The big game had arrived. St James were 4 points ahead in the Division but this was their last fixture. A Wickham win and this gap was down to a point with two games remain and thus 2nd place and promotion in the side’s first season could be a distinct possibility. Ian warned that lads that St. James could not play as poorly again as they did at the Triangle and they would have to battle for everything. A lost toss meant playing up the hill on this small pitch first.
Despite the slope Wickham were determined not to let St James settle into there stride. The majority of the play was at the top end of the field as Wickham pressed forwards. With 4 minutes gone Fraser was brought down out on the left. William hit the free kick goal bound but it just went past the left hand post. Still Wickham went forwards and two minutes later Ollie was brought down near the edge of the area. He got up and hit the free kick over the wall and into the top left hand corner of the goal to open the scoring. A minute later William sent a ball between the centre backs for Ben to run onto but the keeper was quickly out to clear the danger. A goal kick was headed back into Ben’s path by Ollie but his shot was well saved by the keeper who had already kept St. James in the game. Jack then sent Ollie down the right who then suffered a horror tackle being taken out just below the knee which the ref played on for with Wickham eventually getting a corner. After long treatment Ollie was forced to come off and was replaced by Max. Justice was however done as the corner was headed in at the near post by Josh for his first goal for the club. Following a St James attack the ball was cleared to Ben in the centre circle who immediately sent Max away but his shot across the keeper just went wide. Another free kick on the left after 17 minutes was quickly taken by Tom into Ben. He played it out left to Fraser who after getting past his man crossed it into the box where Jack let it run for Max to slam in at the back post. St James’ heads had gone down but in the 22nd minute they had a free kick of there own which was well dealt with by Ben. His early clearance sent Max away but again the keeper just managed to save it.
With all the elements now in Wickham’s favour they should have been able to continue to dominate the game but a totally different St James side came out pinning Wickham back in their own half. With 5 minute gone a corner came in and following a scramble William cleared it off the line and away to safety. A free kick on the edge of the area was again well saved by Ben and his long kick sent Ollie away but he sliced his shot wide. The St James keeper had now found his kicking boots and in the 8th minute a long kick cleared the Wickham defence and the forward got to the ball before Ben and chipped it into the net for 3-1. This set the tone for the game but in the 12th minute a long shot came bouncing back off Ben’s bar with him totally beaten. Wickham tried to play on the break but the next 8 minutes were all St. James pressure but fortunately no clear cut chances were created. With 10 minute remaining Aiden tried his luck from distance but his volley cleared the bar. The pressure was mounting as Wickham had created at least three 1 on 1’s but failed to put any away to kill the game off. Finally with 25 minutes gone AO attacked down the right and whipped the ball into the middle. Ben was clattered as he seemed destine to put the ball in but Max was following in behind and duly scored. In the 27th minute Ollie flicked the ball on seeming putting max away but the defender handled the ball giving a free kick away. Ollie hit this to the back post which was just too high for Jordie to head in. This was the last chance for either side, so St James’ season ended with them just 1 point ahead of Wickham in 2nd place but Wickham still have 2 games left to claim that 2nd place.
The Player of the Day voting was again close between two players but despite having to come off in the first half after a good battling second half performance was noted by the parents and it went to Ollie Norman
Ben Grey
Aiden Weeks, Josh Newbrook, Jordan Shaw, Tom Farman
Jack Wild, William Herrington, Jordie Rowlands, Ollie Norman, Fraser Roberts
Ben Cipolla.
Subs:- Alex Olford, Max Nichols, Harry Russell, Stephen Enever.
