On a dark Tuesday evening it was off to Goatacre C.C. to play Pewsham. With rain all around the boys were very lucky to play the whole game with out getting wet. Having been buzzed by some aircraft going into RAF Lynham, Karl lost the toss, so it was up the hill and against the wind in the first half but as the boys lined up they found there were only 10 players opposing them. How would this affect them?
From the kick off Wickham were in the Pewsham half but were unable to take advantage of their pressure with an early goal. In the 4th minute Bert had the ball near the halfway line where he played it across to William and then onto Jack before it was played up the line to Albie. Albie’s cross went all the way to the back post where Olly dinked the cross to the back post where Jesse at full stretch could only put the ball over the bar. Two minutes later the ball was again worked down the right, the cross was partially cleared back out to Ablie but he shot straight at the keeper. The next minute saw two quick corners with the latter coming out to William on the edge of the box but his left foot drive was also straight at the keeper. A minute later Albie found Charlie who tried to turn and get a shot away, this was blocked but the rebound came quickly to Marcus whose snap shot went wide. The 12th minute final saw a goal as Albie’s corner cleared William and Bert but was controlled by Jesse at the back before he drilled it in for 1-0. In the 16th minute a Pewsham clearance found Bert some 40 yards out, his shot was missed by the keeper but it came off the post and hit Duncan before going just wide. The next minute Karl found Marcus who sent Albie away but the shot was to close to the keeper and he again made the save. Pewsham only made the occasional trip into the Wickham half when normally the back 4 dealt with everything, in fact James only probably touched the ball three times by rushing to the edge of his area to gather. Despite all the pressure Wickham only lead by 1-0 at the break.
If the first half was one sided the second was even more so as Pewsham struggled to clear their lines. Marcus probably had the first chance after 3 minutes but his shot across the keeper just missed the far post. The goal kick was intercepted by Jesse who then shot directly at the keeper for an easy save. The next minute saw Olly Karl and Duncan work the ball down the left but Albie’s shot with the outside of his right foot went straight to the keeper. In the 6th minute the ball was worked down the left and into Albie and this time his left footed shot went to the keeper. A minute later another chance went over the bar. Finally in the 9th minute a ball through the middle saw Ablie get his head on the ball, Charlie had a shot which the keeper fumbled. Albie battled for the ball which came back to Jesse on the edge of the area to poke in for 2-0. Wickham still went forwards and the next minute saw Duncan and Charlie combine to get the ball to Albie who again had his shot saved. In the 15th minute Albie took two quick corners with Bert heading the second just wide of the back post. In the 18th minute Marcus won the ball from a goal kick and dinked the ball back into the box where, for some reason, the centre back handled. Albie made no mistake from the spot. The 20th minute saw a quick break following James’ only save of the day as Jack found Albie who played a 1-2 with Karl before crossing for Karl whose shot got deflected wide. The corner saw Charlie go up for the header and almost have his head kicked off but no foul was given. Eventually in the 28th minute the 4th and final goal came. Charlie sent the ball out to Albie who knocked the ball back into the middle but just in front of Charlie and Marcus but Fraser was at the back post to walk the ball into the net.
Not a good performance by the guys today possibly caused by the high work rate of the Pewsham players but a win is a win. Charlie won the Player of the Day Award but the lads need to put in a much higher level of performance and effort in their game on Thursday away at Wroughton if they want to stay in the title hunt.
James Davis.
Jack Bolton, William Herrington, Bert Cherrill, Olly Sopp
Albie Oakman, Marcus guest, Karl Admans, Duncan Lorrain
Jesse Bowers
Charlie de Fraine
Subs:- Jordan Shaw, Ollie Norman, Fraser Roberts.
