30th April 2024
West Wratting vs Cambridge University Press @ Bull Lane - West Wratting
Cambridgeshire County Premier Division (Step 7)
18:30 KO
Free entry
Attendance - approx. 70
Half-time score: West Wratting 0-0 Cambridge University Press
Goals:
Cambridge University Press: Joseph - 65'
West Wratting: Lovell - 87'
Final Score: West Wratting 1-1 Cambridge University Press
The original plan was to head over to Ram Meadow for the play-off semi-final involving Bury Town, but with the breaking news from my local club Thetford Town, I wasn't in the mood for a high pressure and crowded game. Instead, working late I saw the opportunity to visit a club that's been on my radar for a while. On the way back from work, due to the ongoing A14 lane closure at Newmarket, I sometimes cut through the Cambridgeshire countryside, and I pass through the village of West Wratting and past the recreation ground where West Wratting FC play, so I've always wanted to visit. They are no minor team either, winning the Cambridgeshire Counties top division last season. This evening saw them take on Cambridge University Press, or CUP for short, in a game pitting 2nd vs 7th.
I rarely see food on offer at this level, but was pleasantly surprised to see a range of hot food and drinks for sale from a kitchen within the clubhouse. I was planning to get a McDonalds on the way home, but seeing this I grabbed a cheeseburger instead, and I must say it was one of the best football burgers of the season, fair play.
It was a gloriously sunny spring evening, which as the game progressed caused a few difficulties as the sun set low on the horizon. Into the sunshine, West Wratting lined up in red shirts with black shorts, with Cambridge University Press in light blue shirts with black shorts.
KEY MOMENTS
WW = West Wratting
CUP = Cambridge University Press
23' - WW - The No.10 steps up to take a long free-kick from the right flank, the diagonal ball is launched towards the far post where the No.5 rises highest, heading the ball onto the crossbar and out.
34' - WW - The No.11 hits a snap volley from 25yrds out on the left, the ball is struck sweetly but flies just over.
48' - CUP - Cambridge University Press attack down the right, a shot comes in and is blocked, the rebound falls to the No.9 in front of goal, he shoots but the West Wratting keeper makes a fine stop with his legs to deny CUP the opener.
65' - CUP - GOAL (0-1) - The referee dishes out a couple of yellow cards, one for each team, one of the CUP coaching staff takes exception to this and receives two yellows in quick succession and is ordered away from the touchline. Nevertheless, CUP have a long distance free-kick out on the left flank. The ball is pumped into the mixer, it is cleared but only as far as Jacob Joseph, and from the edge of the box he hits a sublime volley that evades the keeper and dips in just under the bar, brilliant finish to put CUP into the lead! With both defences on top, it took a spectacular effort to break the deadlock.
71' - WW - From the left flank, West Wratting have their own deep free-kick. The ball is pumped forward, it is flicked on and the No.5 slides the ball in at the near-post, but the linesman flags for offside to deny the goal, looked awfully close to me.
75' - WW - The No.14 chips the ball over the defenders and sprints forward to latch onto his own ball, beating the defender and through on goal he shoots at the near post but the CUP keeper is out quickly and makes a save with his leg, the ball going out for a corner.
87' - WW - GOAL (1-1) - West Wratting get a deserved equaliser, Lovell battles through the middle of the park chasing a bouncing ball, he nods it ahead of him, and out powers the defender to put him clear through on goal and into the box where he calmly slots the ball past the keeper, great determination and a neat finish!
91' - WW - As the clock ticks down, a long ball is fired into the box, the No.19 knocks it down for the No.18 who strikes at the near-post, the effort deflects off a defender and spins out close to the post for a corner.
A hard fought battling game between two very evenly matched sides, I think the draw was a fair result, although West Wratting carved out the better chances, very few were clear cut and both defensive back-lines proved difficult to break down on this sunny spring evening. This caps off West Wratting's season, the point not enough to guarantee 2nd, if Over Sports win their game in hand they could leapfrog over West Wratting. Cambridge University Press still have two games left in their season to go, they could jump up a place if they win both, I wish them all the best. Overall, I'm really glad I visited, West Wratting is an excellent club, the pitch was beautifully prepared, there was a nice clubhouse, a surprisingly decent burger and a good turnout, well worth a visit in my books, hope they have a great 24/25 season.
Line-Ups (in alphabetical order):
WEST WRATTING: Toby Egan, Milo Holmes, Sam Holmes, Rory Jebb, Mark Lovell, Christian Money, Andrew Palmer, Finley Plant, Lewis Russell, Oliver Santry, Spencer Sykes. SUBS: Ashley Botten, Finlay Fletcher, Ryan Harrow.
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS: Jack Chandler, Michael Dennis, Nicholas Heap, Lee Hughes, Jacob Joseph, Oliver Morton, Ransford Ofori, Thomas Stevens, Thomas Stoker, Colby Williams, Joseph Wilson.
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