With people in the professional game calling for a mid season break….. The enforced layoff hasn’t done junior football any favours. With players missing through gout and other ailments, a much changed Wrington team took on Cup favourites Lodway. The home side started brightly and scored two quickfire goals through Dzicanouski and Metcalfe. To make matters worse, Captain Burnett and Martin Jones both suffered injuries and couldn’t continue. Things looked very bleak for Wrington, but with Jon Marsh slipping into right back and Scott Gallacher in midfield they showed great character to get back into the game. Gallacher’s first touch was a beautiful threaded ball which put James Marshall through on the keeper. A cool finish meant the visitors were back in the game. Half time allowed both teams to regroup and for some running repairs to Dean Rix who was also carrying an injury but bravely continued.

Surprisingly it was Wrington who came out stronger and with Dutch Holland and Jake Betts influencial in the centre of midfield and A front three of marshall, nick curtis and Tommy Johnson pressurising the home defence, all the chances and momentum were with them. Another Gallacher pass fell to Nico Curtis who curled his shot around the keeper to level the scores. When Marshall pressurised the keeper into a mistake and finished with his left foot, Wrington had turned things around completely to take the lead. With twenty minutes to go, the home side seemed rattled and Wrington looked comfortable. In fact Johnson had chances to put them further in front. But three subs for the home side gave them fresh legs and pace which began to trouble the tiring defence. A lack of game management, saw a quick Wrington throw in fall to Lodway who released Dave Smith to level up the scores. Even then chances came at both ends. It was typical of Clements that having run nearly 50 yards to cover an attack, rather than praise he was told in no uncertain terms that he had just been 50 yards out of position. One such abberation left Thomas Buck open on the right and a neat one two saw him slip the ball under the advancing Edmunds in the Wrington goal to give Lodway the lead again. Even then there was time for Wrington to throw everything forward including Edmunds, and force two free kicks in great positions. Nick Curtis hit the bar with the first and Johnsons effort looped over the keeper but fell agonisingly wide of the post. Even a back pass bobbled over the keepers foot and needed VAR to check it had not crept over the line.

The loss was hard to take but should give great encouragement for the forth coming league encounters.