Finally a home game which saw Wroughton, who are 5 points clear at the top of the table but having played three games more than Wickham, visit “The Triangle”. This was therefore an important game for both sides with a victory for one denting the others title ambitions.
Wickham kicked off going up the slight slope and against the wind immediately sending the ball to the left. It was switched to the right and Iggy go the cross in but this was cleared. William picked up the ball near the halfway line sending it up to Charlie who got past the defender and slipped the ball under Christie Miller in goal to score. With 3 minutes gone Wroughton got a cross into the box and William, not under any pressure, headed the ball off just past the post. From the resulting corner Ryan Rawlings headed just over. The 6th minute saw a long throw eventually come out to Marcus whose shot was deflected wide for a corner. The corner saw both Marcus and Jesse compete for the ball, it was knocked out sideways where Bert laid it back to William who hit a snap shot which just cleared the bar. In the 11th minute Iggy got a cross into Charlie who was pushed across the left hand side of the box but he got away a left footed drive which came cannoning back of the post only for his second left footed shot to go just wide of the far post. Marcus picked up an injury so Ben came on with Olly pushing up to left midfield. It was mainly Wickham attacks but in the 17th minute a Wroughton attack was cleared out of the area but a midfielder was not picked up who hit a low drive from approx 30 yards out which James could only parry into the roof of the net. This buoyed up the visitors who now had more belief. In the 27th minute a throw on the Wroughton left was played back to a midfielder who whipped the ball to two unmarked players at the back post for Josh Riggs to score. In the 31st minute a Wroughton corner saw Wickham clear the ball out but Karl stayed in the box. As the ball was played back in he found himself with three onside Wroughton players who were able to convert the chance.
Jack now came on at right back with Bert coming off; Olly came off with Duncan switching to left midfield and Marcus back in the middle. Wickham were pushing forwards chasing the game but the play was always through the middle with the wings being strangely unused. In the 14th minute Charlie battled for the ball near the left hand corner flag winning a free kick for a push in the back. Albie swung the corner to the far post where it drifted into the top far corner. A minute later a corner caused some panic in the Wroughton defence but they were able to clear it away. In the 21st minute William stopped a Wroughton attack and Charlie flicked the header into Albie’s path but under pressure he shot wide. In the 249th minute Ben got a cross into the box which Jesse brought down on his chest hitting a first time Volley which Christie somehow parried and was able to scramble back to dive on the ball before it crossed the line. In the 25th minute a Wickham corner came out to Jesse and his shot cleared the bar. It seemed that all the Wickham pressure would not get the goal which they needed however with a minute left the ball was played down the right with the cross coming to Charlie at the back of the area where he knocked it past Christie for Albie to beat the defender and slid the ball into the box for 3-3. Wroughton attached from the centre but the defence won the ball sending it up to Charlie but unfortunately he could not get past the defender to get his shot away. Despite a number of stoppages for the ref to talk to various Wroughton supporters and players no time was added and this was the last play of the game.
Despite not starting the game, the injury to Marcus ensured Ben got onto the pitch midway through the first half. He then produced his best game of the season at left back and was duly voted The Player of the Day.
James Davies
William Herrington, Bert Cherrill, Karl Admans, Olly Sopp
Iggy Ilott, Marcus Guest, Jesse Bowers, Duncan Lorrain
Albie Oakman, Charlie de Fraine.
Subs:- Jack Bolton, Ben Finch, Max Nicholls.
