Wick Over 35’s went into the game with a number of regulars missing due to injury with Jonny Mac and Little Bondy deputising as well as two over 45s players Paul (Raggy) Radinage and Matty D to help out. We knew this game would be a tough one against a very good Easton Monday’s team following our first fixture earlier in the season.

 

The game started with Easton Monday’s passing the ball well on a reasonable 3G surface at Abbots Leigh, but Wick also looked dangerous on the break. After 10 mins, Easton Monday’s created the first clear cut chance when the ball was given away by Johnny Williams out wide when he only half cleared allowing Easton Monday player to shot into the corner, but Little Bondy was up to the challenge and pulled off a cracking save. From the resulting corner little Bondy caught the ball well and quickly threw it to Arron Cole who bust down the left, played it into Jonny Mac who slotted it through to Matt Cole who ran into Box and finished giving keeper no chance. 1-0 Wick. Easton Monday came back strong enjoying plenty of possession in the midfield without really breaking down the resolute Wick defence. Wick had probably the better of the chances one falling to Jon Mac 12 yards out, but he somehow missed the target from inside the Monday box. The HT whistle was a welcome as Easton Monday were starting to mount some pressure on the Wick lead.

 

The second half began with Easton Monday’s coming flying out of the blocks and enjoyed a great spell of pressure but didn’t really trouble the Wick keeper. After 15 mins, Wick started to show some fight and came back into the game. Following some good work from Stu Mountford in the midfield, Wick’s best chance of the 15, fell to Lardy who’s well struck shot was easily saved at near post by Easton Monday’s keeper. Jon Williams on the right flank was now starting to get more involved in the game and ensured Wick were creating chances with his jinking runs and quality crosses.   With 30 mins left Matty D came on up top to add a bit of pace and height to the attack which helped take the pressure off the wick back 4. The game was now end to end with both teams having chances, Mounty had a great chance on the volley but skewed it wide. Two minutes later, a fierce shot from Aaron Cole skimmed the Easton Monday’s cross bar. As the game went into the last 10 mins Easton Monday’s started to put Wick under pressure and looked like they could still get that goal they needed. Probably the best chances came when the striker was clean through but some brave goal keeping saw Little Bondy make a well-timed challenge to win the ball and snuff the danger out. As the game went into the last-minute Easton Monday’s had one last corner the ball was on only half cleared as it dropped little Bondy was brave to punch away getting fouled in the process. As the freekick was taken the final whistle went leaving wick a happy but relived team.

 

Overall, this was a tough game both teams playing very well and in a good spirit, but on the day the it was Wick’s back four that stood firm and marshalled the Easton Monday front to only a few chances.

 

Wick’s MOM was Sammy Mac who bossed the back four and made a number of great forward runs to give Wick the edge in a very tight game. We would like to thank Easton Monday’s for an enjoyable game and wish them all the best for the rest of season.

 

THE MONDAY MATCH REPORT

A cold and wet morning greeted the teams to this keenly anticipated fixture. Monday had lost the away fixture 3-2 in a tight contest and the squad were looking forward to the game against the Division 1 leaders and perennial winners of the Bristol Corinthian league.

The starting line-up saw the absence of both Draner and Guy but the team and bench still had a strong look about it with Ben Merry in goal, Featherby and ‘isolation’ escapee Makepeace at the centre of defence with Smith and Twyman occupying full back duties. Manny, Adrian and Jon formed a mid-field three with a returning-from-injury Jamie in an unaccustomed role up front, making up the strike force along with Morgs and Arron.

The Blues starting well knocking the ball about with confidence and created the first chance of the game when Jamie got an early shot away only to see his effort well saved by Wick’s young keeper.

However it was Wick that got the early breakthrough when the Monday defence switched off and were caught out of shape and the wrong side of their men. Wick played a through ball which caught the defence on its heels, through one on one the Wick striker finished well to make it one nil.

Monday didn’t let this unsettle them and were getting back into the game when they lost one of their key strikers, Arron Godfrey. Going on one of his customary mazey runs he turned too quickly in an attempt to put Morgs through and fell awkwardly. After the usual non existent treatment he was helped to his feet then left to crawl off the pitch with what was later to be confirmed as a broken 5th metatarsal.

Arron told the waiting press conference after the game… “I should have been selfish and kept going in on goal but at least I’ve now got a nice sexy support boot for Christmas.”

Steve Elford replaced the injured Arron up front, though normally a midfielder he and used his strength and touch to good effect.

The first half played out mostly in midfield where Manny, Ady and Jon were solid and held their own against their strong opponents.

