Wick’s difficult winter period continues

Wick 2 - 3 Rockleaze Rangers - The visitors, Rockleaze Rangers, secured a 2-0 half-time lead thanks to goals from Ali Boyer and Mike Perham. A spirited second-half performance from the Owls saw the home side draw level through Ben Daniels and Charlie Stev

Prior to kick-off, Wick boss Mike Strawford was boosted by the return of several senior players to the matchday squad. Ben Daniels and Liam Henderson returned to the squad for the first time since injuries had ruled them out, whilst Stevens made his return to league action after suspension. Strawford made two changes from the 1-1 draw against Hanham – Grant Hewitt and Jordan Scott replacing Dan Stephens and Shaun Morris in the starting 11.

Adverse weather conditions did little to negatively effect what was an immaculate playing surface up at Oldbury Lane, and it was Wick who enjoyed the lion-share of possession in the early exchanges. However, with the home side on top it was Rockleaze who fashioned the first chance of the game after a quarter of an hour had been played. Rangers’ Webb was given some space in the box, but his low drive was well saved by Joe Pople in the Wick goal. Just ten minutes on from that first chance, Rockleaze did take the lead. Wick failed to clear a Rockleaze corner and the ball eventually fell to Boyer who slammed home the opener. From the resulting restart, Wick surrendered possession immediately and the home side once again found themselves defending a Rockleaze corner. From said corner, Rangers should have scored their second – a free header six yards out was headed into the ground but Pople and the Wick defence was relieved to see the ball loop onto the roof of the net. Mere minutes after Rockleaze should have doubled their lead; the away side did find their second of the afternoon. For the third time in five minutes, Wick were unable to defend a Rockleaze corner and an unmarked Perham was on hand to head the ball in at the back post. Despite Strawford opting to change to a 4-4-2 system instead of the 5-3-2 Wick started with, the remaining minutes of the first half passed without incident and left the Owls with a considerable mountain to climb in the second-half.

After witnessing his tactical tweak leading to little or no-effect on proceedings, Strawford reverted back to the 5-3-2 formation at half-time. And with his side now enjoying the advantage of a strong wind, Wick started to completely dominate the fixture. On the hour mark, Wick fashioned what was their first real opportunity despite their large bouts of possession. Joe Thomas cut in from the left and his well-struck shot was deflected just wide of the Rockleaze goal. Five minutes later, the Owls spurned what was a golden opportunity to get back into the game. Harry Madge collected a cross from the left and found himself completely free in the box but with only the keeper to beat, the winger thrashed his effort horribly wide. Substitute Stevens was next to go close, but his effort flashed wide of the post as any chance of a comeback began to look slim. However, with 10 minutes left on the clock Daniels gave Wick hope of salvaging something from the game. Following a spell of sustained pressure, a cross from byline found itself to Daniels who bundled the ball into the net inside the six-yard box. Wick continued to press for an equaliser, and with only two minutes remaining Stevens scored what looked to be the goal that earned Wick a deserved point. Pople’s long free-kick into the Rockleaze box caused all sorts of problems and Stevens was finally on hand to swivel and hook a half-volley past the Rangers ‘keeper. However, with a point seemingly rescued, the dangerous Webb scored the decisive goal in stoppage time to nick all three points for the away side. Rockleaze found themselves three on two in the Wick half and the ball was played through to Webb, who appeared to control the ball with his hand, and the striker fired expertly past Pople into the corner of the net.