Wrington Redhill 0 Mendip Broadwalk 2

This midweek fixture was an enjoyable game to watch with both sets of players giving their all for the full 90 minutes.  Wrington Redhill made changes for this fixture with Chris Bradley starting in the back line with Leigh White pushing into midfield and James Williams in goal for unavailable Matt Hill. Cory Thomas-Barker, making his debut for the Club and Rory Thomas replaced Ryan Pugh and George Fake both carrying injuries.

The Bristol based visitors took the lead after only five minutes when Jordan Hughes met a corner and headed home from an unmarked position. This early set back did not deter the hosts who went on to dominate the rest of the half. Thomas-Barker was unlucky to see a well struck effort deflected away and an Ollie Clements free kick was punched to safety by Oliver Sharp, the visitor’s keeper. Excellent combination play from Leigh White, Sam Parkinson, Thomas-Barker and Rory Thomas ended with Ethan Williams firing over the crossbar. Thomas also crossed into the box and somehow Clements was unable to stab the ball home. James Williams was looking more confident as the game progressed and was pleased to see an effort from Tommy Milkins fly over when perhaps he should have been on target.

This relentless attacking went on with Reece Ferguson-Obamwonyi causing all sorts of problems and drawing several fouls in the process. What can best be described as a pinball moment saw the ball being moved at pace in the visitors’ box with Ferguson-Obamwonyi in the thick of it and eventually his headed attempt was cleared off the line by a frantic defence. As half time approached it looked like Mendip doubled their lead when the ball crossed the line but an astutely observant linesman, Kieren White raised his flag. The referee, Thomas Shallcross conferred with him and agreed that the ball had a final touch by a player in an offside position and chalked the ‘goal’ off. So, the half ended in deficit by 1-0.

It was more of the same in the second half with both sides fully committed and James Williams did well to keep a shot out with an outstretched foot. Thomas-Barker played the ball to Ethan Johnson and his dangerous cross into the box was cleared for a corner andMendip’s Jacob O’Donnell fired a curler over the bar. Rory Thomas and Chris Holland came on for Matt Walsh and Sam Parkinson who later returned due to the rolling on and off substitutes rule in place of the tiring Leigh White. Another effort went wide from Ferguson-Obamwonyi and an excellent run along the right touchline by Holland and super cross across goal again led to no positive end.

James Williams grasped a headed attempt by Conor Biggins but late on substitute Wesley Hawkins headed home from a cross which virtually ended Wrington Redhill’s hope of gaining what would have been a deserved point from the game. With Mendip in the ascendancy and Parkinson dismissed for a second yellow card it was a credit to Chris Bradley to make a last-ditch goal line clearance and James Williams saving another effortto keep the final score at 0-2.

Team

Goalkeeper: James Williams

Defence: Ollie Clements, Dan Ferguson, Chris Bradley, Ethan Johnson

Midfield: Sam Parkinson, Leigh White, Corey Thomas-Barker, Rory Thomas

Strikers: Ethan Williams, Ferguson-Obamwonyi

Subs. George Fake, Chris Holland, Matt Walsh