Old Meadonians 3s v Old Challoners

Team: Williams; Lancaster, Maker (Beill, 45), Foster, Bevins R; Beauchamp, Bevins P, Wickenden, Thomas; Fitch, Cawley (Weidner, 50)

Score: 1:4
Scorers: Fitch 2, Thomas, Wickenden

Up against the league leaders, who had just had a tremendous victory the previous week, away from home, was always going to be a real challenge. Having arrived late-ish there wasn't an awful lot of warm-up time but it didn't show as we took the game by the scruff of the neck and pressured the opposition all over the park. When in possession we moved the ball through the midfield nicely with everyone comfortable in possession and as a result created a few good chances unfortunately we failed to convert them as most notably Tom cleared the cross bar with the goal at his mercy from only 6 yards out. The inevitable breakthrough came though as Fitch found space on the right hand side of the area and lashed a shot over the keeper's left hand shoulder and under the bar no question the keeper should have had a piece of it leading the defenders to examine that there wasn't a massive hole in the side netting! Despite our domination though we conceded a very poor equaliser in the same mould as last week as a favourable bounce again left Williams exposed. The last chance of the half came after Bevins Snr savagely pulled his man down on the edge of the box when clean through on goal incredibly lucky not to see red Bevins continued his protests in typical fashion after the free-kick had gone high, wide and ugly and even after the whistle had gone for half-time.

The second half started in the worst possible way when Foster gave away a penalty. Williams not for the first time this season bailed his defenders out with a fantastic penalty save and on the follow up as we all stood and watched, this was the kick in the pants we needed and Fitch put us in front with a cracking half-volley strike that arrowed into the far corner. With Meads intent on attack we were able to hit them on the break twice with excellent team goals the first from Tom and the second from Wickenden to round off an exceptional performance in the middle of midfield. Beauchamp on the right side of midfield claiming two assists.

Man-Of-The-Match - Rob Wickenden

THE LANCASTER VERDICT:
It could have been a different story but for the penalty so another huge performance from Jamie but Wickenden was the engine of the team from start to finish.

Report by Nick Lancaster

Manager's comments:
2s best performance of the season so far. We've played patches of good stuff over the past couple of weeks but Saturday we were much more consistent throughout the game. Dominated the

majority of the first half. Second half more of a classic away performance - soaking up a lot of pressure and counter-attacking superbly. Several contenders for manager's MoM and a tough choice. Jamie's double save from the penalty proved the turning point in the game. Richard Bevins was at his commanding best (and most psychologically stable). Paul Thomas and Rob Wickenden worked tirelessly, never gave the ball away, and both deservedly grabbed goals. And James Beauchamp provided a creative spark down the right laying on two goals. However, this week my choice is Neil Fitch. Overlooked once this season for a two goal haul, this was a vintage Fitch performance. The ageing striker turned back the clock with two great finishes and played a large role in the other 2 goals. He may be getting fatter and slower but he still knows where the goal is. 5 from 5 now, in all competitions.

James Foster