The day after Easter and another game, this time away at Stratton Youth. Prior to kick off we received a phone call saying Albie had broken down on the way and would not make it so Iggy moved up front with Charlie.
Wickham had the better of the initial exchanges but in the 4th minute a long clearance by the Stratton keeper saw both Ben and Bert go for the same ball, both missing it but James was quickly to the edge of his area to stop the danger. The next minute Charlie battled for the ball in the corner getting it into the middle where it seemed to stick under Iggy’s foot and the chance was gone. The first quarter hour seemed to fly by without very much more happening. A long throw saw Charlie flick the ball on but Iggy’s volley went wide. After a game of head tennis in the centre circle Charlie got the ball to Iggy who laid it back to Marcus but his shot was turned away for a corner. In the 24th minute Karl came off after receiving a blow to the foot with William switching to centre back and Jack at right back. A diagonal ball from Jesse sent Iggy and Duncan racing goal wards which Duncan won but the keeper made a great save when the ball seemed to have gone beyond him. Stratton had their first corner after 30 minutes which was only cleared to the edge of the box but fortunately the shot went well wide. In the 33rd minute Ben took a knock and needed to come off but fortunately he stayed on as a minute later Charlie won the ball on the right got a great cross into the back post where Olly arrived to smash home his first League goal of the season. Had Ben come off Olly probably would not have been their.
At the start of the second half Ben did come off with Olly dropping to left back, Duncan switching wings and Max coming on to the right. Wickham started slowly but in the 5th minute Stratton had an indirect free kick some 35 yards out which was chipped into the box but James dealt with in well. Two minute later Wickham had a free kick out near the left touch line which William hit to the far post but Iggy was just beaten to the header. A minute later Max got in one of his telling crosses, Iggy’s header eventually came out to Jesse but his shot was deflected wide. Another Max cross moment later seemed to have put Charlie in but the defender just cleared the ball. In the 12th minute a throw down the left found Duncan whose cross seemed to be handled but the ball ended up with Iggy who tucked the ball away nicely for 2-0. Stratton had their first corner of the half in the 15th minute which was swung in beautifully for an unchallenged header to just go straight up in the air which then allowed the Wickham defence to clear. In the 19th minute a Wickham attack down the right was stopped with Stratton then heading down the wing. Sammy outstripped Jack for pace and as William came across he shot to the near post, instead of passing to his fellow attacked who was not free in the middle, but James made the save. Bert then picked up an injury and Ben came back on to the centre of the defence. Stratton now switched tactics, just like the cup game a month ago with another tall striker coming on. In the 25th minute this almost paid dividends as the two strikers got the better of the Wickham defenders and only a last ditch tackle from Jack stopped a shot from shot distance going in. From a Jesse corner in the 29th minute the ball was cleared out to Marcus. He played it back to Jesse who whipped the ball towards to far post where Charlie and Iggy were closing in on the ball but it flicked a defenders head and went in. Wickham continued to attack and to their credit so did Stratton. With two minutes left James came out to dive at the forwards feet then hit the ball long down the right. Max got the ball getting a good cross in, which the keeper could only get fingertips to, allowing Charlie to force the ball home.
A patchy display from the boys with the ball often in the air however for good work in two positions on the left The Player of the Day Award went to a very surprised Olly.
James Davies
William Herrington, Bert Cherrill, Karl Admans, Ben Finch
Duncan Lorrain, Marcus Guest, Jesse Bowers, Olly Sopp
Iggy Ilott, Charlie de Fraine.
Subs:- Jack Bolton, Max Nicholls.
