Nailsea A Vs Wrington Reserves 1

I have been told that I should begin this report with a warning that it is more ‘one eyed’ than an Arsene Wenger or Jose press conference. I tried to explain the game to a few friends last night and got laughed out of the house. How can you describe 6 – 1 in any other terms than a thrashing…. only in the fact that it really wasn’t. The score in no way reflected the commitment, effort and even the quality of some of the football that Wrington played. With several key men missing the Reserves started with the bare 11 players with several heroic efforts just to be on the field.  Callum Briggs (pictured)  in particular was no where near fit and played on one leg whilst several others had shown great commitment by just turning up when other duties demanded they should be else where . There were similar tales from the A team. Even so, for the first 20 minutes Wrington played the better football and if anything shaded the possession and produced the clearer cut chances. With Adam Caufield returning, the Wrington defenders were even more comfortable on the ball and built attacks from the back. Selman and Lucas found plenty of room on the flanks whilst as usual Louis Louvais demanded the ball at every opportunity and initiated several promising attacks. The game definitely changed when the home side scored the opening goal against the run of play and with their first meaningful attack. Even then it came from a soft free kick when Wrington had several opportunities to clear. Nailsea sent up their big defenders and the Wrington defence was simply out jumped following a great delivery. When you are holding things together with sticking plaster, going behind means  things suddenly unravel and before you knew it Nailsea scored a second and third  both courtesy of two deflections which fell kindly for the home side. Wrington were obviously deflated to be 3 – 0 down at half time and with several other players suffering from knocks it was going to be a long second half. However, the visitors showed great courage in starting the second half brightly. A fine passing move which characterised their football saw Chris Holland venturing forward to lay on Tommy Johnson who finished expertly with a typically clinical finish. It was therefore particularly gauling for Nailsea to  go further ahead when a poor, scuffed free kick bobbled across the 6 yard box for a simple fortuitous tap in. To their credit Wrington never stopped trying to play football and it was strange to hear a side winning 4 – 1 complaining amongst themselves that they were getting over run in midfield. As they pushed forward, Wrington conceded two further breakaway goals as they continued to play football which resulted in the harsh score line of 6 – 1. Such a result can sometimes have a lasting detrimental effect on a teams’ season and confidence but with several players returning along with the character shown by this team, the Reserves will definitely return to winning ways.

MOM goes to Callum Briggs without whom we wouldn’t have had a proper game

Team: James Williams, Chris Holland (Capt), Adam Caufiled,Callum Briggs, Tom Lucas,  Mike Clements, Paul Burnett, Matt Lenny,  Louis Louvais, Tom Johnson.