Wedgwood FC faced off against fc newcastle in a gripping league encounter at the Wedgwood Sports and Social Club on 17 November 2024. The match, which kicked off at 10:30 am, ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving both teams with a point to show for their efforts.
Wedgwood FC adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for attacking flair. Chris Dyer took his place in goal, shielded by a back four comprising Brandyn Williams on the right, Ricci Edwards and Jordan Coleman in central defence, and Alex Bayley on the left. The midfield duo of Henri Royals and George Barlow was tasked with controlling the centre of the park, while Nick Bennet and Jay Blood operated as right and left attacking midfielders, respectively. Craig Cookson played centrally behind striker Ashley Ibbs, who was the focal point of the attack. The substitutes available for Wedgwood FC included Archie Wemyss, Ben Deakin, and Brendon Whitfield.
The match began with an early defensive intervention from Alex Bayley, who made a crucial interception in the fourth minute, setting the tone for a competitive encounter. Just a minute later, Bayley showcased his attacking prowess with a clever flick that created a key pass, demonstrating his dual role in both defence and attack. George Barlow then had a chance to put Wedgwood ahead in the sixth minute, but his effort went wide of the target.
Craig Cookson was instrumental in the early stages, delivering a slide rule pass in the seventh minute that opened up the game. Brandyn Williams followed suit with a long pass in the tenth minute, although Barlow's subsequent attempt was high and failed to trouble the goalkeeper. The midfield battle intensified, with Henri Royals making an important interception in the eleventh minute, while Cookson added to his defensive contributions with another interception in the thirteenth minute.
The breakthrough for Wedgwood FC came in the seventeenth minute when Ashley Ibbs scored a well-placed goal inside the box, assisted by a precise header from Ricci Edwards. This goal injected confidence into the home side, and Ibbs almost doubled the lead shortly after, but his effort was saved by the fc newcastle goalkeeper. Jay Blood also had a chance in the twentieth minute, but his shot went wide, as Wedgwood continued to press.
However, the tide turned just after the break. In the forty-seventh minute, fc newcastle equalised, bringing the match back to level terms. The equaliser prompted an immediate substitution for Wedgwood, with Archie Wemyss replacing Jordan Coleman to bolster the defence. Henri Royals attempted to restore the lead in the fifty-first minute, but his shot went wide, and he was denied again in the fifty-sixth minute when his effort was saved.
Nick Bennet made a significant contribution in the fifty-seventh minute with a long pass that created a chance, but it was not capitalised upon. The substitutions continued as Ben Deakin came on for Alex Bayley in the fifty-ninth minute, followed by Brendon Whitfield replacing Ricci Edwards in the sixty-first minute.
As the match progressed, Bennet had a shot saved in the seventy-fourth minute, and moments later, he struck the crossbar in the seventy-sixth minute, narrowly missing the opportunity to put Wedgwood back in front. In the eighty-sixth minute, Jay Blood was brought on for Bennet, as Wedgwood looked to find a late winner.
Despite the late pressure, neither side could find the decisive goal, and the match concluded with a share of the spoils. Brandyn Williams was recognised for his outstanding performance, earning the accolade of Player of the Match. The draw leaves both teams with much to ponder as they look ahead to their next fixtures.
