With the lads having got themselves into a position where they could possibly finish second, this fixture against Radley was one of those games that they could be over confident and slip up. The next problem was that there were only 12 players available so any injury could have a big effect on the game; however the lads were up for it, so fingers crossed.
Wickham attacked straight from the centre and won a throw in on the left by the 18 yard box. A quick one sent Ollie away but his cross was behind all three players waiting in the box. However, AO chased it down and laid it back to Aiden who hit it back into the middle over the top of the keeper and into the back of the net for 1-0.With 6 minutes gone an AO cross was meet by Harry at the near post but his flick was well saved by the tail Radley keeper. The ball was played out but Luke won it in midfield, chipping it back towards goal. Ben brought it nicely under control before chipping the keeper and putting the ball into the back of the net, but he was adjudged to have been offside. The next minute saw a corner from Ollie headed over the bar by Ben. In the 9th minute another Wickham attack saw the ball cleared to Ollie who was in the exact position that Aiden scored from but his shot just drifted wide of the far post. Luke then headed a corner wide as Wickham created chance after chance. Eventually in the 15th minute Radley cleared their lines but Aiden won the ball sending Ollie away down the right. His cross found Ben, whose shot was well saved but Harry put the ball away for 2-0. More chances came and went but in the 22nd minute James was called upon to make a great save diving at the forwards feet. With 2 minutes to go Radley again broke through and James made another good diving save but this time he stayed down having injured his back. Jack took over the keepers jersey with Luke going to centre back, Ben dropping into midfield and Stephen coming on to play up front.
There were no changes for the second half and no chance of James coming back on, so the pressure was on the lads to not concede an early goal. In the 1st minute Ben hit a vicious shot which hit the post and went off for a goal kick. Radley had a few half attacks but any Wickham nerves were settled in the 6th minute as a Wickham corner was cleared up field to Luke. He took his time and then sent the ball back for Ben, Harry and Stephen to run onto. A mix up between the Radley defender and the keeper let Ben in for a simple tap in. Two minutes later AO attacked down the right wing and on getting to the by line whipped the ball into the box for Stephen to hit home a first time volley. The football was now much less nervy from Wickham as they continued to create chances but the Radley keeper was in fine form keeping the lads out. After 15 minutes William brought the ball out of defence and then slipped it between the centre back and left back for AO to run on to. As the keeper came out he neatly chipped the ball over him for 5-0. A lovely move down the left hand side between Fraser and Ben eventually saw the ball played into the middle were Harry seemed to have loads of time. He controlled the ball and then calmly slotted it past the keeper to complete the scoring for the day at 6-0. Three games left and the lads are now up to 3rd in the Division only 4 points behind St James with 2 games in hand. The next league match away at St. James is therefore a vital one in the pursuit of 2nd place; but if it all goes wrong they can still finish in 5th place.
Having had a good game at the back, getting up the right wing to support AO at every possible occasion and for opening the scoring, The Player of the Day Trophy was awarded to Aiden.
