REDDITCH BOROUGH 0-1 WICKHAMFORD FC: THE INDEPENDENT MATCH REPORT...

 Wicks Edge Out Creative Boro…

Redditch Borough 0-1 Wickhamford FC

This tussle was tense, very close and for the spectators, really absorbing. However, both teams worked hard at their games to their credit and little anger was displayed, despite the palpable tension and the rather ‘light touch’ refereeing. Boro were driven on by their creative midfield and speedy attack, although some of the finishing was wasteful. The Wicks’ defence was constantly taxed but held out, whilst the visitors also displayed threat on occasions. Dan McCarthy was the catalyst for Redditch with his combination of clever footwork, smart passing and elusive running in possession but he was well supported by the imaginative Jason Quinn and the beaver-like Jake Chinn. 

THE TWO SKIPPERS SLAP THE REFEREE INTO ACTION...

In attack, Dan Smiles, Keighan Bowles and Anton Bennett were often dangerous but apart from three fine saves by Wicks’ goalie Luis Sone, their shooting was otherwise disappointing. James White in particular was a real stalwart for the guests in their rearguard, supported enthusiastically by midfielder Nathan Tomkotowicz, who was filling in as an emergency central defender. Jack Milward spent the evening marking the awkward and powerful Bennett but both players emerged with credit from their travails.

The only goal was netted by Luis Sone’s younger brother Robbie, a second period replacement, who lashed the winner from close range, having earlier volleyed spectacularly against the home crossbar. The goalscorer’s battles with Boro defender Liam Clee were good to watch throughout the second 45, with no holds barred sometimes.

ROBBIE SONE (14) WOULD CHANGE THE GAME...

The visitors made more goalscoring opportunities after the recess, although the hosts had looked the more likely crew to score before half-time. Luis Sone’s pair of saves and a fine goal-line clearance by Wickerman Will Aspey saw to it that the match was scoreless at the interval.   

The second period was certainly livened even more by Sone’s goal, for the Redditch lads shoved themselves forward desperately in an attempt to regain parity but White and Luis Sone gave little away, even when home replacement Aljerome Clarke forced the ‘keeper to make his third reaction save. 

MIDFIELD TRENCHES...

So, Wicks moved on in the league campaign, pleased not only with the three points but also because rivals Feckenham Reserves had lost at Central Ajax, where Wickhamford travel to on Saturday…

During the first-half, Smiles, not all smiles by the finish, curled a decent effort past the left stick, then couldn’t get to a flicked centre by Bowles and he also headed a free-kick delivery straight at Luis Sone, whilst both McCarthy and Quinn drove well off target. Bennett had two efforts from downtown blocked by the bravery of White but the best chances fell to Bowles and left-back Robert the Bruce. 

TOMKOTOWICZ, MILWARD & WHITE: HELD FIRM...

Bowles had tested Sone from an offside position already but when he slipped onto Quinn’s pass, his low shot, struck early was splendidly turned aside, diving low and left by Sone, who was aided by Aspey, who scudded towards his own goal and hacked the loose ball to safety at his left upright. Bruce was also denied by the placid Sone when he latched onto Bennett’s assist, lifted the ball deftly over White but Sone fisted away the defender’s close range shot.  

Hard work by the Wickermen first saw Mike Jennings get to the left byeline, only to be blocked by home gloveman Dan Thompson’s plunge, then he drove a first-timer too high. Drew Clarke delivered a couple of right-flank centres across, White nodded a Jennings corner well over the target and skipper Louis Brown fired past a post from an offside position. Clearly, the hosts were closer to scoring during the opening period but after the short break for a fag and a beer, the Wickermen looked more potent due largely to their offensive right-sided substitute Robbie Sone. 

THE PLAYERS MAKE THE REF WAIT AFTER THE RECESS, LIKE HE MADE THEM WAIT BEFORE THE START...

An early back-pass by Boro’s solid defender Matt Capewell passed the stranded Thompson and rolled past the left stick, before Clark shot low at the home custodian. The buzzing James Schembri fired across the face of goal, then too high, Jennings fired into the side-netting and then over the target, whilst Tomkotowicz saw a shot deflected. Brown had a near post header blocked which caused a scramble, as well as latching onto a neat Schembri pass only for Thompson to advance and smother the effort.

The hosts did move the ball smartly on occasions but chances at goal were irregular. The influential McCarthy’s right-side centre flew past the far post, Quinn drove a left-footer well wide and Clarke looked likely to score following some clever footwork but his rising drive was tipped to safety well by Luis Sone. 

Subsequently though it was the deceptive Robbie Sone who clinched the victory for the Wickermen but his first goal chance was a flying far post volley from Joel Haycock’s left-wing centre and the ball bounced off the top of the crossbeam. He wasn’t to be denied though and when Brown was again rebuffed by the sprawling Thompson, left corner of the 6 yard box, Schembri’s rebound effort slapped the crossbar and dropped for the unmarked Sone to smash deep into the net. 

WICKHAMFORD HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD...

A late pass by Sone allowed Haycock to send a cross-field assist for Schembri to control and then fire into the right corner of the net but the home team’s lines-person, by then Bruce, robbed Wicks by flagging Schembri offside… I can’t argue with the decision of course but at the time I was slightly surprised…  

BROWN & MCCARTHY...

Smiles was involved three times near the end for Redditch but first shot too high on the turn, was crowded out at a late corner from which Robbie Sone cleared the danger but in the final frenetic seconds, with Thompson adding his presence, Bennett’s long throw was flicked on by Capewell and when the ball fell to Smiles at 18 yards, he miscued, thus ending the entertainment…

Skipper Darryl Foster was strong in the home defence alongside Capewell and ‘keeper Thompson was reliable but despite the pace and creativity of much of Boro’s play, goals proved unattainable. The Wickermen were indebted to the industry of Louis Sutton and his fellow midfielders who were admittedly stretched at times by McCarthy and company. 

However, a pair of brothers were both integral to the victory earned by Wickhamford…  

SQUADS:

REDDITCH BOROUGH:

DAN THOMPSON, LIAM CLEE, ROB BRUCE, DAN MCCARTHY, DARRYL FOSTER (CAPT), MATT CAPEWELL, JAKE CHINN, DAN SMILES, JASON QUINN, KEIGHAN BOWLES, ETHAN MCKEOWN, DAN WILLIAMS, GEORGE MORRIS, ANTON BENNETT, ALJEROME CLARKE.

WICKHAMFORD FC:

LUIS SONE, NATHAN TOMKOTOWICZ, LOUIS SUTTON, JACK MILWARD, LOUIS BROWN (CAPT), JOEL HAYCOCK, BEN BEARCROFT, JAMES SCHEMBRI, ROBBIE SONE, JOSH GREAVES, DREW CLARKE, WILL ASPEY, JAMES WHITE, MIKE JENNINGS.