In a stunning league encounter at the Bradeley Development Centre on 10 November 2024, Wedgwood FC showcased their attacking prowess with a resounding 13-1 victory over Burslem United. The match kicked off at 10:30 am and saw Wedgwood dominate from the first whistle, leaving their opponents reeling.
Wedgwood FC lined up in a 4-1-3-2 formation, designed to maximise their attacking potential while maintaining defensive solidity. Chris Dyer took his place in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of Jay Blood on the right, Alex Bayley on the left, with Ricci Edwards and Jordan Coleman forming the central defensive partnership. George Barlow operated as a lone central midfielder, tasked with linking play and providing support to the attacking trio. Shane Reaney and Nick Bennet occupied the right and left attacking midfield roles, respectively, while Craig Cookson played centrally behind the forwards, Owen Bott and Ashley Ibbs, who were positioned as the two strikers. The substitutes for the match included Ben Deakin and Nick Fricker.
The match began with an early attempt from Craig Cookson, whose effort sailed high over the bar just a minute in. Nick Bennet quickly followed up with a slide rule pass that created a chance, but Ashley Ibbs' shot three minutes later went wide. Owen Bott also failed to find the target shortly after, sending his attempt high as well.
Wedgwood continued to press, with Bennet's shot saved in the seventh minute, and Ibbs' effort also thwarted in the 13th minute. Bennet remained persistent, forcing another save from the Burslem goalkeeper in the 20th minute. The breakthrough finally came in the 23rd minute when Ashley Ibbs found the net with a well-placed shot using his right foot, sending the Wedgwood bench into raptures.
Just three minutes later, Owen Bott doubled the lead, converting a chance set up by Cookson. Bott's confidence grew, and he added another goal in the 37th minute, once again finding the back of the net with his right foot. As the first half drew to a close, Ibbs struck again in the 39th minute, lobbing the ball over the goalkeeper after a brilliant long pass from Jordan Coleman. Cookson then capped off a remarkable first half by scoring in the 41st minute, assisted by Bott, leaving the score at 5-0 as the teams headed for the dressing rooms.
The second half began with immediate impact as Jay Blood scored a direct free kick just three minutes after the restart, extending the lead to six. Owen Bott had a chance to add to his tally in the 66th minute but sent his shot high. The game saw a flurry of substitutions as injuries forced changes, with Nick Fricker and Ben Deakin coming on for Barlow and Reaney, respectively, at the start of the second half.
In the 74th minute, Blood scored his second of the match, heading in a cross from Reaney, before Ibbs added his third just a minute later, again from a cross by Reaney. Bott continued to be a threat, but his shot in the 78th minute went high.
Blood completed his hat-trick in the 79th minute with a stunning long-range strike, assisted by Fricker. Burslem United managed a consolation goal in the 81st minute, but it did little to dampen the spirits of the Wedgwood players.
The final minutes saw Ibbs score twice more, first in the 85th minute from a corner delivered by Cookson, and then again in the 86th minute, heading in another corner, showcasing his aerial prowess. Ben Deakin rounded off the scoring in the 89th minute with a brilliant long-range strike, sealing a remarkable 13-1 victory for Wedgwood FC. The match was a testament to their attacking flair and teamwork, leaving Burslem United with much to ponder as they regroup for their next challenge.
