Wrington Redhill FC 5 – Odd Down Reserves 0
Team:-
GK, Matthew Hill
Defence, Chris Holland, Sam Johnson, Sam Clements, Ethan Johnson
Midfield, William Perry, Leigh White, Mike Rowcliffe, Michak O’Connor
Forwards, Callum Vickery, Liam Knight
Subs: Joe Moore (for Shak), Simon Lee (for Callum Vickery, Kevin Burgess
What a return to the Recreation Ground for the first team following their enforced switch to Clevedon’s Everyone Active stadium last season. With the pitch and barriers and surroundings looking superb it was fitting that the players responded with a 5 star showing and result to rewarded the efforts of the Directors, Players and Volunteer Supporters in getting the facilities together.
Managers Grahame Cheeseman and Nick Faiers welcomed back Liam Knight from injury, Sam Clements, Chris Holland and Michael Rowcliffe and the starting line up looked solid from the off.
The home side looked up from the start and with just 10 minutes on the clock Will Perry saw a rasping shot just over the bar. The break through came on 22 minutes when Callum Vickery was brought down in the box and Liam Knight stepped up and sent the Odd Down ‘keeper the wrong way to score from the penalty spot. Wrington Redhill kept on the ascendency and were rewarded with a second goal just before half time. Vickery fed Shak from a free kick and he pulled the ball back for Knight to stab home. Just before the referee blew for half time Matt Hill made a save to deny the visitor’s the chance to get back into the game.
Early in the second half Knight and Odd Down’s Jamie Dyer were booked after an altercation and a Leigh White free kick was cleared away before Finn Norris crashed a free kick against the home side’s crossbar. Rowcliffe was booked on 60 minutes for a lunging tackle just before Vickery increased the lead with a second attempt following Odd Down’s ‘keeper saving his first shot parrying the ball back to him.
Substitutions were made by the hosts with Joe Moore replacing Shak and Simon (Gunner) Lee for Vickery. This made no difference with the home side continuing to attack the opposition. Goal number 4 came in the 70 minute when another penalty was awarded following a foul by Luke Tomsett. Knight stepped up again and coolly slotted home for his well deserved hat trick. Tomsett was booked for the initial challenge, argued with the referee and received a second yellow and then red card to be dismissed from the field leaving his team with only 9 players to continue the game.
At this stage Wrington Redhill wre playing with total confidence and a superb interchange of passing between White and Rowcliffe fed Joe Moore who ran into the box and slotted home goal number 5 with aplomb.
This was indeed an all round performance with Sams’ Clements and Johnson in total control in central defence, full backs Holland and Ethan Johnson marshalling the flanks, White and Rowcliffe dominating midfield, Perry and Shak attacking from wide and Knight and Vickery probing up front. When called into action Matt Hill showed confidence and assurance to his defence. The subs more than played their part when called upon.
The squad need to take confidence from this performance and seek to reproduce in next week’s fixture at home to Ilminster Town.
For his hat trick Liam Knight was awarded the supporters man of the match.