Wickwar Wanderers 4 Thornbury Town U18s 1

THORNBURY Town Under-18s travelled to local rivals Wickwar Wanderers and came away empty handed after a first half performance to forget in high wind conditions.

Thornbury never really got to grips with the blustery conditions and even though they hand the wind with them in the first half it was the home team applying the early pressure and they found themselves behind after six minutes when the Wickwar striker was not tracked and he found himself with time and space to slot the ball home.

Thornbury just couldn't keep a hold of the ball to allow themselves to play their passing game their composure was no where to be seen and they kept gifting the ball to Wickwar who took were making the most of the their opponent's gifts.

The visitors fell further behind when the home side were awarded a very dubious penalty which was converted confidently.

Two-nil became 3-0 when again the visitors didn't clear the ball when they had time and space too instead they played the ball straight to the home team who took full advantage and slotted home.

Thornbury did pull a goal back when a shot by Dan O'connor from out wide left was carried on the strong wind over a stranded keeper to make it 3-1.

Just as it seemed Thornbury were getting back in the game Wickwar broke and just as it looked like right back Rob Ashworth had beaten the Wickwar player to the bal to clear the danger he inadvertently smashed the ball into his own net to make it 4-1 at the break.

Thorns were now playing into a stronger wind at the start of the second half which had increased in strength during the break but a moral boosting team talk combined with half time personnel changes and tactics saw the visitors start the stronger and coped playing into the strong wind much better than the first half.

However they could not create that chance to get a goal back. At the other end Sam Blunden in goal for Thornbury was alert the the quick ball and was reading the bounce of the ball very well in what was not became a gale force wind.

The game descended into a midfield battle and substitutes Charlie Exel and Aidan Hannyngton were preventing the home team from bossing the the game as they did in the first.

Wickwar did go close from a free kick from just outside the box but this attempt went narrowly wide.

A game where a poor opening 30 mins cost the visitors the match but can take positives from the second half performance as they enter their final 4 fixtures