Cup Final day had arrived as both sets of players waited in the car park to be called in. Eventually at 13.45 in we went, with Wickham having the home changing room. The lads showed no signs of nervousness in here or whilst warming up. Andy Amos, the Bassett manager, confessed to being nervous himself but it was quickly time to line up and get out on the pitch. Wickham won the toss and played with the wind in front of a crowd of at least 300 people.
Bassett kicked off but Wickham were soon on the attack. In the second minute Albie took a free kick out on the right into the near post but Jesse could only knock the ball just wide of the post. Bassett were mostly pinned back in their own half and in the 6th minute they gave away another free kick on the left about 10 yards from the by line and 6 yards outside the box. Albie lined up to swing the ball in with Bassett having players on both posts. The ball went deep and as Duncan challenged for the ball the defender left the post only to see the ball clear both of then and end up in the back of the net. A great start for Wickham! With 14 minutes gone Jesse was feeling the pressure on his knee so he was replaced by Fraser on the left with Duncan tucking more into the middle. Bassett’s attacks were mainly being kept out of the final third as the back four were in go form with Jack looking after Josh Way well. Wickham won their first corner in the 16th minute which caused some panic in the Bassett box but it was eventually cleared to safety. In the 22nd minute a long clearance by Bassett went up towards Josh and as Jack challenged for the ball Josh knocked it out deep in Wickham’s half. Jack took the throw to Marcus who flicked it on to Albie. Under pressure he cleared the ball up the line for Charlie to chase. Despite having little chance in getting the ball this chase forced the keeper to put the ball out for a throw. Albie took the throw back to Marcus some 25 yards out who whipped the ball into the middle. The ball cleared the first centre back but the second, under pressure from Fraser headed the ball goal bound and could only watch as the keeper parried the ball and Fraser followed it into the back of the net. The 28th minute saw a Bassett corner well cleared by Albie at the near post and shortly afterwards James touched the ball for the first time.
The half time team chat was all about concentrating and working for each other. If we could score two goals in a half then so could Bassett, but this was a new experience for them as this was the first time that they had conceded two goals in a game this year, a third would surely kill the game off. Wickham kicked off and almost immediately won a free kick on the left. The power of Albie’s kick knocked the defender over as he headed the ball clear. Play was then switch to the right and Albie was brought down about 23 yards out. Bassett again pulled everyone back with players on both post. He hit the ball towards the back post and somehow the ball was deflected out towards Charlie. The ball hit him in the face with the ball going goal bound it was somehow cleared off the line. After 6 minutes Marcus was flattened for the 3rd time & needed attention which took Wickham temporarily down to 10 men. With the wind with them now Bassett were coming more into the game. With 8 minutes gone they had a free kick 30 yards out which William cleared for a corner, and this was eventually scrambled away. With 12 minutes gone Josh got away down the left, he cut inside but some desperate defending by Jack and William as they both throw themselves in front for the ball ensured that the ball was eventually cleared away. In the 19th minute Duncan found himself on the right wing. He hit a great cross into the box where Albie seemed to have been flattened but the ball came back to Duncan. He hit the ball deep to Fraser who laid the ball back to Karl but his shot cleared the bar. Bassett had now switched to three at the back and it was end to end stuff. In the 22nd minute Ablie hit another free kick from the right into the box but the keeper gathered the ball in over the top of Duncan. He hit a quick long ball down field which Karl could only head backwards sending Fraser Evans through. With William chasing back James held his position until the last moment which forced Fraser to knock the ball wide of the goal. There was more Bassett pressure in the last 5 minutes and a knock to Albie saw Callum come on to replace him. The lads however held firm for a deserved 2-0 win winning we believe the first ever Cup for a Wickham side.
The tournament organisers made Albie Man of the match for which he duly received a trophy but the parents player of the day again showed how well the defence has been playing recently and it went to Bert. It may now be difficult to get the lads “up” for the Coleshill game tomorrow but the double is still on and it’s another must win game to keep the pressure on Bassett.
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, Callum Johnson, Fraser Roberts.
