Wick score first but game ends in defeat

By Matt Davis

Hardwicke 2 - 1 Wick

Match Report provided courtesy of Ron Holpin

Hardwicke’s last game of the season saw the visit of Wick to Green Lane playing fields. Sam Thomas had the first attempt on goal for Wick after 8 minutes blocked and cleared away. Then on 18 minutes they took the lead with a rather fortuitous goal. Dan Sheldon drove a long free kick from the right into the box, there was a lot of movement by the players the ball bounced and unsighted keeper Jacob Hobbs until the very last moment, he lunged at the ball got his hands to it but it travelled on into the net for an own goal. Just a minute later Wick should have scored a second as Sam Thomas sent in a really dangerous cross to the far post where Grant Hewitt failed to connect and only 4 yards out from goal. Hardwicke’s first attempt on goal came from centre-back Rob Hine who fired his shot wide from 20 yards. Kieran Bryce-Ingles had a good chance for the home side but he headed just over following a great cross into the box. Just before the break Ryan Barrett struck a superb 35-yard drive at the Wick goal but it just cleared the bar.

HT: Hardwicke 0 - 1 Wick

In the 52nd minute a great ball from Max Barker to Joe Thomas saw the striker twist and turn the home defence before hitting his shot goal-wards but Hobbs saved well. Hardwicke manager Richard Mansell’s half-time talk must have been something special as the home side looked a lot more interested in the second half and equalised on 54 minutes from a great cross into the box from Ryan Barrett that found Will Matthews who out jump the Wick keeper Mark White to head into an empty net. A free kick from the left by Joe Thomas in the 57th minute was pushed away by Hobbs as look as though it might have dropped into the net. The home side forced several corners in succession but they were well defended by Wick. The winning goal came in the 80th minute from a long ball down the left for Hardwicke it was pushed in side to the unmarked Will Higgins who then hit a superb 35-yard pile driver past Wick keeper White. Sam Thomas had one more mazy run for the visitors but his shot was well saved by Hobbs. Right at the end Wick manager Mike Strawford brought himself on for the last minute that lasted more than five and it told.