Wrington Redhill Reserves vs Wedmore

Recreation Ground 4 October 2015, 3pm

Wrington exorcised the demons of the previous season with a solid home display against a good Wedmore side who had started the season brightly, to record their second win of an inconsistent incipient campaign. It was last season’s slip-up at Wedmore that ultimately ended Wrington’s chances of being promoted as champions, and the hosts made up for it in fine style with a professional, hard-working performance.

The hosts lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Nick Curtis and Callum Briggs either side of captain Phil Williams and Chris Holland. Jacob Burnett continued to show great progress in goal with a couple of fine saves and faultless handling, earning a second deserved clean-sheet. Particularly pleasing was Burnett’s increasingly vocal approach, as the young keeper continues to build understanding with his defensive unit.

Wrington settled quickly, and aware of Wedmore’s direct approach, looked to keep the ball and stretch the pitch, with wingers Kyle Selman and the returning Joe Moore covering lots of ground either side of Mick Edmunds and Paul Burnett, who fought hard all game to win the midfield battle. The hosts had to deal with an early setback as Briggs was pick-pocketed coming out of defence and Williams’ excellent last ditch tackle forced his replacement by Matt Lally with a knee injury.

Lally settled quickly in a like-for-like replacement and Wrington again took the ascendency as Michak O’Connor and Louis Rouvrais linked up well, with the latter winning countless headers. Mid-way through the first half the hosts deservedly took the lead as Selman whipped in a dangerous corner to the near post and Holland (Pictured) lost his marker to glance a header into the top-corner.

Wedmore were perhaps fortunate not to be further behind at the interval, as both Holland and Rouvrais headed successive corners off-target, and Rouvrais saw a goal disallowed for a very questionable offside decision having been put through by Moore.

Wrington were expecting a response from the visitors, and it duly arrived at the start of the second period as the hosts started slowly and soaked up 15 minutes of strong pressure. Having hit the woodwork on three occasions, Wedmore will count themselves unlucky not to have taken their chances when on top, but in their quest to get back into the game Wrington were able to hit on the counter-attack, which they duly did through O’Connor with a smart finish for his fourth of the season and Selman’s second assist of the game.

Rouvrais was replaced by Mike Clements who added an injection of energy on the right flank as Wrington increased numbers in midfield, and who could have added a third having burst through, but for a good save by the visitor’s keeper. More resolute defending, a fine defensive header from Lally and some sensible game management saw Wrington see the game out in relative comfort.

Wrington now look ahead to welcoming opening-day opponents Sporting Weston back to the Rec, and manager Moss and his team will be determined to build some consistency and remedy the poor performance that gifted Weston the 3 points on that occasion.

Wrington 2-0 Wedmore