The Galacticos travelled away to Sporting 77 in the last 16 of the Charlie Turnball Cup and faced a side that had won 2 league titles in a row and only lost 1 league game in 3 years. Witham welcomed back Jay Bromley and Del Ballard to the squad but lost Ratty due to his recent op.....get well soon ratty (but he bandaged himself up to come and support the boys!). The gaffer and dazzer named an unchanged line up but switched Jamie Lawes out wide and moved Jack Stoneham in the middle with Kane Orr moving upfront.
The Galacticos started fast and where 1-0 up within a minute when Orr played the ball to McCormack who blasted home to continue his brilliant goalscoring record. The Galacticos built on this fast start by sticking to there tactics superbly and breaking down every play that Sporting attempted. On 10 minutes Humphrys was harshly judged to handle the ball and from the resulting penalty the game was level at 1-1. It didnt take the Galacticos long till they restored there advantage, 2 minutes to be precise when Stoneham drove into the penalty box and was bundled over. Yeo stepped up and as ever placed the ball to the keepers right hand corner. A minute later it was nearly 3 when Lawes picked the ball up 35 yards out and blasted the ball goalbound and it looked certain to fly into the top corner but agonisingly it cannoned off the crossbar. 4 minutes later it was 3-1, Galacticos broke the ball down in the middle of the park and Stoneham played a diagonal ball to McCormack that Orr brilliantly dummied to confuse the centre back and that let McCormack drive into the box and from an acute angle blast the ball into the top right hand corner to grab his second goal. It was perfect football from Witham, the midfield worked tirelessly to not give the opposition an inch and when Sporting went long Clark, Murphy, Humphrys, Adams and Cannock dominated and controlled everything thrown at them. On 20 minutes Galacticos lead 4-1 when a perfect ball from McCormack found Orr who beat the offside trap and from 12 yards brought the ball down and flicked the ball past the keeper. 27 minutes in and it was another brilliantly worked goal when Orr found Lawes who's finishing is second to none to get himself on the scoresheet. The football was now in full flow, the trio of Stoneham, Yeo and Vicarage where completely outworking there opposition and time and time again showed superb build up play that released the dangerous Lawes, Orr and McCormack who where a constant threat. To add to the superb football being played Adams was having a superb game at right back, winning every header, every tackle and played the ball out near perfect everytime.
HALF TIME SPORTING 77 1 WITHAM GALACTICOS 5
The second half began how the first half ended with the Galacticos completely outworking and out thinking there oppositions. More questions where being asked of Murphy, Clark and Cannock with Sporting desperately throwing everything at Witham to get back into the game but Clark and Murphy won every header and intercepted every through ball and Cannocks handling and direction behind them was instrumental into keeping them out. On 61 minutes the game was out of reach for Sporting when Stoneham again found Lawes who buried the ball home to get his 2nd of the game and Withams 6th. Witham still worked hard and the football was brilliant and on 76 minutes Stoneham picked the ball up 25 yards out, flicked it over the centre backs head and on the volley blasted home from 18yards to get his 9th goal in 4 games. On 84 minutes it was the Stoneham & Lawes connection again that got Withams 7th goal when Stoneham beat 2 players and squared the ball to Lawes who tapped home to complete his hat trick. Sporting grabbed a late consolation when a superb strike from 25 yards flew into the right hand corner but on 88 minutes Lawes turnt provider when he pulled the ball back to Adams who challenged the centre back and the ball rocketed off him to get himself on the scoresheet and get him a well earned goal after a superb performance.
It was a superb performance from the Galacticos. Every single player did there job as instructed and this resulted in a perfect performance and a huge upset. We worked hard when we didnt have possession and looked untouchable with our passing and movement. Every player on the pitch could have easily on any different day earned the Man of the match performance with there displays, a big well done to you all. If we take these performances and similar attitude into the rest of our season im confident it will be a fantastic season. Man of the match was obviously very close but the manager and assistant choose Jack Stoneham just over Jamie Adams (who's performance at full back was brilliant). Stoneham showed true determination alongside Mitch and worked very hard grabbing 4 assists and a superb solo goal.
2013 has been a great year for WGFC, winning the Malcom Foy Cup and gainning promotion after a terrible start to the season back in 2012. This season has started much better we are 2nd in the league and fighting for the title and are still in all 4 cup competitions. A special thank you to all our supporters:- Mel & Shan, Tony Adams and partner, Michelle, Hayley, John and more that turn up week in week out to support the guys and to Darren who now works alongside me and adds experience and superb knowledge to the entire team......bring on 2014
Happy Xmas
