With Halcrow not available the Thursday night game against Wroughton was played in the middle of the village on an even larger pitch….18 yards from touchline to 18 yard box. It would be very interesting to see how the lads played having played on Tuesday and then with 5 of them having a trial at Southampton on Wednesday. It was into the wind in the first half but Wroughton were looking into the sun.
The lads knew they had to step up their game but in the 1st minute Nana had a run on William but he managed to get the ball off for a corner. This was cleared by Albie to Jack who got the ball up to Charlie but the move then broke down. Wroughton were pushing forwards but the back 4 were again dealing with most things but they were giving corners away. Being such a wide pitch most of these were only getting to the near post but in the 6th minute a corner did find its way to an unmarked Nana at the back post. Marcus quickly attempted to close him down but he got his shot away which came crashing back off the post and was eventually cleared. More Wroughton pressure followed but in the 10th minute a quick break through Albie down the right saw him get a great cross in which was just in front of Charlie, and Duncan could not quite get there at the back post. Playing with the wind Wroughton continued to have the majority of play but without really troubling James. In the 20th minute Wickham won the ball on the left, Duncan knocking it into Karl who then switch it wide to Jack. After a couple of touches he sent Albie away who cut in towards the box and tried to bend the ball inside the post but it drifted wide. After 25 minutes a Wroughton ball was hit over the top of William and Bert. James came out of his area but fluffed his clearance which went straight to Nana but his chipped missed the wide open goal. The 27th minute saw a sweeping move; Jack to Karl, then to Albie, Marcus & wide left to Duncan. His through ball to Charlie was just too strong & the keeper got their first. Jack took a knock on his knee tackling Nana and was replaced by Jordan.
Half time saw a major change around. James came off feeling sick, so Jordan now switched into goal. Ollie came on at right back and Fraser for Jesse whose knee was now hurting as well. No more subs for the second half then. In the second minute Fraser battled for the ball down the left, some how won it & laid it back to Duncan and then to Marcus. He found Karl but his shot went over the top. The goal kick was won by Albie but his cross went behind both Charlie & Fraser and with no midfield players running in the chance went by. In the 5th minute Wroughton never really cleared a Wickham attack and when the ball came out to Duncan. He hit a speculative shot high into the box which cleared the keeper and went into the net, 1-0. Two minutes later a Wickham corner seemed to have been cleared but Ollie won the ball back. He knocked it forward to Charlie who seemed to have put Fraser through but a last ditch tackle gave away another corner. It was now all Wickham pressure but the lads can not get the 2nd goal to hopefully kill the game off. In the 14th minute William got above Nana for a clearance, the ball went to Charlie and then onto Albie but he volleyed over the bar. The next minute Ollie sent Albie away but his pull back to Duncan saw him shot wide. The 22nd minute saw Charlie send Albie through but his shot came cannoning back off the far post. Fierce tackles were now coming in with Marcus and Ollie needing treatment. In the 24th minute William now took a blow in the face just outside the 6 yard box as Wroughton pushed forwards. Time seemed to be up but in the 31st minute Fraser dinked a ball into the middle however the new keeper just got there in front of Albie. In the 33rd minute Albie pulled the ball back to Fraser who was able to force the ball home. Still time went on as Wroughton throw everything forwards. Wickham cleared the ball to the Wroughton keeper, just short of the halfway line. His kick could only find Charlie but his long range shot went wide. With 37 minutes on the clock Albie was through, he went round the keeper, steadied himself and then shot but somehow the keeper got back to concede a corner. This was the last kick of the game; Wickham had got a hard fought 3 points.
This was a great battling performance and defiantly a game of two halves. Everyone gave 100% despite the pressures of the last few days but Marcus stood out in the midfield and was duly awarded the Player of the Day Award.
James Davis.
Jack Bolton, William Herrington, Bert Cherrill, Olly Sopp
Albie Oakman, Marcus guest, Karl Admans, Jesse Bowers, Duncan Lorrain
Charlie de Fraine
Subs:- Jordan Shaw, Ollie Norman, Fraser Roberts.
