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Match Report - Wick 1-1 Cadbury Heath

Match Report - Wick 1-1 Cadbury Heath

Bruce Scammell3 Aug 2020 - 19:47
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The Heath are back!

After an enforced break of nearly 5 months the new-look Cadbury Heath finally returned to action in Saturday’s pre-season opener away at Gloucestershire County League side Wick. This friendly was arranged at short notice (replacing our now cancelled game away at Little Stoke on 4th Aug) so unfortunately new gaffer Mitch Hodge wasn’t available, so the team were led from the dugout by Joint Assistant Managers Ollie Price and Aaron Day. The Heath, with 15 new signings already this season, had a match day squad of 19 for the game. Chris Humphries started in goal with Loui Ward and Luke Lecrass the fullbacks and Toby Rennie and Trey Anderson the centre halves. George Boon started on the left wing (and captained the side) with Eugene Keary and Ben Wych in the middle and Jamie Horgan on the right supplying Brandon Feehely and Luke Bryan up top. The 8 substitutes (who all saw action) were keeper Ollie Jones, midfielder Ash Kendall, forward Liam Oswin, defender Jordan Greenwood, striker Matt Huxley and midfielders Ali Bamford, Jake Thomas and Tom Welling.
The Heath started the first game in months in the perfect way, a good team move on the break saw the Wick defense carved open and Ben Wych was on hand to side foot into the net from 8 yards after the ball was cut back. A great start! The Heath looked strong in the air and in the tackle and were well organized but Wick started to come more into the game, threatening down the left flank. Chris Humphries was tested on a couple of occasions as Wick tried to get in over the top of the Heath defense and through decent corners that tested the Heath keeper. It was a high ball sent in to the Heath penalty area that saw a long delay to the game as Heath keeper Chris Humphries was clattered when challenging for a high ball played in to the back post. He was eventually replaced in goal by Ollie Jones in the 20th minute. Wick continued to push and equalised on 30 minutes. The score remained 1-1 at half time. The second half kicked off with a number of subs having been made by both sides who were keen to give their squads a run out. Both sides struggled to carve out any clear cut chances, the Heath looking well marshaled at the back. Ash Kendall did find the back of the net with a 30 yard screamer into the top corner but it was cruelly disallowed for an earlier foul in the build up - “great clearance!” someone shouted as the ball hit the back of the net, that was harsh, it would have been an early contender for goal of the season had it stood! The game petered out as a raft of subs continued to be made but remained highly competitive, with some big challenges going in, and was played at pace. Matt Huxley had a chance on 80 mins when a diagonal pass matched his run perfectly as he broke the offside trap but his side foot volleyed effort was well blocked by the Wick keeper who was quick off his line. Wick started asking questions of the Heath defense in the last 5 minutes, going close on a couple of occasions with a far post header and a great cross into the box which just evaded a Wick striker who was sliding in.
The game ended 1-1 and ticked all of the boxes for a good competitive pre-season runout. Thanks to Wick for hosting the game and best of luck for the new season, on that showing they should do well.
Great to see Heath back playing! Can you have a Man of the Match in a pre-season game? Probably not. But if I had to give it then it would go to Trey Anderson who played the full 90 and didn’t put a foot wrong. We’re back in action next Saturday (8th Aug) at home to Melksham Town. Currently NO spectators are allowed in the ground due to COVID guidelines introduced by the Government and the FA, but keep an eye on the website and twitter for arrangements for the game.
UP THE HEATH
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