Scott Gallagher, the new manager of Wrington Reserves started his reign with three goals and three points against newly promoted Shipham. Despite a lacklustre pre season,Wrington showed a great attitude especially in the first half playing up the notorious Shipham slope. The whole team battled for every ball which kept the lively home team in check. With two Burnetts……Captain Dan and Paul anchoring the defence, several robust challenges set the tone and didn’t allow Shipham to settle. With Jake Betts and Paul Faulkner dominating the centre of mid field, Wrington seemed to be winning all the second balls, releasing the impressive forward duo of Tommy Johnson and Kyle Selman on numerous forward runs. The visitors thought they had opened the scoring when energetic widemen Joe Moore and John Flynn combined only for Flynn’s diving header to be ruled out for a disputed offside. Shipham responded to this scare and built up some pressure for the first time. From a resulting free kick, a curling shot beat Williams in the Wrington goal to put the home side in front. It was important to get back into the game quickly and Kyle Selman provided the inspiration with a rocket of a left footed freekick of his own that arrowed straight into the top corner. With renewed confidence, Wrington started to play some pleasing football and it was no surprise when a throw saw Johnson set off on a run resulting in a low shot which put the visitors in front just before half time.
Now playing with the elements and Nick Curtis seamlessly switching from Left back to centre back, Wrington seemed in control. Joe Moore, Jake Betts and Tommy Johnson all showed the benefit of playing with the first team recently. Betts in particular has leant to release the ball a bit quicker, keeping possession and looking a very good player. However, Shipham remained dangerous with a pacey midfield and as Wrington began to tire they started to win more possession. Conscious that 2 – 1 is a dangerous scoreline it needed Williams to be secure in goal and his distribution certainly helped to pin Shipham into their own half. It took a Betts pass to release Johnson to smash in his second to make the game secure. There was still time for Flynn and Selman to go close and Clements to throw an outrageous Cruyff turn but the visitors will be more than satisfied with the 3 – 1 scoreline.
Team: Williams,Taplin,D Burnett,P Burnett,Curtis,Moore, Betts,Faulkner, Flynn, Selman,Johnson.
Clements,Gallacher
mom – Tommy Johnson