Foxton started 2024 with a tough away fixture against West Wratting and unfortunately, came away pointless, after a 3-1 defeat.
The game itself didn’t have a lot between the sides.
Foxton started the brightest and took the lead on 10 minutes, when Jake Williams glanced a header home from Alfie’s pinpoint cross into the box. We stayed the more dominant force, without creating anything of real substance, for the next 20 minutes. Wratting then started to grow into the game and missed two good chances in quick succession, one, which was excellently saved by Pinney. Very soon after and with their tails up, they equalised, after a deep cross from the right was met by the head of a Wratting player and somehow, squirmed in past Pinney. Then, just before half time, they took the lead with a first- time volley, from a poor Foxton, defensive, headed clearance.
The second half got underway and Foxton started on the from foot. Jack Davis had good chance from Fehmi’s header back to him but he screwed his shot wide. The home team were always a threat on the counter and on 65 minutes, could've extended their lead but their wide man put his shot, from a tight angle, past the post. A few minutes later, Williams created himself a chance and hit ferocious shot goal-wards, the home keeper saved it well, considering the ball was swerving all over the place and unfortunately, the loose ball fell to a Wratting defender to clear, when a couple of Foxton bodies were lurking. Foxton kept the home team on the back foot and on 75 minutes, an equaliser looked a certainty, when Jordy picked out Fehmi, who controlled and turned well. He then beat another defender, whilst travelling towards the 6 -yard box, just as he was about to pull the trigger, a Wratting defender made an excellently time timed interception and luckily for him, poked the ball just past his own post.
Wratting were still a danger on the counter and on 84 minutes, grabbed a third goal, after a quick bit of thinking, when they were awarded a free kick in a central position. The home player, played an early pass through the Foxton defence for their substitute forward, who latched on to the ball to score past the advancing Pinney.
Foxton kept going, knowing there would be a fair amount of stoppage time due to some long injuries but we just couldn’t get a goal, which our pressure probably deserved.
Credit must also go to the Wratting ground staff for getting the game on. Great work to all involved.
Team - Pinney, Gilles, Beard, Hoskins, Knight, McMurrough, Meredith, Emmett, O’Dell, Ebanks-Blake, Williams.
Subs – Byrne, Davis, Kotelo, Atkin, Fehmi