Wickers notch third successive win

Wick picked up their fourth win of the month after a comfortable 5-3 win over struggling Oakwood. Despite missing a whole host of players through injury and unavailability, Wickers were in front throughout the game and the win moves them up to 6th in the Division One table ahead of local rivals Littlehampton Town.

On a very wet afternoon, Wick were quick out the blocks and ahead inside 5 minutes. A through ball split the Wood defence and David Crouch opened the scoring with a smart finish to the left of the keeper. It wasn't long before the lead was extended, once again another superb through ball into the feet of Jack Cole saw the striker round the keeper and slot the ball into an empty net for 2-0.

Oakwood did pull a goal back just before the half hour, but with no programmes available nor a team board at the ground, their three scorers will remain anonymous! Wickers however restored their 2 goal lead just 2 minutes later as Kieron Playle-Howard strode in the box and sweetly finished for a 3-1 half time lead, all three Wick goals very well taken.

Wick were reduced to 10 men before the half time whistle after striker Crouch appeared to kick out at an opposing defender and was given his marching orders to leave Wickers playing the second half with 10 men.

Both sides should been reduced further in the first half as the referee missed an alleged elbow thrown in the face of keeper Keelan Belcher, both keeper and opposing striker escaping with yellow cards.

Wick made light work of being a man less as they extended their lead twice in the early moments in the second period, Guy Church finishing off a fine Wick move on 55 minutes to make it 4-1, followed 3 minutes later with Louis Rodgers notching his first goal for the club flicking in a Church cross.

Understandably, Wickers began to tire and Oakwood went on to score twice more, but it was Wick who secured the three points. Wickers now look forward to a Tuesday night trip to lowly Worthing Utd and to Billingshurst the following Saturday looking to end the month on a high.

Wick: Belcher, Chaplin, Cox, G.Bingham, Rodgers, Ediker, Kew, Playle-Howard, Cole, Crouch, Church. Subs: Janman, Hope.

Courtesy of Trevor Knell