AFC Newbury 6 -2 Wickham Wanderers

A.F.C. Newbury achieved a convincing home victory against Wickham Wanderers as they adapted better to the squally conditions and the driving rain that perpetuated throughout this action-packed match.

However, it was Wickham who took an early lead when George Westbrook swung over a corner in the first minute which Philip Holt in the Newbury goal was unable to claim, enabling Charlie Allsop to volley home from underneath the posts.

Wickham’s early goal seemed to have jolted Newbury into a stinging response, since despite falling behind so early, they fought back to take a deserved lead within a matter of minutes. Matthew Locke equalised within a minute when he side-footed home a cross that fell to him on the edge of the area following a flowing move down the right-hand flank, and soon after the re-start, Adam Locke struck a fierce free-kick from the edge of the box that flew into the top right-hand corner of the Wickham goal.

Wickham appeared demoralised by such a stunning double strike, and they nearly fell further behind when Alex Wood carved open the Wickham defence and rounded the keeper, only to see his goal-bound shot cleared off the line by a magnificent sliding clearance from Sam Peacock, the Wickham captain.

Shortly before half-time, Newbury’s persistent attacks were rewarded when they scored two further goals, with a second from Matthew Locke, followed by a fine long-range lob from Wyn Roy.

Wickham looked far more purposeful in the second-half, and deservedly got a goal back when Charlie Allsop ran through from the half-way line and coolly slotted home past Holt. The goal raised Wickham’s morale, and they continued to battle, particularly through George Westbrook, their Man-of-the-Match, who began to exert control in midfield.

However, although Wickham threatened to get themselves back into the game, it was Newbury who added two further goals near to the end of the match. Adam Locke scored the pick of the goals with a ferocious volley into the roof of the net from the edge of the box, and Alex Wood cheekily nicked a corner past Michael Morris in the Wickham goal to make the score 6 - 2 with only a few minutes remaining.

Even then, the action wasn’t over, since Newbury were awarded a penalty in the last minute, and although Matthew Locke stepped up in the hope of completing his hat-trick, Morris pulled off a magnificent diving save to parry the ball to safety.

(Report submitted  by James Morris)