CHIPPING SODBURY TOWN U18 1 WICKWAR WANDERERS U18 5 This was an important game in the battle to finish Champions of the Division 2 North Division between local rivals who stood at the top of the table with equal points. Sodbury kicked off with the sun in their eyes on this beautiful spring day and within 10 minutes found themselves a goal down following a Wickwar attack when the ball was lobbed towards goal and the Sodbury keeper struggled to parry the ball clear of his line. Wickwar’s striker Eddie Hawkins was first to react to the loose ball and tapped it home with the keeper out of position. Within 6 minutes Sodbury equalised following a high ball towards goal where the Wanderers keeper was waiting to catch it. Seconds before the ball arrived into his waiting arms Kane Head pounced and bundled the ball into the back of the net. From this point on Wickwar gradually took control of the game and had the lion’s share of possession for the rest of the half and creating a number of chances that Sodbury struggled to deal with. Wickwar scored their second goal midway through the half when again Sodbury failed to deal with the ball and clear their goal area. With half time approaching Wickwar scored another 2 goals, the first when the Sodbury defence was outpaced and the ball was slipped past the advancing keeper followed by a free kick some 25 yards out that beat everyone and ended up in the back of the net. Shortly after to the relief of Sodbury the half time whistle was blown. After the interval Sodbury improved and came into the game a little more and began to see more of the ball and create a few half chances that came to no avail. It was still Wickwar who had the upper hand and they scored their fifth goal 35 minutes into the half when they were awarded a free kick from just outside the penalty area which they duly dispatched into the back of the goal. This proved to be the final goal of the game. The goal scorers for Wickwar were Rory Morgan, Jack Beale (2), Eddie Hawkins (2) and Kane Head scored Chipping Sudbury’s lone goal. For the first 10 minutes of the half it appeared to be a game between 2 well matched teams but it soon became apparent that Sodbury were looking very much out of sorts as they were out thought and outpaced. They did occasionally make forays into the Wickwar half where their shots on goal were repelled but they spent much of their time defending in their own half. After the interval Sodbury came more into it as the game ebbed back and forth with half chances being created at both ends. A comprehensive win by Wickwar who where the better team on the day.This result gives a 3point lead at the head of Division 2 North to Wickwar over Sodbury whom they meet again on 7th April. A win for Wickwar and they will be Division Champions whereas a Win for Sodbury will result in the teams finishing the Division Level on points and they will have to play again in a Championship decider. Report - Ken Howitt |