The New Year started with a bang for the Oranges, with a superb display against Wisbech Acorns.
The away fixture before Christmas was a close encounter, with Clenchwarton edging the game 2 - 0. However, they made no mistake in this home fixture, with the whole team performing well to ensure the win.
Scoring started in the second minute, after James Winner's ball in to the box was met by initial resistance, resulting in the ball being headed around in the area like a pinball, before Kodie Turvey ensured it found the back of the net.
The crowd had to wait until the 15th minute for the second goal. Jordan Turner placed a diagonal ball in to the box, which was taken down by a Wisbech defender, only for Josh Murray to poach the ball off him and curling it in to the left hand side of the goal with the outside of his right foot.
Josh finished off the first half with his first hattrick. On 16 minutes, Kodie superbly won the ball, out on the left, and then crossed it in. The keeper managed to get to the ball first, only to fumble it, allowing Josh to tuck the loose ball away for his second. His third came from an excellent team move which saw Lewis Jeavons play a lovely ball in to Kodie. He then drove forward and laid the ball through for Josh, who showed his strength against the big Wisbech defender and held him off enough to get his shot away.
There were a number of other great chances in the first half. On 20 minutes, Wisbech attacked and hit an superb long range shot from 35 yards out. Brad Palmer reacted quickly though and managed to punch the ball away to safety. 21 minutes then saw Kodie place a lovely through ball in to the run of Luke Reid, who then smashed the ball, only to see it hit the post. Wisbech then had a shot hit the post themselves on 23 minutes.
Half Time : 4 - 0
The second half saw another 8 goals.
50 minutes, and Luke Reid picks up the ball from midfield. He then runs at the Wisbech defence, passes 2, and calmly slots the ball past the keeper. A fine solo effort.
Luke, on 55 minutes, again picked the ball up on the edge of the opponents area. He laid the ball to Josh Murray, who was lingering on the right of the area. He cut inside and smashed the ball goalwards. The keeper managed to get something on the ball. However, it wasn't enough to prevent it ending up in the net.
60 minutes, and Kodie again puts in a fine cross from the left. Max Gill happily finds himself in the area and connects with the ball to guide it past the Wisbech keeper.
62 minutes - and Max Gill turns provider by knocking the ball out wide to Josh Murray. Josh then drives in, and with the narrowest of angles, laces the ball at goal, which finds the far left of the net.
Wisbech managed to get a consolation goal in the 65th minute - a brilliant long range effort from 30 yards. Brad was left with no chance as the ball found the extreme far bottom left of the net.
Josh Murray finished off his second hattrick of the game, after Max Gill played the ball out to the right, finding Luke Reid. Luke then slid the ball across the goalmouth for Josh to tap home. A lovely team goal.
By this time, the game was well and truly over, with only a couple of minutes of playing time left. However, Luke Reid had other ideas, and finished off a fine Man of the Match performace with a hatrick.
78 minutes saw Josh Chilvers drive goalwards, passing at least 4 Wisbech players in the process. He eventually manages to get a powered shot off, only to see it ricochet off a defender. The loose ball fell to Luke Reid, who smashed the ball home.
2 minutes later, Luke then battled through from midfield, holding off the incoming challenges. He then shoots from close range, putting the ball in to the roof of the net. An excellent solo effort.
Hopefully, Clenchwarton can carry this excellent team performance in to the return leg of the cup fixture against West Winch next week. It's going to be tough - the boys are more than good enough to go and win it though!
Final Score: 11 - 1
