Sunday 18^th November 2007

Wickham Wanderers Phoenix 1 v T W Foresters A 10 (League Shield) @ Parkfields

This week’s journey saw us travel to Wickham for a cup match on a bitterly cold and windy afternoon. It did not help that the match before us went to extra time and penalties, therefore keeping us waiting at least 60 minutes in the cold!

Before the game had even started Jorge injured his ankle in the warm up, and we therefore called upon Jordan to make his debut between the sticks.

We set the pattern for the game when in the first minute following good work down the right by Jack, Christian fired narrowly wide. We were not kept waiting long before the first goal when the keeper failed to hold a shot and Joe was on hand to score. We then mounted numerous attacks and shots which the keeper somehow managed to keep out. It looked likely that we would score again quickly however from a long ball the attacker was just able to hold George off at the back and West Wickham had claimed an unlikely equaliser.

On several occasions we were rushing our shots and not taking that extra touch. However, shortly afterwards Ryan did exactly that and blasted us back in front from the edge of the area. Tom added a third from an excellent half volley. We were now playing total attacking football with Shashi overlapping and crossing powerfully and Ed now in a free role and pushing forward. Jake added a fourth with a great shot past the keeper who was having a great game. Luke up for a corner tried an  overhead kick which the keeper just saved and  the keeper seemed to being saving his best efforts to deny Christian on four or five occasions!

Four one up at half time we were able to make rolling changes with Dan coming on and passing the ball and attacking the home defence to great effect. Ryan blasted in another to make it 5-1, and then the goal of the game with Joe running in on the keeper and chipping him. Jorge then made a rare appearance on the pitch as a sub up front and from one back heel the defender just managed to clear off the line. Tom added his second, quickly followed by another overhead kick from Luke (this one going in!). Jake added his second to make it nine, before Christain finally beat the keeper who had managed to frustrate him all afternoon with his fine stops. The final score being 10-1, however but for the keeper it could have double. The save he made from a Tom Beck pile driver being the best stop I have seen at this level!

Well done to all the boys for their efforts, particularly Jordan who must have been freezing cold in goal!

The shot practise finally paid off and it was good to see 6 different scorers.

MOM Joe, two well-taken goals, and some fine passes.

Julian