Match Review: Upham FC (1) vs Whiteley Wanderers (5)

Report and photos by Phil Harding

After a difficult few weeks on the road for Whiteley they travelled to Upham hoping to take 3 points after losing to their opposition at home earlier in the season.

Whiteley started well attacking with the passion that has been missing in recent games with early chances from Kerby and Bell. Against the run of play, after putting our defence under some attacking pressure Upham won a corner and scored from their first proper chance of the game.

Whiteley’s heads didn’t drop though and kept Upham under pressure with Scotty winning a free kick. From this, Dylan made a great run out to the left and received the ball, gave Kerby a perfectly weighted pass to slot it passed the keeper. Whiteley kept the pressure on for the rest of the first half with chances from Bell and Ellis.

Half Time 1 – 1

Whiteley came out after half time keeping the same pressure on with an early chance for Ellis coming from a driving run forwards from Scotty. Kerby then had the ball in the back of the net from a well worked free kick but it was ruled out as he was flagged offside. More chances followed by Ellis, Bell & Jack. Whiteley then won the ball in their own half with the ball played through to Jack who passed it neatly into Kerby who made his shot look easy. After making a couple of subs Upham put more pressure on Whiteley with the young keeper Vickery making some great saves.

Whiteley then attacked on the break with Jack slotting the ball through nicely to Scotty who works hard making his way through a number of challenges before striking sweetly with his left foot and burying it in the back of the net. The attacks
continued with some lovely passing football from Bell and Kerby but unfortunately Ellis put the final ball over the crossbar. Ellis then made a strong run forwards holding off their defender before squaring it for an easy finish from Kerby. Kerby
quickly returned the favour for the 5 th after the ball was won out wide by Lyle, Kerby then picked it up on the goal line and pulled the ball back for an easy finish by Ellis.

A well deserved goal for the striker after so many chances through the game. Upham hadn’t given up though, keeping the pressure on with first forcing a clearance from Ousman, their next attack was only just over the crossbar. Their final attack with all Whiteley players behind the ball fortunately ended with a shot going just wide.

A well deserved win for Whiteley Wanderers who now sit 11 th in the league and host 4 th placed Overton in their next game.

Line-up: Vickery, Radford, Godwin, Hancock, Harding, Newman (86), Bell, Sherwood (80), Faulkner (68), Kerby-Dickinson, Kilty
Subs: Harry (68, 91), Boye (80), Hills (86), Paramor (91), Perry (Unused)

Man of the Match: Aaron Kerby-Dickinson

Goal Scorers for Whiteley Wanderers: Aaron Kerby-Dickinson x 3 (28, 52, 70), Scott Faulkner (60), Ellis Kilty (71)
Goals for Upham: (17)