Charlie Little netted a hat-trick as Wakebury progressed into The Southend Charity Shield Section ‘A’ Semi Finals after defeating Wakering Sports at a very windy and bitterly cold Garon Park.
Wakebury are leaders of the Essex Olympian Senior Three and they were up against Essex Olympian Senior Two side Wakering Sports on the 4G of Garon Park, and after the monsoon that fell prior to kick off it was just as well it was an artificial surface as had it been on grass the game would probably have not gone ahead.
Thankfully the storm cleared but this was replaced by a bitterly cold wind, so conditions were still tricky for both sides as the game reached kick off time, and the first fifteen minutes saw a Sam Rowe effort go straight at Sports keeper Jamie Hudson, before another effort from Harry Kateley went inches wide of the visitors post.
The visitors then forced a decent stop from home keeper Joe Robbins, but it was Wakebury who were creating the better openings in the first twenty-five minutes, but they could not find a way through.
The hosts then came very close to breaking the deadlock but saw an effort come off the post, before another good move from the hosts saw an effort curled wide of the far post.
More hosts efforts then followed, before Sports themselves saw a couple of efforts curled wide of the far post down the other end, and then just before half time Wakebury saw another effort tipped over by Hudson, and the game remained goalless as the half time whistle came, and cue me running for the warmth of the clubhouse for a few minutes to re discover my hands and feet. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr….
Half Time Wakebury 0 Wakering Sports 0
Back out into the cold after an eight-minute half time break (thanks!!!) and hoping someone would win this in ninety minutes as the thought of extra time and even penalties in this weather wasn’t a nice thought, and early in the second period both sides had chances, hosts squaring when in a good position and allowing Hudson to dive on the ball, before the visitors whipped an effort across goal and wide.
Sports had started the half well and saw a brilliant last-ditch tackle deny substitute Zac Wheatley as he was about to shoot at goal, before Wheatley struck an effort at goal but Robbins got down to save the effort.
But Wakebury then missed a sitter when after Little had seen an effort saved, Kateley could only send the rebound wide, but in the 58th minute Wakebury struck as a Liam Jarrett cross got held up in the wind, and Little was on hand to volley home at the back post.
The home side were now back on top and saw three or four decent openings fail to find the net, and it remained 1-0 to the hosts as we reached the midway point of the half, and whilst it remained that scoreline the visitors were always in the tie, and saw another substitute Mitchell Gleeson whistle one over the bar.
Robbins then had to keep a near post effort from Sports out, whilst down the other end Hudson had to save a long-range effort from the hosts, and then the visitors then headed over as they looked to get back on level terms.
Wakebury then missed another chance but did double their lead with ten minutes to go to give themselves some breathing space as after a Jarrett effort had hit the post and come back out, Little was on hand to bury the rebound.
Sports were always chasing the game thereafter and they were caught on the break for a clinching third for the hosts two minutes from time when a long ball saw Kateley outpace his marker before squaring for Little to slot home for his hat-trick and confirm Wakebury’s place in the Last Four of the competition.
This was a good performance from Wakebury against a side a league above them, and they now take on either Corinthians or Leigh Town Reserves for a place in the final. It also meant I could get back in the warm to re find my fingers and toes once again, brrrrrrrrrrr indeed…..
Full Time Wakebury 3 Wakering Sports 0
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