dangerous on the break and after 18 minutes they had a 3 on 2 but William timed the tackle perfectly to break up the attack. More Ferndale pressure followed as they looked to get back into the game. In the 20th minute William again stopped an attack and, seeing the Ferndale defence pushed up, hit a long ball over the top of the centre backs. Fraser and Charlie raced past the defenders and as the keeper came out Fraser knocked the ball into Charlie’s path for him to walk the ball into the back of the net. Wickham won the ball from the centre but a great double save from the keeper, first from Albie and then from Charlie ensured Wickham did not score again. There was now only one team in it. In the 25th minute another great save from the keeper kept out a rasping drive from Fraser. Wickham then had a series of corners which were all hit to the near post but all dealt with by the defenders; however the 4th was hit long to the back post where William rose unchallenged to power his header home. A good 5-1 win and now off to Eton for round 4 of the B & B cup.
Player of the Day was a very close battle. Two players had the votes split between them but for a fine defensive display and scoring with a bullet header the award went to William.
Ben Grey
Jack Bolton, Bert Cherrill, William Herrington, Olly Sopp
Albie Oakman, Karl Admans, Duncan Lorraine, Jesse Bowers
Charlie de Fraine, Callum Johnson
Subs:- Fraser Roberts, Jordan Shaw, Max Nicholls
