Wickwar Football Frolics
Football Frolics have been held annually at Wickwar Playing Fields since 1992. The 5-a-side tournament usually lasts about 3½ hours and with food, drink and sideshows on hand there is a party atmosphere, especially helped if the sun shines and it's warm. Although the organisers strive to maintain an atmosphere of fun and enjoyment, and although disagreements are rare, the Football is becoming increasingly competitive with some entertaining football to watch. The pitches are approximately 50 metres by 30 metres and 5-a-side goals are used for matches where players are over 11 years old. For the younger players, plastic, mini sized Coca Cola®™ goals are used. The Frolics give an opportunity for mums, dads, sons, daughters, boyfriends, girlfriends, aunties, uncles, grandads, grandmums, friends, enemies etc to enter a team at the same place and on the same day. Please e-mail Stef Etherington for an application form stefeth@talktalk.net
Wickwar Wanderers Training .
Sessions will be taken by ex Sharpness and Wotton Rovers manager, Ernie Calder at KLB Sports Centre every Monday at 7-15. Please contact Sam Honeyborne Tel:07789 935208 / 01454 294241.
Wickwar Wanderers Res 3 Stonehouse Freeway 3rd's 1
Wickwar recorded their first league win of the season with a comprehensive victory over a young and pacy Stonehouse side.
Wanderers scored almost straight from the kick off; Wayne Thomas slotting home from close range after good work from brother Kevin and John Hawkins.
Moments later, Wickwar almost doubled their lead; Mike Jenkins denied a goal after a brilliant reflex save by the Stonehouse goalkeeper.
Freeway almost got of the mark to level the score after half an hour, but the Stonehouse striker was alleged to have pushed goalkeeper Alan Thomas and bundle the ball over the line after long goal kick.
This was a good half for Wanderers. The goal tally could have easily reached 4 or 5, but for some agile goalkeeping and last ditch defending by the away side.
The second half started with the wind now behind Wickwar as they continued to dominate, though Stonehouse's young left back was causing problems down the left flank.
John Hawkins made it two after sixty minutes; his low drive from the edge of the area went through the legs of the centre half and then the goalkeeper, to put Wickwar in total control.
Mike Jenkins got on the score sheet with fifteen minutes to play. Kev Thomas did the groundwork in the box, beating a number of defenders, leaving the ball for the veteran who doesn't miss from that sort of range.
Stonehouse got a deserved consolation goal with minutes to play; a header coming from a corner, which went in off the post.
Quedgley A 0 - 4 Wickwar Reserves
Wickwar travelled to Quedgley looking forward to starting a run in the County Cup Minor section. Testing out a new 3-4-3 formation, Wickwar started brightly and took the lead after approx 15 minutes when some excellent work from Danny Hathaway, Kev Thomas and Mike Jenkins resulted in a Quedgley defender expertly beating his own keeper to put us one up.
Ten minutes later following some more excellent play by Wickwar the ball broke to Dan Low about 25 yards out who’s thunderous shot took a slight deflection and looped into the far corner. Following some post match discussion it was decided that the goal would be credited to Dan despite Wayne Thomas’s claims that the ball hit him last!!
This goal seemed to spark Quedgley into life and as the heavens opened they experienced their best spell of the game hitting the post and missing an absolute sitter although credit has to go to Graham Moody for the pressure he put the man under!
Almost immediately after Quedgley hitting the post Wickwar broke up field and scored again effectively ending the game. A great run by Dan Hathaway down the right resulted in an indifferent
cross which the keeper spilled into the path of Kev Thomas who just doesn’t miss chances like that!!
The second half was controlled by Wickwar who may have scored more if it wasn’t for the excitable linesman and some poor finishing!!
10 minutes from time, Mike Jenkins opened his account. A long ball from the back allowed Mike to use his blistering pace and pressurise the goalkeeper into a mistake leaving him with a simple tap in.
All in all it was a solid performance which we need to build on for the rest of the season.
County Cup Round 1 2nd September 2006
Sharpness Rovers Res 1 Wickwar Wanderers 3
Wickwar progressed into the second round of the County Cup, with an energetic display, against fellow Stroud Division 3 outfit Sharpness Rovers.
Both teams started brightly with Wickwar's best chances coming on the break; new signing Tyrone Pickett narrowly missing the target on a couple of occasions.
After 25 minutes, Sharpness were awarded a controversial penalty for handball. It was put well wide and no save was required from goalkeeper Newman.
The deadlock was broken on 35 minutes, left sided midfielder Anthony Searle, also a new signing in the close season, making a good solo run down the left, carrying the ball along the byline and slotting in under the advancing keeper.
Sharks equalized almost straight away. A looping high ball wasn't dealt with by the Wickwar defence, the Sharpness striker hit a clinical volley, over Newman from twenty yards, to make up for his earlier spot kick miss.
The second half was dominated by Wanderers; John Hawkins coming on as substitute for the man of the match Searle and he provided two pinpoint crosses for Pickett and Dave Ecclestone, who both converted with excellent headers.
This result and performance sent the sizable band of travelling supporters from Wickwar home happy and Wanderers into round two.
Stroud League Division 3 16th September 2006
Wickwar Wanderers 2 Quedgeley Wanderers 0
Wickwar continued their good start to the season with a productive display against Quedgeley, who lost their goalkeeper to injury and had a man sent off early in the first half.
This gave the home side the initiative but they failed to capitalise.
Jermaine Edwards had a close range header travel wide and Tyrone Pickett was unlucky not to score with a lob over the goalkeeper, after a one on one situation.
Luke Willis was superb on the right hand side of midfield with some good close control and accurate crossing as Wickwar dominated the first half.
Both teams came out after the interval and it was only a matter of time before Wickwar broke the deadlock; Pickett beating his man in the box, supplying Anthony Searle who slotted past the keeper from eight yards.
Quedgeley still looked dangerous as Wickwar’s defence was tending to drop too deep, so player manager Sam Honeyborne back from injury brought himself on, to add some experience to the back line.
Wanderers then doubled their lead. A low shot from Dave Ecclestone from the edge of the area was only parried by the keeper and Edwards pounced to confirm Wickwar taking all three points and a solid start to the league campaign.
Goalkeeper Alan Thomas was excellent between the sticks for Wickwar and Quedgeley’s stand in keeper was also impressive.