Broad Plain House 2 Wrington Redhill 1

Playing away to a side that had only lost two games in the league to date was no time to extend Christmas cheer but it took Wrington Redhill too long to get into their stride and virtually gifted the home team two early goals. Harry Hocking caused an alert in the 3rdminute with a telling free kick which James Williams did well to grasp. Prior to Broad Plain taking the lead a cross from George Fake found Leigh White unmarked at the far post but his strike went the wrong side of the goal post. A counter attack down the right flank saw a cross into the visitors’ goal area left their defenders flat footed and was met by Jake Pullinger who headed past Williams into the net.

Shortly after Williams parried a headed clearance from Callum Briggs and from another Hocking free kick an attempted header rasped the cross bar. Wrington Redhill won a corner but no one got onto Ollie Clements’ delivery and the ball was quickly cleared up field and defensive errors allowed Joe Banks to increase the lead to 2-0.

By this time Ryan Pugh was suffering the after effects of a recent illness and had to make way for Chris Bradley. This was a welcome return as he had been out of action for a long period through injury and he slotted into the heart of the defence and gave a very encouraging performance alongside Ethan Johnson and Simon Hewish.

A chance fell to Rory Thomas following good movement by Joe Creese and Fake but the effort went over the cross bar. The visitors were crawling themselves back into the game and Thomas was rewarded for his efforts when Reece Ferguson-Obamwonyl cut in from the right flank fed him the ball and was slotted home to reduce the arrears just short of the interval.

Wrington Redhill started the second half in the ascendency and maintained the majority of possession and the hosts were grateful to their keeper Emanuele Pullara being on his toes and collecting a number of free kicks and crosses into his goal area. One such occasion was when Ferguson-Obamwonyl won a free kick on the right touchline and Clements rifled the ball towards goal and Pullara got down to it. A sweeping move involving inter passing by Clements, Creese, Fake and Thomas was cleared for another corner. Creese was unceremoniously bundled off the ball as he was about to race into the penalty area. Late substitutes were brought on in Jake Horton and Ethan Williams and a great strike by Horton was gobbled up by that man Pullara again. The visitors were worthy of a point from the game for their second half efforts but it was not to be as the referee brought the game to an end.

The player of the match was awarded to Rory Thomas for his goal and busy performance.

Goalkeeper: James Williams

Defence: Simon Hewish, Callum Briggs, Ethan Johnson, Ryan Pugh,

Midfield: Ollie Clements, Leigh White, Rory Thomas

Forwards: Joe Creese, George Fake, Reece Ferguson-Obamwonyl

Subs: Christopher Bradley (Ryan Pugh), Jake Horton (for Callum Briggs), Ethan Williams (for George Fake)