A couple of OAP’s (Monday old boys Sheri and Colonel) were in the stands and commented on the fact that Wick’s excellent right winger had the audacity to actually do ‘step-overs’… a sight rarely seen in a Corinthian football match.

​Few chances were created for both teams with Monday suffering from the lack of pressure down the flanks where a fit Arron and Draner may have had more impact than the out-of-position Jamie and Steve, despite their best efforts.

The only other incident of note in the first half was an unsavoury verbal assault on the Monday lino, Stu Charlton. Having made a close call for a throw in, he was accused of being a cheat by the Wick strikers. Thankfully their manager intervened and apologised, but given the Corinthian guidelines that we encourage all teams to abide by it is something the fans and fellow players want don’t to see.

The second half saw Jamie slot back into his more comfortable mid-field role with Lee replacing Ady and moving up front on the right. ​Monday started brightly having the majority of possession and applying pressure but with no real end product. Manny got kicked in the chest and struggled on before being replaced by Charlton.

French import Jon Cohen told the press at his post-match conference… “I felt that we were at our most dangerous when we were playing two holding and one attacking centre midfield. It was a shame Manny got injured because he got back so many balls in the first half. For a minute, I thought I played with Gatuso!”

A long Wick through ball saw Makepeace shepherd the ball out for a goal kick only to be clattered by an over enthusiastic Wick striker. The resulting injury saw Andy hobble around for a further 15 minutes until he too was replaced after an hour. The loss of Andy at centre back gave a couple of the Monday supporters cause for concern as he and Simon had kept their dangerous strikers quiet for most of the game. However, their fears we unfounded as Craig moved into the centre with ease and Alex coming on to fulfil full back duties with a calm assuredness and confidence we have come to expect from him.

Monday had lost three influential players but pressed for what would have been a deserved equaliser. ​The game was being stretched resulting in a couple of half chances for both teams. ​Wick saw a good effort glance the the Monday crossbar. Monday continued to press and late on Morgs found himself though one on one with their 17 year old keeper but the youngster had the legs to out-sprint the veteran striker before he could get his shot off.

The ref, who had handled the game with a quiet confidence blew for full time, the result, another close defeat for the Blues 0-1.

After that game their manager commented… “To be fair you boys deserved something from both games, I think today our boys at the back played well and my lad in goal made some decent stops when required which was the difference.”

​Terry told his post-match press conference… “We looked a bit rusty throughout the game. Too much space between the lines and the ball just didn’t stick up front at times…We did nearly enough to beat them and on a different day we would have I felt we were unlucky to walk away with nothing.”

​Sub Alex told reporters after the game… “I thought that Wick looked vulnerable on corners and crosses… something we could exploit next time. All in all, we gave them a run for their money and lost only 1-0 to a very good team.”

Striker Morgs told his admiring… “I felt we matched them for physicality but they seemed to have the edge in terms of familiarity – they play well together and intuitively, something we can improve on. Another one we could’ve won but for whatever reason, just didn’t.”

Craig added… “I thought Wick were deserved winners on Sunday. They had a few good chances to score more, most of our efforts were more half-chances. It was mostly played in good spirit and they were once again complimentary at the final whistle.”

​Jon summed up the performance in his post match conference… “I thought the back four were strong again today, special mention to Terry who very rarely wastes a ball and always trying to play forward and short in the feet. We did good things in the middle but I think we’re losing too many easy balls. I blame the lack of contact lenses for myself. Joke aside, maybe those mistakes are due to tiredness. If we were to be even more strict with the shape and play short more than long, I believe we can make the ball run more instead of us and limit those small mistakes.  Upfront, we strangely didn’t create that many chances, the few chances we had, we should have finished them more clinically (especially the few shots I had).”

Defender Featherby added a rallying call… “My whole body is feeling ruined but I thoroughly enjoyed the match and we should be proud of how we brought ourselves back into the game. Onwards and upwards chaps! Happy Christmas to everyone I throughly appreciate all the efforts that are put in.”

Onlooker Monday old-boy Pete Sheridan added… “I think the team will be disappointed with the last two narrow losses but they should definitely not beat themselves up over it. We should remember that they are “properly mixing it” with Wick, the no 1 team out of about 60 in the Corinthian league. The top league is always tough and they are small fractions off beating them, so keep pushing. We wish Wick well for the rest of the season and will hopefully be back to try again next year.”

MOMs:
Makepeace for the first 60 minutes for keeping their strikers quiet and bring the ball out well.
Jon Cohen for the last 30 mins when he showed a few classy touches to create shooting opportunities for himself.