ANOTHER OPENING DAY COMEBACK
13 September 2008
Wessex Wanderers 4 v 3 Severn Beach
Having been promoted two divisions, Wessex Wanderers were always going to find the step up to Suburban Premier 2 football a challenge, but 3 nil down to Severn Beach within 30 minutes was a shock to even the most pessimistic of fans.
However Wessex didn't win the treble last year by rolling over and dying when faced with a tough challenge. The team’s incredible fighting sprite means they are never out of a game however unlikely a comeback can seem.
Having pulled a goal back just before half time thanks to last season’s golden boot winner Lewis Perryman, Wanderers went into the break with a glimmer of hope. As the Wessex boys emerged for the second half they looked determined to prove that they belonged at this level and that Premier football wasn't a step too far for them.
Severn Beach didn't know what hit them as Wessex came out of the blocks fighting, winning every tackle and keeping the ball well with quick short passing. The passing game that Wessex had worked hard on during pre-season wasn't evident in the 1st half, but it paid immediate dividends in the second half with a fine move which eventually found centre back Simon Mahoney on the edge of the box. Mo showed great composure to pick his spot and curl his shot inside the back post.
Now Wessex were buzzing and they were dominating the play. Gary Russell's goal was disallowed because of a Clayton Kingman handball on the line, however the new signing made amends 5 minutes later when he showed great trickery in the box before eventually being brought down to give the home team a chance to pull level from the spot.
Steve Webster stepped up and converted the penalty to make it all square, but Wessex weren't happy with a point and continued to attack searching for what had looked at one stage a very unlikely victory.
With the clock ticking away substitute Jamie Lewis’s fine free kick was deflected into the net by the head of Steve Webster to wrap up a fine comeback by the Black & Whites, getting their Prem 2 season off to a flying start.
Manager Shaun Hawkings was thrilled with the 2nd half comeback and said: "It looked like we were going to get a right hammering at one point, but once the lads started playing and believing they could compete at this standard we were easily the better team".
1st Team: C.Bush, S.Pocock, L.Flay, S.Mahoney, R.Bush, S.Webster, K.Curtis, S.Smart, G.Russell, C.Kingman, L.Perryman Subs: S.Bartlett, J.Lewis
