This turned out to be an epic performance by a Wick team well up against the odds. A 3-3 draw was achieved despite 3 times being behind and 3 times needing to fight their way back into the match, against a team one place higher in the league table. Wick were only able to field 11 players with Josh Irish and Nathan Ediker struggling with injury and Ryan Barratt battered and bruised after a freak collision with the structure of the dug-out. Additionally, the pitch, it’s fair to say was looking ‘tired’ after the recent weather and in need of a lawnmower.

Mile Oak took the lead after 16 minutes when Joe Benn’s low shot from outside the area was parried by Keelan Belcher, the loose ball was picked up by Michael Sheldon who squeezed the ball into the net. It only took a minute for the equaliser to arrive. An excellent pass from Ash Hawkes set David Crouch free on the right and his cross shot went in at the far post. The goals continued to come and within 5 minutes Oak were back in the lead. A prolonged goalmouth scramble, with Wick failing to clear the danger on two occasions, Joe Benn finally cashed in with the goal. Keeper Aaron Stenning then made two vital saves for Mile Oak just before half-time, firstly from a close range effort from Ryan Barratt and then to thwart Andy Weir's audacious effort from the half way line.

Wick were level again after 62 minutes when George Cody’s cross from the left looped up off an Oak defender to allow Crouch to head home his second goal of the game. Mile Oak then took the lead for a third time, Dan Cox should have cleared the danger but failed to control the ball in the penalty area and it was pinched by Mile Oak substitute Callum Wells who scored with 76 minutes on the clock. Cox redeemed himself with Wick’s third equaliser 6 minutes from time, from Weir's corner on the Wick right, . There was almost a sensational winner from Wick when Jack Bingham’s shot was deflected agonisingly wide by a defender two minutes into added time at the end of the game.

A heroic effort by the Wick eleven, particular credit to Nathan Ediker, who hasn’t had much luck with injuries this season, who apparently originally travelled to Mile Oak just to watch after limping off after an hour of the midweek game at Billingshurst! Fantastic commitment Nathan! Whilst Dan Cox and Andy Weir looked after team matters, the dug-out was truly manned by committee, Chairman Dave Usher, President Keith Croft and Committee Man/Club Benefactor Simon Ediker doing the honours with manager Lee Baldwin unavailable. Onto Oakwood on Tuesday evening.

Wick: Belcher, Weir, Irish, Bingham, Kew, Crouch, Hawkes, Barratt, Ediker, Cox, Cody.

Courtesy of Steve Cox