Wrington Reserves 3 Hutton 0 – Hospital Cup

With Hutton scoring seven goals in their last outing against KVFC, this looked a tricky draw in the Hospital Cup. The reserves also had to use the depth of the club’s playing resources as Mike Shaman replaced James Williams who moved up to the the first team and with several late call offs, Harrison Barzotelli made his debut. Playing up the hill and with the manager’s plea for a more disciplined display, Wrington started cautiously and it was the visitors who dominated the early exchanges. However, the back three of Callum Briggs, Nick Curtis and Dutch Holland were outstanding and with stood everything thrown at them. Briggs and Holland tackled everything that moved and Curtis’s positional play mopped up all the loose ends. Unusually for the home side, too often the ball was played long giving Tommy Johnson and Charlie Burgess little chance of holding the ball up. However, with Barzotelli industrious behind the front two, Lenny and Clements began to get a grip in midfield which released Thomas and Moore out wide. Thomas played in Johnson whose superb ball allowed Burgess to coolly drive the ball into the bottom corner. The pattern of the game returned to Wrington playing more like the away side and Huttons’ full backs finding plenty of space out wide putting Wrington’s shape under pressure. Mike Sharman made one outstanding save from a point blank header to keep the lead intact at half time. A tinkering of the formation and now playing downhill, Wrington grew more into the game and Huttons’ full backs found it harder to get forward. Moore, Burgess and Barzotelli set up Johnson who made no mistake with a rasping shot which gave the ‘keeper no chance. This takes Johnson’s goal tally into double figures for the season. Hutton responded and the home side’s defence had to be at its best to keep them out and on the one occasion when a chance came, Shaman made a crucial double save. With the visitors trying to get back into the game, Thomas and Moore now found space raiding down the flanks, and the siege was lifted. Returning from injury, Selman came on and a typical run saw him drive into the penalty area but pushed out to what seemed an impossible angle. Not for Selman, who threaded the ball expertly into the net and effectively sealed the win. This only left time for a few soft bookings the most notable that of Clements who was booked for the first time in 40 odd years of playing!

Man of the Match was hotly debated but with a rare clean sheet it had to be one of the defence and Callum Briggs edged it. The threat of Phil Williams kitted up and named as sub, ready to make his comeback obviously working as an incentive!! A fine win, but next week’s crucial reverse fixture in the League will be a tougher assignment again. Man Of Match: Callum Briggs