It was a long time since the Appleton game but with a full squad of 16 players the lads seemed up for this trip to Didcot Casuals, who were 1 point ahead in the table. Josh Newbrook was making his debut for the side so Aiden and Jack were given the freedom of the right hand side, able to swap positions whenever they wished.
Despite the lay off Wickham started playing some lovely football. Didcot’s little no.16 was causing a few problems getting down the line quite easily at times but the new central pairing were dealing well with anything which got to them. After 8 minutes the ball was worked down the right and then switched to the left. As the cross came in Jack was steaming in; his shot was parried out towards Fraser but the keeper was quick enough to smother the chance. In the 9th minute neither Jack nor Aiden were in the right back position so the forward had a clear run on goal but Ben timed his run perfectly to make the initial block and got up quickly to complete the save. A minute later Jack was in the right wing position on the edge of the area where he played it back to Aiden. This allowed Jack to get some space and after receiving the ball back drilled a shot against the post. Ben was there to place the rebound into the back of the net. After 12 minutes Ian finally notice that Tom was playing in trainers, he was therefore replaced by William so he could put some boots on. Wickham now attacked more down the left and the ball was played into Ben, who, after drawing the keeper just placed his shot wide of the post. After 17 minutes William, Luke and Fraser played some lovely one touch football which eventually set William free. As he cut into the box he seemed to be crossing the ball but it beat the keeper at the near post for 2-0. Tom now returned for William. Three minutes later Jack did some great work on the right but was grossly out numbered. He kept battling for the ball eventually winning it and getting into the box where he was fouled. Fraser stepped up to take the penalty which came crashing back off the post to him which he duly tucked away. Did the keeper push it onto the post? He must have done as the goal stood! AO and Max now replaced Jack and Fraser and shortly afterwards Harry and Stephen were also introduced into the game. With time running out Didcot again broke down the left but Ben came out and made another great save.
Didcot were taken away into the changing rooms for their half time “talk” so Ian warned the boys that they would come out hard in the second half and it was important not to concede and early goal. Sure enough, the game changed around, with Wickham struggling to clear the ball and Didcot being a constant threat. With 14 minutes gone Didcot went straight down the middle and for the first time the Jordan / Josh combination did not cut out the danger. Ben came out to narrow the angle but the ball was just slipped past him into the corner for 3-1. Ben and William now replaced Harry and Stephen but this had very little effect, as Didcot were buoyed by the goal. The Wickham players were now picking up injuries forcing subs to be made with players now playing out of position. In the 23rd minute Ollie slipped Ben though, who then played the ball out to the right where Fraser was now playing. His cross came back to Ben who crashed the ball against the keeper but Fraser got to the rebound first, drilling a cross to the far post where Max had arrived to score. Didcot went back on the attack but Aiden, now at left back, won the ball sending Max away down the line. Having advanced down the line Max played the ball across to Ben, who then slipped the ball inside the fullback for Fraser to run onto and slam the ball into the back of the net for 5-1. With 3 minutes left Ben was again sent though but this time the defender was able to catch him; however his back pass was picked up by the keeper, so Wickham had an indirect free kick some 14 yards out. William and Fraser stood over the ball but it was touched to Ollie who duly slammed the ball into the net through a crowd of players.
This was a great performance, with the lads passing the ball around, looking for space and helping each other out. Ben had a great game in goal pulling off three fantastic saves and was a candidate for the Player of the Day. However, by one vote it went to Fraser.
Ben Grey
Aiden Weeks, Josh Newbrook, Jordan Shaw, Tom Farmer
Jack Wild, Luke Evans, Jordie Rowlands Ollie Norman, Fraser Roberts
Ben Cipolla
Subs:- Alex Olford, Max Nicholls, William Herrington, Stephen Enever, Harry Russell.
