With nearly a full squad to select from and Ian away skiing, Jon took charge of this Oxford Mail fixture. A clear sky greeted everyone and it was a nice day to play football. Everything was set hopefully for a good game.
It was important that this time the lads started quickly against Benson and not to give them a four goal start like earlier in the season. With only a minute on the clock the ball was played out wide to Jack, who crossed first time. The ball landed at Jordie’s feet who hit a first time shot but unfortunately it went straight at the keeper for a regulation save. This was to be the pattern of the first half. 10 minutes went by with Wickham dominating the game. Chance after chance came and went. Prime examples where when Ben C hit the post and then Ollie somehow managed to blast over the bar from only 6 yards out. With 22 minutes on the clock, Jack cleared the ball from a Benson corner, every one pushed out, and Max helped the ball on. However, the Benson Centre half picked the ball up on this 18 yard box, and hit a ball over the top. Wickham had all pushed out up to the centre circle, with two Benson forwards just walking back still only 20 yards from the Wickham goal. This was clearly off side which was missed by both the linesman and the Ref. The Benson forwards turned took a touch and duly smashed the ball passed Ben G unopposed. Benson where now one up at half time, totally against the run of play.
The half time talk was set around the lads continuing to play the type of football which they had been doing in the first half but just converting a chance or two. The boys response was good and immediate. They attacked straight from the kick off. Ben C latched on to a pass from Max, and having taken a touch, hit low and hard into the bottom left corner of the goal. From this point on it was all one way traffic. Max was playing really well out on the wing creating lots of space for himself. Another ball played in into the box by Max was coolly finished by Ben C putting Wickham 2 – 1 up and the lads were flying playing some lovely football. Then come the best move of the game, the ball was played out left to Max; he passed it to Ollie in the middle, and after beating has man played it back to him on the half way line. Having controlled the ball Max looked up, and hit a 20 yard ball over the top, where Ben ran on to it hitting the ball first time into the back of the net, 3 -1 and a great goal. With 5 minutes remaining Max won a corner on the left. Ollie hit a great ball in right under the bar, it was clear to edge of the box where Luke hit a half volley which the keeper could only parry into the net for a final score of 4 – 1.
Ben Grey
Aiden Weeks, Josh Newbrook, Jordan Shaw, Tom Farman.
Jack Wild, Luke Evans, Jordie Rowlands, Ollie Norman, Max Nicholls.
Ben Cipolla.
Subs:- Alex Olford, Stephen Enever, Harry Russell.
