Staplegrove 1 Wrington Redhill 3
Wrington Redhill gained a third consecutive league win lifting them up to third place in the table with a creditable 3-1 victory away to Taunton based side Staplegrove. This was by no means an easy fete as the home side belittled their lowly league position with a spirited fighting performance and had spells during the game where they had their visitors on the back foot.
Staplegrove have proved to be a bit of a bogey side in recent seasons and they started this game very much on the front ball adopting a direct style of play getting the ball in behind Wrington Redhill’s defence. An early chance came when the lively Miles Quick picked up the ball from a Ryan Pugh mis control but to his credit Pugh recovered to block Quick’s effort at goal. Soon after another long ball found Quick whose first touch brought control of the ball and he turned and slotted past Matt Hill to take an early lead.
This set back kick started Wrington Redhill into action and they responded immediately when the in–form Reece Ferguson-Obamwonyi latched onto a through ball and beat the advancing keeper Shaun Locke and stroked the ball into the net for the equaliser. This spurred the side on to control the remainder of the first half and could of have gone into the break with a handsome lead had Sam Parkinson, Travis Yule-Turner and Jack Hutchings converted the chances that came their way, so had to settle for 1-1 at the half–way point.
Staplegrove re-started on the offensive again and a slow start by Wrington Redhill found them penned in their own half and the team were indebted to the superb defending by skipper Dan Ferguson and player/manager Leigh White at the heart of defence marshalling those around them to keep composure and defend stoutly. Goalkeeper Matt Hill was also in good form pulling off some important saves in both halves.
It was time for an injection of fresh legs with Joe Creese and Jordon Bonner joining the fray and the visitors gradually clawed back control. With Ferguson-Obamwonyi the most threat to the home defence it came as no surprise when he was brought down in the penalty area and the referee immediately pointed to the spot for a penalty. Yule-Turner took responsibility for the spot kick and whilst Locke did well to block the shot Yule-Turner followed in and tapped the lose ball in to take the lead.
A little later Parkinson extended the lead further when he slotted a loose ball over the line when Locke fumbled another Ferguson-Obamwonyi strike.
Despite being 3-1 in arrears the home side would not give in and to their credit threw all they had at Wrington Redhill with White clearing one attempt off the line to keep them at bay. Matt Walsh came on late on to provide an outlet to relieve pressure, Ollie Clements and Ayrton Phillips battled away in midfield to keep Staplegrove to minimal chances and Josh Pitt was his tenacious self as they attacked down his side of the pitch.
Wrington Redhill with a great battling team performance weathered the late storm and held onto the 3-1 score earning the points and advancing up the league table.
Supporters Man of the match: Leigh White
Team:
Goalkeeper: Matt Hill
Defence: Josh Pitt, Dan Ferguson, Leigh White, Ryan Pugh
Midfield: Sam Harvey, Ollie Clements, Ayrton Phillips
Forwards: Travis Yule-Turner, Jack Hutchings, Reece Ferguson-Obamwonyi
Substitutes: Jordon Bonner (for Ryan Pugh), Joe Creese (for Jack Hutchings), Matt Walsh (for Travis Yule-Turner)
