Baltic emerged from an entertaining game with a draw but after being three up at half time, will look back with disappointment that it wasn't better. The proverbial game of two halves.
Games against Wickham Park are usually feisty affairs and this was no different with challenges flying in from the physical home side all over the park. In a game that cried out for a strong ref to control the aggression, the man in black who turned up (calling him a referee would be a disservice to all good and half decent referees) was anonymous throughout, letting the game 'flow' for 90 minutes.
Baltic started brightly and struck early. Dave Barrett's up and under should have been dealt with routinely by the Paul West lookalike in the Wickham defence, but his complete hash of clearing the ball fell to Phil Broughton who tapped in for his easiest goal of the season. The visitors continued to sweep forward time and again with Scott Poulier and Ricky Baxter regularly joining the attacks and causing the home sides ageing back four a lot to think about. However, Baltic doubled the lead in route one fashion. Gordon Nolan's 38th punt upfield was misjudged by Wickham and Dave Barrett raced through. With only Jeremy Corbyn to beat in the home sides goal, he nonchantly lobbed it over the out-walking keeper. At the other end, the Wickham players had a tendency to fall over in the box (more to come on that subject later) expecting penalties. However, the man in black waved away the protests time and again.
Baltic seemingly put the game out of sight midway through the half when Rickie Baxter fed Dave Barrett who slammed a shot past the keeper for his second of the game and 8th of the season. This was followed by the moment of the first half when Michael Pudney picked the ball up on the edge of the Baltic area and started running. With no one in a good position to receive the ball, he carried on and on and on until he reached the edge of the Wickham area still unchallenged. Unfortunately, he had run out of steam at this point and was crowded out before he was able to have a sighter on goal. It then took him 10 minutes to get back into position!
Baltic created further good chances which they will rue for not scoring. Des Lindsay's pile driver from 10 yards was somehow saved by Corbyn and in the dying minutes of the first half Aaron Woolhouse's curling effort was saved by the keepers standing foot when he was trying to kick it away with his other foot!
In the second half Wickham strengthened their side which made the game far more even. The hosts continued to put the boot in, but Baltic matched them with debutant James Horton sliding in to numerous challenges. The tide turned 10 minutes into the second half when Wickham scored from a header and soon after reduced the deficit to one when the attacker twisted and turned in the area because finishing coolly. The come back was complete with a third goal with 15 minutes to go, and from Baltic trying to close out the victory, they were clinging on to leave Wickham Park with a draw.
The last major incident of the game came when the Wickham number 18, notorious for rolling around like he'd been shot in previous games between the two sides, fell in the area and rolled around like he'd been shot! No surprises there. 10 minutes later, after realising that he wouldn't get a penalty, even if he rolled around a further 50 times, got up and trotted off without a mark on his body. Disgraceful scenes.
The game finished soon after with a draw a fair result against a very physical side.
