Wrington Redhill Reserves vs Sporting Weston

Weston & District Division 2 Cup

19 March 2015 2:30pm

Despite reaching the end of March having still played fewer than half of their league fixtures, Wrington Reserves lined up for their second cup game of the month, for some reason not being scheduled a single league fixture in the entire month, despite two spare weekends.

Against this backdrop, Wrington could be excused for not relishing the prospect of two further league cup games, and it showed in a lacklustre display in which they failed to match the energy and movement of their opponents, welcomed to the Hand Stadium astro in deference to the First team’s home fixture. Results against Weston have been a mixed bag this season – the Super-Mare side ran out comfortable 4-1 winners on the opening day of the season, with a strong reserves side returning a 4-0 thrashing in the opposite fixture.

Weston set the tone for the game by starting the brighter – a three man midfield largely getting the better of Joe Moore (Pictured) and the returning Paul Burnett. Wrington’s defence of Nick Curtis, Chris Holland, Rory Thomas and Mike Clements had a busy afternoon, but thanks to their efforts against Weston’s lone striker, keeper Jacob Burnett had relatively little to do, other than a splendid diving save to tip a long-range effort around the post. Despite having less of the ball, it was Wrington who carved out the best chances of the first half – Kyle Selman striking the crossbar from a free kick, and Weston somehow clearing a goal-line scramble to safety.

Owen Withers and Selman were working hard, and at half time Withers was withdrawn for Matt Lenny. With Wrington’s wingers narrowing the play, they grew into the game, but shortly after Burnett was switched for Dave Pullen, Weston’s athletic number 8 broke strongly from midfield, and squared for a simple tap in.

Wrington pushed in search of an equaliser, and a series of presentable changes went begging – Weston’s keeper saving superbly from Selman’s fierce volley, tipping over the bar from a close range header, and saving Curtis’ late penalty after a trip on Michak O’Connor. Wrington could easily have had a penalty earlier for a clear push on Lenny, but given the form of the Sporting keeper and the profligacy of the hosts’ finishing, it would probably have been wasted too.

O’Connor and Tom Johnson were tricky in attack, but in truth neither were rarely provided with a decent ball from the midfield who were forced far too deep and rarely got far enough forward in support.

As Wrington continued to throw men forward, James Birbeck introduced for O’Connor, Weston put the game safe with a carbon copy of their first, for a deserved win. We wish them all the best for the remainder of the competition.

With some of their rivals now having played almost twice as many league games, manager Julian Moss is going to need to bring back the reserve team players now choosing to play for the “As” if Wrington are to have any hope of avoiding their season petering out.

FULL TIME Wrington 0-2 Sporting Weston

Wrington: J. Burnett, M.Clements, C. Holland, N. Curtis, R. Thomas, K. Selman, J. Moore (C), P. Burnett (D. Pullen), O. Withers (M. Lenny), T. Johnson, M. O’Connor (J. Birbeck)