I have written so many times the phrase ‘the young whites’ however, this season and in this game that has never been more true.
With five of the starting line up being just 16 years old and another of the same age on the bench the average age of this squad would have been an all time low even by dev standards. But 26 year old Rich Oppong and 25 year old Lewis Cross raised the average.
Forget baking hot weather the pace of this game throughout was played as if it was 12 degree’s. Right from the start both sides took in turn to attack but the first serious attempt on target came for the away side in the 12th minute when a shot was deflected on to the bar and out for a corner.
On 19 minutes a great pass down the left channel found Dyllan Roocroft who raced through on goal, only to be clipped by the outrushing keeper. Omario Henry took the resulting penalty, however the Wroughton keeper momentarily thought he had made amends for the foul when he got down to his left to save it, however in the follow up it was Jayden Goodhall who reacted fastest and slotted the ball over the keeper. 1 v 0.
Just 3 minutes later Roocroft as he was to do all afternoon ran clear with the home defence having no chance of catching the pacy winger (playing at 9 at this point) he made no mistake to double the whites lead. Quickly after that the ref blew for a drinks break and although it was welcomed by all, you got the feeling the much older Wroughton players needed it the more and also needed to stop the barrage of high pace attacks they where facing.
The other thing about a drinks break is it also gives coaches a chance to re-organise and Wroughton did exactly that and became a lot more difficult to break down for the Whites. And on 32 minutes they scored what would be a vital goal in the context of the game to get themselves back in it and make it 2-1. And 9 minutes later the ball was lost by us inside deep inside the Wroughton half, a laced ball into the midfield was flicked on and out of the reach of the closest home defender for the Wroughton forward, who fair credit to him he had gambled on it and made the run, so he raced clear to find the net and make it even Steven’s at half time. Oh what could have happened without the break on 22 minutes! We will never know.
The 2nd half started with the visitors with their tails up and pressure on the Whites goal was rewarded when a shot which looked to be flying straight at Dan McCarthy in the home goal took a wicked deflection on route and left the keeper no chance as it sneaked in at the near post to make it 3-2 to the visitors.
Now with young players especially you have to think at this point how are the going to react to going behind, but we needn’t have worried, a flare up on the near touchline between a 36 year old Wroughton player and our 16 year old left back Roman McGettigan seemed to ignite or perhaps add some fuel to the fire in the home side is more appropriate!
From going 3-2 down in the 47th minute there looked for a while that there was only going to be one winner first Dyllan Roocroft bagged his 2nd of the afternoon to level the scores again and then after coming off the bench the experienced Cross thought he had bagged the winner when he literally had to bundle his way through three Wroughton defenders to go one on one with the keeper, he made no mistake calmly lifting it over the keeper to give the the home side a 4-3 lead. (photo above is the celebrations from that goal. I’m told there was a tooth lost in that skirmish but to me it look more like a mass brawl 3 on 1, but in this instance Cross clearly got Cross and no one was going to stop him.
The onslaught on the home end the Whites were attacking continued and the game could have been put to bed when industrious midfielder Richard Oppong played a slide rule pass through into the path of Carson Arnold and his cross right to left behind the defensive line of the away side was perfect for Roocroft to run onto coming in from his now familiar left wing berth, the keeper was expecting a shot from Arnold and had gone across to defend his near post leaving the rest of the goal open, but a rush of blood, thoughts of scoring what would have surely been a winner and a hatrick who knows but the 16 year old did not take the opportunity this time. And it remained 4-3 and with a single goal in it there is always a chance for both sides.
The game in the last 10 minutes became end to end and Wroughton had a series of corners (6-7 I would guess) and seriously tested our defensive resolve but Dan McCarthy in the home goal demonstrated immaculate handling coming from his line and dominating his 6 yard box and when he needed to punch not catch, the ball remained punched!
However, well your playing and possibly more so when your on the attack your vulnerable and it was an unfortunate mistake on our part that lost the ball in the wide position and we paid the price when Wroughton drew level again. 4-4.
However, there was still a few what if moments in the minutes that remained and just 3 minutes after the game was levelled up Whites Substitute midfielder Ben Jones Curled a right footed shot from the left hand edge of the box that left the keeper flat footed and to his relief the shot came back off the face of the bar and was booted to safety.
FT and it ended 4 v 4
Managers thoughts. Having lost to these opponents in the first meeting last year with a vastly more experienced squad I would have taken a draw at kick off. With 5 so called senior players missing for holiday reasons we went into the game with just one out and out centre back. And Prince is 16, we decided to start with the older and more physical duo of full backs Allan and Hind deputising in central defence and a couple of seriously talented 16 year old full backs wide of them. And I can’t fault any of them or Prince Mundy who came on for Hind on 65 minutes. The fact we matched Wroughton all the way in this game with 6 sixteen year old’s in the team is testament to the fact age is just a number and if you have the ability and desire plus the platform to perform then age shouldn’t be a barrier.
The supporters there Saturday will I am sure back up my opinion we have some serious talent emerging from the youth into development and under 18’s and there is a bright future for them and us supporters. After losing so many of last seasons dev players, actually losing is the wrong phrase, they have progressed to 1st team football to continue their learning journey in football, hopefully some will return in a year or two and be better for it. Nick and myself wondered if we would compete this season, well that question at least for now has been answered with a resounding yes we can.
Tuesday the Whites travel to Kintbury Rangers and we then return to the Ray Mac on the 20th August for the visit of Blunsdon FC.
Whites Squad.
1. Dan McCarthy
2. Prince Da Cruz Coquenao
3. Roman McGettigan
4. Richard Oppong
5. Gary Hind
6. Max Allen
7. Jayden Goodhall
8. Harry Mealing
9. Omario Henry
10. Carson Arnold
11. Dyllan Roocroft
Subs. Lewis Cross, Prince Mundy, Ben Jones, unused GK Will Baily.
MOTM Dan McCarthy
