In the build up to the fixture, Mike Strawford was able to welcome back Charlie Stevens and Dan Stephens to his squad following injury and suspension, whilst David Steadman was handed his first start in midfield for the Owls. On a beautiful Saturday afternoon at the home of Wick FC it was actually the away side that enjoyed a brighter start. Deploying a robust and industrious style, Broadwell pressed and harassed Wick early in the game, forcing mistakes and generally frustrating the home side. Broadwell’s game plan was rewarded at the 20-minute mark when striker Williams opened the scoring. Following a free kick down the Broadwell right, the ball was whipped into the box where an unmarked Williams headed past a helpless Joe Pople in the Wick goal. Broadwell, who had only won one league fixture coming into this fixture, came close to doubling their advantage only ten minutes later. A quick counter attack from the visitors was stopped illegally by Pople as Williams closed in on goal. From the resulting free kick, a Broadwell header flashed narrowly over the Wick upright. This seemed to spark the Owls into life, and during a spell of dominance for Wick, Strawford witnessed his side go close to leveling on a couple of occasions in a hectic last 10 minutes of the half. A mistake at the back almost gifted Broadwell a two-goal lead as the interval approached. Williams intercepted a Dan Wingfield back-pass and raced into the Wick box where his shot cum cross was cleared on the goal line by Kieren Hutson with a Broadwell player ready to tap-in. With seconds remaining of the first half, Joe Thomas rattled the Broadwell crossbar. Cutting in from the left, the explosive winger eluded two challenges before unleashing a goal-bound shot that was turned onto the woodwork - Broadwell ‘keeper Jamie Merry’s touch ensuring the away-side remained in front as the half-time whistle was blown.
After the break, Wick assumed total control of the fixture and Strawford again watched on as Merry in the Broadwell goal kept out two decent chances just three minutes into the second half. Moments later the home side went agonizingly close to leveling again, this time Sam Thomas’ shot was cleared off the line with Merry beaten. Wick finally found their equalizer with 65 minutes on the clock. A scramble in the Broadwell box ended with Scott turning a looping header towards goal that bounced down off the bar before being hooked away from behind the goal line by a Broadwell defender. Not content with a point, Wick continued to press and create chances in search of a winner. The busy Merry was once again called into action as Sam Thomas’ acrobatic volley forced the ‘keeper into a flying save. With 15 minutes remaining and Wick camped inside the Broadwell half, Sam Thomas spurned another great opportunity. An inch-perfect cross from Scott was met by the head of Thomas, whose header flashed just wide of the Broadwell goal and there was a sense that a winner would never come.
But with just ten minutes remaining, Sam Thomas atoned for his miss just minutes earlier and put Wick ahead for the first time in the game. The striker collected the ball 25-yards from goal, looked up and curled a shot that crashed off the post and into the net for his eight goal of the season. As the minutes ticked by more gaps started to appear in the Broadwell ranks and with five minutes remaining Joe Thomas made sure off all three points. In a move that was very similar to his first half effort, Thomas cut in from the left and let fly from outside the box, but on this occasion Merry was unable to stop the ball nestling in the top corner. Very little followed Wick’s third and Mike Strawford’s side managed the last few minutes expertly to grab a deserved win at Oldbury Lane.
MOM - Shaun Morris
Attendance - 40
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# | Team | Pl | Pts |
1. | Lebeq United | 28 | 65 |
2. | Frampton United | 28 | 63 |
3. | Stonehouse Town | 28 | 54 |
4. | Rockleaze Rangers | 28 | 51 |
5. | Ruardean Hill Rangers | 27 | 50 |
6. | Wick | 28 | 47 |
7. | Hardwicke | 28 | 42 |