Wickham Wanderers Under 8's Match Report 1-Feb-2004

Both sides had plenty of players for this fixture as Whitchurch turned up with 11 so two six a side matches were played.

Game 29

Wickham dominated the opening play but just could not score. With 5 minutes gone Neil and Jordan were brought on for Blake and Declan and almost immediately Whitchurch gave away a free kick outside the box. Josh hit it well but it struck the post and came out. With no one following in the danger was cleared. With two minutes left Ben made a good save but from the in swinging corner he could only pal the ball into the net.

At half time Ian told the boys that the only good thing they had done so far was turn up! William was brought on replacing Neil giving Wickham another attacking option but the story was still the same as he snatched at a handful of chances dragging them all wide. A Whitchurch attack saw Jack make a timely interception and lay the ball off to William. He went from within his own half, drew the last defender before slipping the ball neatly inside the post for 1-1. With two minutes to go a Whitchurch throw in near the corner was intercepted by William who bore straight down on goal to score. With time running out, William again broke down the left and hit a powerful drive which the keeper blocked, but he was following in and tucked the rebound away for a 3-1 win and his hat-trick.

Ben Grey, Blake Clarke, Jack Moore, Josh Way, Declan Hess, Aiden Weeks.
Subs:- Neil Edwards, Jordan Shaw, William Herrington

Game 30

The lads had instructions to find space and pass the ball around but to be steady in front of goal. This they did almost to perfection. Earlier on a Whitchurch clearance was collected by Josh on the half way line and he went straight for goal easily tucking the ball inside the post for 1-0. Minutes later a kick from the keeper was well controlled by Jordan, near the half way line, who looked up and saw Josh in space. An inch perfect pass put Josh away to score his and Wickham's second. The next chance saw William take the defence on down the right. Having got to the by-line he cut back to find Jordan in the middle, who riffled his shot in off the bottom of the bar. Next, a powerful shot by William rattled the bar but with Jordan and Declan both following in, Jordan tapped in the rebound. Immediately from the centre Josh won the ball, raced towards the goal to score. Right on half time William and Josh were free and it was the former who cracked the ball into the roof of the net.

There was no let up in the second half and almost immediately William was off down the left, he cut inside and hit a shot towards the goal. It took a small deflection and although goal bound, Aiden was there at the back post to tuck the ball away. Neil then had two good chances to open his Wickham account with the keeper making a great save to stop the second attempt. A good challenge in the middle of the pitch by Jack then saw Aiden lay the ball off to Declan on the right. He produced a great cross to William's feet who had the easiest of chances to complete his second hat-trick of the day. Everyone was now attempting to get on the score sheet now and it was Blake who finished the scoring, hitting a good shot from the edge of the area giving Wickham a 10-0 victory.

Having scored six goals and going past the 50 goal mark for the season William was voted The Player of the Day.

Ben Grey, Jordan Shaw, Blake Clarke, William Herrington, Josh Way, Neil Edwards.
Subs:- Aiden Weeks, Declan Hess, Jack Moore