Back to League action and Highworth C came to the Triangle on a lovely sunny afternoon. Karl was ill so William took the armband and Ollie Norman stepped into the starting eleven.
Wickham started slowing and it was noticeable that the drive (and the voice) were missing from Wickham’s midfield. The tentative approach was almost exposed in the 4th minute as Highworth attacked down their left. The winger got past Jack and as the defence shifted across he whipped the cross in to an unmarked player at the back post only 5 yards out. Fortunately he could get no power into the shot and James got across to make the save. Wickham did not really test the Highworth keeper until a corner in the 15th minute was bundled off the line and away to safety. In the 17th minute Duncan took a throw in to Callum who then turned the ball inside to Albie. He seemed to be blocked out and was forced across the edge of the Highworth box until he was able to create a little space to lash the ball into the roof of the net. The game was still quite even and in the 23rd minute a Highworth corner was partially cleared. The ball was knocked back to the corner taker who was just onside and he hit a good cross to the back post for a simple tap in equaliser. A minute later Wickham attacked down the left with the ball eventually coming inside to Albie. The ball seemed to get stuck under his feet but somehow he dug it out, getting power into the shot which ended up hitting the top of the bar. With time running out Highworth broke through but James came out to make the initial save which William then cleared for a corner.
Jon impressed on the lads that things had to improve in the second half as the Highworth manager could be heard to say “more of the same boys, the job is only half done”. In the first minute Wickham almost got back in front after some play down the right but Jesse’s shot was headed off the line for a corner with the keeper nowhere. The corner was played in and the defender sliced his clearance back out to Albie. His measured cross found Duncan, who chipped the ball into the corner of the goal for 2-1. In the 4th minute the Highworth sub no.12 used his pace to create some space but William got across to rob him and in turn sent the ball up to Charlie. Charlie battled on his own for the ball, somehow winning it and then able to get his shot away. This was initially save but he put the rebound away for 3-1. Highworth were packing the defence only leaving the No.12 up front but this paid dividends in the 9th minute as a long clearance set him free. William could only just keep pace and as James came out the forward neatly clipped the ball into the back of the net. The next minute saw Ollie put the ball through the middle for Callum and Charlie to attack. Callum got a shot in which was saved but he got to the rebound only to hit the outside of the post. In the 15th minute the ball was worked down the right and then into Charlie. Despite the presents of two defenders he was able to force the ball home. The next 6 minutes were all Wickham and they were able to secure the game. The 17th minute saw Charlie complete his hat trick as he played two 1-2’s with Albie before tucking the ball inside the right hand post. In the 19th minute a goal kick was headed back by Duncan to Charlie with his back to goal. He played a little reverse ball to Albie who drilled the ball home from the edge of the area. Two minutes later the Wickham defence cleared the ball up the right wing. Max should never have got near it but he battled and won the ball, then immediately feed Albie. The keeper saved the initial shot but Albie had followed up to put away the rebound completing his hat trick and a 7-2 win for Wickham. As Bassett could only draw again Stratton Juniors, Wickham’s position at the top of the division became a little stronger.
Player of the Day Trophy was given to a player who worked even harder than normal without Karl by his side and who actually scored against a side who did not play in Orange…..Duncan.
