Wick’s winless winter continued as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Little Stoke.

By Matt Davis

Wick 1 - 3 Little Stoke by Harry Madge

Sam Thomas scored early on to give the Owls hope of a first victory since October 24th, but Jordan Yeo’s goal pegged Wick back before the break. Second half goals from Little Stoke’s Yeo and Ethan Tucker consigned Wick to their fourth defeat in their last seven matches.

In the final fixture of 2018, Wick manager Mike Strawford made three changes to the side that fell to defeat two weeks earlier against Rockleaze Rangers. Charlie Stevens, Liam Henderson and Shaun Morris were all recalled to the starting XI, whilst Jay Hubbard returned to the bench following a long spell of absence. Wick started on the front foot and the home side was rewarded for their fast start with only four minutes on the clock. After some intricate build-up play, the ball found itself at the feet of Thomas, who smashed in from close range to put the Owls ahead. Wick’s energetic start and subsequent goal appeared only to wake Little Stoke, who drew level after 20 minutes. Moments after flashing a free-kick narrowly wide of Wick’s upright, Jordan Yeo worked his way into the Wick box before crashing a low drive in off the post. Following the leveler, the balance of the fixture continued to fluctuate as both sides fashioned promising openings. Wick’s Stevens produced a 25-yard strike that went narrowly over the bar, before Wick ‘keeper Joe Pople had to be at his best to deny Yeo’s whipped ball into the box finding its way to the onrushing Tucker. The last chance of the half did present itself to the Owls. Following some spritely wing play down the right, Liam Henderson met Harry Madge’s cross full on the volley but his fiercely stuck effort flashed just wide with Ollie Jones in the Little Stoke goal well-beaten

Much like the first, Wick dominated the opening stages of the second-half and the home side was unlucky not to retake the lead on 50 minutes. Wick centre-back James Pocock was able to swivel and shoot in the Little Stoke penalty area, but his attempt on goal was expertly saved by Jones. With an hour played and the home side very much in the ascendancy, Jordan Scott thought he had put the Owls ahead but some last-ditch defending meant his towering header was cleared off the goal line. Five minutes later, Scott went close again. This time the forward slid in to meet Stevens’ low cross from the right but his effort trickled harmlessly wide. Liam Henderson was next to threaten the Little Stoke goal, but his curling left-footed strike flew narrowly past Jones’ upright as the home side cranked up the pressure going into the last 20 minutes. However, against the run of play and with 15 minutes remaining the dangerous Yeo scored his and his side’s second to put Little Stoke ahead. A perfectly executed Little Stoke break saw the away side with a numerical advantage in the Wick half, and whilst Pople saved well from the first effort on his goal, the Owls’ ‘keeper could do nothing as Yeo tapped home the rebound. As Wick searched fruitlessly for what would have been a more than deserved leveler, the away side broke forward again and this time it was Tucker who was on hand to power home Little Stoke’s third to seal all three points.