A daunting task to host league leaders Fry’s but another battling performance by Wrington Redhill saw them take a point despite playing out the last thirty minutes a player short.
With just one change to the starting line up saw Rory Thomas return from injury and form the strike partnership with Mike Rowcliffe. The first real attempt at goal came from Fry’s leading scorer Edward Seale but he shot well over the bar without troubling home ‘keeper Matt Hill. Wrington Redhill stunned their visitors by taking the lead when Chris Bradley connected with Ollie Clements’ low corner and rifled past the static Lewis George in goal for Fry’s. A great chance to increase the lead further came soon after with Thomas harassing the defence with the ball finding its way to Rowcliffe who blasted just high and wide of the framework.
More chances were created by both sides, for Fry’s Jack Neil’s corner was headed wide and Paul Warlock blasted over the bar. For Wrington Redhill an Ollie Clements free kick was cleared and Bradley shot straight at the keeper. As the home team were looking to go into the break with their 1-0 lead Fry’s were awarded a penalty when the referee deemed the ball struck Jason Potter’s hand and Callum Baker duly dispatched the spot kick past Hill.
Joe Moore replaced Adam Caulfield at half time due to injury and slotted straight into the midfield with player/manager Leigh White who made some telling tackles and not letting the visitors dictate the game. Bradley and Rowcliffe covered much of the pitch to help the defence keep Fry’s at bay. However they took the lead when Bradley’s attempted clearance was inadvertently sliced into his own net. It got worse moments later when Sam Clements was shown a red card for a tackle on Callum Baker who went to ground as if he had been mown over. He suffered no lasting effect and was deservedly booked himself for diving in the box a little later. Clements will now miss games for a tackle which at worse should have been given a yellow card.
As has been evident recently this Wrington Redhill side aren’t the pushovers considered by some and a point was grabbed when good inter passing between Moore and Thomas saw the latter slide the ball under the advancing ‘keeper for a 2-2 score line.
The game was played out with more chances for both teams and veteran Club stalwart Paul Faulkner replaced the injured Thomas and used all his experience to help see the game out. Remarkably Paul and Whitey played in the same Milton Nomads team over 30 years ago and have both enjoyed long careers in the game. Another veteran, Mark Brown joined them late in the game (combined ages over 100!) to ensure that the team held on to this valuable league point.
The Bill Gough Man of the Match was awarded to Mike Rowcliffe
Team:-
GK, Matthew Hill
Defence, Callum Briggs, Sam Clements, Jason Potter, Ethan Johnson, Ollie Clements
Midfield, Chris Bradley, Leigh White, Adam Caulfield
Forwards, Michael Rowcliffe, Rory Thomas
Subs: Joe Moore (for Adam Caulfield), Paul Faulkner (for Rory Thomas), Mark Brown (for Callum Briggs)