Saturday 5 November
Wrington Res 4-2 Cleeve West Town Res
The first of a double-header in consecutive weeks saw a strong Wrington performance pick up all three points vs the league’s early strugglers.
The home side started uncharacteristically brightly, having struggled to get quickly up to tempo in previous games this season, and raced into an early lead thanks to a flowing move. It started at one end from a fine save by James Williams, before Callum Briggs cleaned up and fed Joe Moore on the right. As Wrington broke with pace, quick, one-touch passing between Moore, Lenny, Rouvrais and Selman saw Johnson put through to slot home in front of his adoring fan.
Wrington kept the pressure on, Adam Caulfield in midfield epitomising the energy and hustle of the hosts, and following a series of poor corners from Moore, finally one that made it as far as the 6 yard box enabled Wrington to double their advantage – Rouvrais on hand to poke over the line.
At the other end, the defence of Briggs, Holland (pictured) and Curtis were relatively untroubled, but Wrington have developed a nasty habit of conceding cheap free-kicks in dangerous areas, and once again they fell victim, as an excellently whipped delivery between defensive line and goalkeeper left Lenny with no option but to bury a bullet header past his own keeper. The hosts’ other nasty habit has been giving away (at least) one goal a game though their commendable commitment to learning to “play out from the back”. This time captain Holland was the unfortunate culpable of gifting hope to the visitors. That aside, Cleeve rarely threatened from open play, and by the time Holland had redeemed himself by stabbing home from another uncleared corner and Rouvrais had fired home a powerful low drive from the edge of the box, Wrington could easily have had two or three more, but for an inspired goal-keeping display from the visitors.
The only negative for the hosts was the first half injury to Kyle Selman, although substitute Mick Edmunds performed superbly in his first outfield game of the season. Selman has been an important contributor to the team’s attacking efforts this season, and although the team will have some respite from his frustrating lack of transportation and incessant moaning, they will need to step up to replace his input on the pitch. With Cleeve’s first team not having a fixture this weekend, it also remains to be seen whether Wrington will be facing a sterner test on their return to Cleeve in their quest for another 3 points.
Williams, Briggs, Holland (C), Curtis, Moore, Caulfield, Lenny, Thomas, Selman (Edmunds), Rouvrais, Johnson