With Wroughton not playing this was a chance to use one of the games in hand and close the gap at the top. With Bassett away on tour the gap from them could also be increased, but away games at Ferndale are always tough hard ones.
Without Karl, William was captain winning the toss and kicking off. In the 2nd minute a long throw went over everyone for Iggy to try run onto, the keeper got a touch to it diverting the ball just away from Duncan and to safety. Two minutes later Wickham conceded a free kick out wide on the left. This was swung into the box to a tall lad running in but James was able to gather the ball. Wickham went on the attack with Charlie battling for the ball, which he won only to have his shot charged down. The 7th minute saw Ben and Duncan attack down the left. The ball eventually came to Albie whose reverse pass sent Iggy away but he hit his shot over the near post. In the 9th minute Iggy was brought down near the touchline. Albie hit the ball into the box where Charlie flicked it on for the ball to bounce around in the area with it eventually coming to William who slammed it into the roof of the net for 1-0. In the 16th minute William broke an attack up sending a ball out wide to Iggy who got an early cross in which just evaded Charlie in the middle. Three minute later another long throw went all the way across the box to Iggy in the clear but he somehow failed to connect with his shot and the chance was gone. In the 21st minute a Wickham attack down the right saw Ferndale win the ball and quickly switch play to their right. The attacker beat Bert for pace but drove his shot well wide of the near post. A quick throw a minute later saw Charlie get free and burst into the box. He had his ankle tapped and went down but the ref gave a free kick right on the edge of the area which came to nothing. In the 29th minute another Ferndale break down the left again saw the forward shot wide of the near post. A Wickham free kick saw Bert win the ball near the by line but he was pushed off the ball as the defender conceded a corner. More Wickham pressure followed and with a minute left Charlie, battling hard for the ball in the corner, managed to get a cross over but Albie’s near post header just went wide of the far post. There was still time for Charlie to get a powerful left foot shot away which the keeper saved next to the post. Right on time Ferndale had a free kick, 30 yards out, which just cleared the bar.
Half time saw Duncan switch wings as Iggy came off with Olly coming onto the left. In the second minute following a Wickham corner, Ferndale quickly attacked down there left with Duncan and Jack leaving the ball to each other. As the forward cut into the area Bert got back to clear the danger. In the 4th minute Charlie switched the ball out to Olly, the early cross came in to Albie who laid it back for Jesse to drive just over. A Ferndale break in the 6th minute saw a brief 3 onto 1 but James made the save with his foot for Ben to clear. The ball went down the other end again for Olly to get a cross in which the keeper palmed out for Jesse to shoot over. In the 10th minute a long Ferndale clearance sent their left winger away, he cut into the box and as William came across to cover the forward hit the shot wide. Wickham then suffered a double blow as Jack turned his ankle, so Iggy came on at right back; then Bert had to come off injured as well so Ben went to the centre, Olly to left back, Iggy to left wing, Duncan to right back and Max to right wing. This naturally caused some disruption and soon after James came rushing out of his area to clear the ball up field. Max was now making good runs and getting some great crosses in, one of which found Iggy at the back post. His shot was blocked by the keeper with the ball coming back and hitting him in the face before going off. With 10 minutes left Ferndale had a free kick some 35 yards out which was powerfully struck, hitting the underside of the bar and just bouncing over the line. Both sides wanted to win the game and a long throw saw an overhead kick from Albie just clear the bar. In the 30th minute a long goal kick was flicked on by Charlie sending Albie racing through. As the keeper came out he drilled the ball past him for 2-1. Ferndale then switched to 3 at the back and 3 up front but Wickham seemed the most likely to score again but the score line remained unchanged and the win was secured.
Another great battling display up front chasing everything down saw Charlie deservedly win The Player of the Day Award.
James Davies
Jack Bolton, William Herrington, Bert Cherrill, Ben Finch
Iggy Ilott, Marcus Guest, Jesse Bowers, Duncan Lorrain
Albie Oakman, Charlie de Fraine.
Subs:- Olly Sopp, Fraser Roberts, Max Nicholls.
