Report: U13NW vs. Stratton Youth 14-Dec-2008

It was back to League action this weekend with the visit of Stratton Youth. Their season of far has been a mixture of some very good wins and some strange losses, so the lads wee told to expect a hard match. This was the chance to get back to the top of the League as Wootton Bassett were playing in the Wilts. Cup.

he initial stages were quite even but in the 4^th minute a long ball through saw William miss the header and then Bert miss the clearance allowing the forward to race clear. James came out, made the block for William to then clear the danger but an early warning for the defenders. In the 6^th minute Duncan played the ball inside for Karl who laid the ball between centre and full back for Albie to race onto but the recovering defender did enough to put Albie off and the shot was saved. Stratton came back on the attack with neither Bert nor William getting to the header but Jack was there to cover and clear the danger. The 9^th minute saw an Albie free kick hit to the back post but it just evaded all the Wickham players and went off for a goal kick. A minute later and a long goal kick saw the Stratton forward outpace all the Wickham defence and despite James getting a hand to the ball it went into the net. In the 14^th minute Wickham gave the ball away down the right and Stratton switch play into the midfield. There was no challenge as the player advanced to shoot from distance, the shot spinning away from James and into the net. William was then replaced by Iggy, to play on the right, with Karl dropping back into defence. Wickham started to attack a little more but the passing and control was not up to the usual standard. In the 26^th minute Wickham were under pressure but Jack cleared to danger up to Iggy. He slipped the ball back to Jesse who was able to send Albie away. As the keeper came out he coolly slotted the ball into the far corner for 1-2. A minute latter it was Karl’s turn to clear the danger pumping the ball up field, which Charlie chased down. He arrived at the ball just before the keeper and was able to nudge it round him before putting the ball into the net; thus Wickham had somehow managed to get to half time with the scores level.

At half time Duncan came off for Ben with Olly pushing up to left midfield and in the 6^th minute a throw in down the left saw Olly, Ben and Albie combine for the latter curled a shot just wide of the far post. Wickham now had much more of the play and in the 8^th minute Albie was over on the right, he got past his man but the pull back was blocked by a defender. The 13^th minute saw Stratton’s first attack of the half as the winger eventually got past Ben hitting his cross to the back post. The ball just cleared Jack to the Stratton player, who hit a sweet volley from a tight angle against the post which was then cleared. William had come on for Bert and was pushing forwards into midfield. In the 20^th minute Ben advanced into the Stratton half and dinked a ball over the defence for Charlie to race clear but the keeper came out just getting their first. Marcus was now injured so William moved into midfield with Bert returning at the back. In the 22^nd minute Iggy chased a seemingly lost cause getting to the ball before it crossed the by line and got his cross in to Olly at the back post but the defender just nipped in first. From the resulting corner William crashed a header against the bar which was then scrambled clear. In the 25^th minute Stratton had Wickham penned back on the left but a Ben throw in back to Karl saw a lovely through ball up to Albie. He immediately sent Charlie through who got his shot away but it was blocked by the keeper, however the ball came out to Jesse who hit the it over the stranded keeper and into the net. Marcus was reintroduced for the last 10 minutes and hit a shot which seemed to be destined for the top corner but it was clawed away by the keeper. However, in the 34^th minute James was called on to make another good save but this time quickly hit the ball long down field. A Stratton header fell to Marcus who immediate sent Albie racing clear, as the keeper came out he slotted it away for a final score of 4-2.

The Player of the Day Award again went to James who recovered from a rare error to again pull off some great saves and to keep the lads in the game. We now know that Moretonville are the opponents in the next round of the B & B cup having beaten Abingdon 6-1 today.

James Davis

Jack Bolton, William Herrington, Bert Cherrill, Olly Sopp

Jesse Bowers, Karl Admans, Marcus Guest, Duncan Lorrain.

Albie Oakman,

Charlie de Fraine

Subs:- Ben Finch, Iggy Ilott, Max Nicholls.

Report: U13 NW vs. New Windsor Youth (cup)

With the Ferndale game called off last week due to their Wilts cup game, it was more cup action for Wickham but this time in the Berks & Bucks Cup against New Windsor Youth. Having beaten them last year, only killing the game off in the last minute, another tough encounter was expected. A frozen 6 yard box meant a change of pitch to the U15’s one with its slightly lower goals.

Wickham started the game off strongly, playing to the hedge end, winning the first corner after 3 minutes but Windsor’s superior height ensured the danger was cleared. After 9 minutes Albie took a free kick from out on the right. This seemed to be goal bound but unfortunately Marcus’ header took the ball wide. There then followed a number of free kicks as Windsor’s no 5 seemed to be holding the Wickham players down as they were jumping for the ball but these were all dealt with by the defence. A quick switch from left to right saw Iggy get free, he laid the ball back to Albie but the shot went over the bar. In the 17^th minute a long free kick by William was battled for by Albie, Charlie had a half chance but then put Albie through only for the keeper to make the save. Windsor’s two centre backs seemed to have the pace on Albie and Charlie so the breakthrough would have to come from neat passing. In the 21^st minute an attacked down the left was then switched to Iggy on the right. His first shot was blocked and then the second turned round for a corner. In the 22^nd minute a Wickham free kick saw Windsor break quickly out of defence. The no 2 took William on for pace and then cut inside; before Karl could get across he had slotted the ball into the near post corner for 1-0. In the 26^th minute Marcus fired the ball on to the left for Charlie. After getting past the full back he placed his cross into Iggys’ path for him to slam into the net for one each. A frustrating first half which Wickham dominated but saw Windsor score from their only chance and Wickham unable to get their shots past Windsor’s keeper.

Windsor, who now had the sun in their eyes and the slight slope in their favour, came more into the game. In the 5^th minute a Windsor free kick was hit to the back post where three of their players were ghosting in with only Duncan there for cover;

fortunately the no7, who won the ball, took it too far and could only shoot into the side netting from a tight angle. In the 7^th

minute Wickham failed to clear the ball out any distance, and from 25 yards out the shot came in which James did brilliantly to turn the ball round the post. Again from the corner the ball was not cleared out and a shot came back in which James again did well to turn round the post. The first 20 minute of the half were fairly even (Windsor were slightly on top) with both sides creating chances but Wickham were grateful to James on at least three different occasions. In the 24^th minute Wickham did clear their lines and came rushing out of defence. A looping shot then came in from distance which James, whilst back tracking, was able to claw out, but it fell directly to the no.9 who slammed the ball into the net. However, due to the defence clearing out the forward was off side and the goal disallowed. In the 28^th minute a defensive free kick was played down the line to Albie, who eventually got his cross into Charlie at the near post but his shot was turned wide for a corner. In the last minute Wickham attacked down the left. Olly got his cross in but it evaded Charlie, but Albie was on hand. After going past one defender he managed to get a shot away whilst tumbling over under pressure from another defender nicely slotting the ball inside the far post for 2-1. There was only just time for Windsor to kick off before the final whistle went giving Wickham the closest of victories.

There was no doubt about the winner of the Player of the Day Award (also winning both coaches awards as well) which went to James for his second half performance in keep the lads in the game. The draw for the last 16 has given another home tie against either Abingdon (OMBL) or Moretonville (MKL) who play each other next weekend.

James Davis

William Herrington, Karl Admans, Bert Cherrill, Olly Sopp

Iggy Ilott, Jesse Bowers, Marcus Guest, Duncan Lorrain.

Albie Oakman,

Charlie de Fraine

Subs:- Jack Bolton, Ben Finch, Fraser Roberts, Callum Johnson.