>LATEST MATCH REPORT: MENS 4TH XI
Saturday 3rd October - Wanderers 4s vs Walton and Weybridge 1s
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“Good Morning everybody, and welcome to the first Wanderers 4s league game of the autumn. A cracking line up of games ahead this autumn with the 4s finding themselves in a tough league, which we will be following from our commentary box. Today they are hosting Walton and Weybridge 1s. With the usual home ground at the Oval condemned due to holes in the outfield and a loose deteriorating playing surface means this game is brought to you from Streatham and Clapham Girls High.
The 4s have a new line up with several players gaining their first cap. Playing behind is the usual safe pair of hands is ‘keeper Notley, with returning old hand Ellerton, debutant Wong, reliable Moss and fans favourite Vogelsang making up the defence. The middle order is debutants Andrews & Glancy, all-rounded Shimell and the exciting MacCoille. Opening the top order is the usual pairing of Aherne and Wilson. 12th man and also umpire is the 4s Captain, Stanbury, who looks certain to get some substitute-fielding in during this match, particularly at this early stage of the season. Assisting him and keeping track of the score is the injured Siberry.
It’s a little bit of a chilly start here and the players are firmly wrapped up in tracksuits but no rain is forecast and we should get a full days play. Wilson appears to have been distracted before taking to the pitch, down on our left, by some birds. What do you think – seagulls?! Certain not great tits! Whilst we cannot hear what Wilson is saying it certainly looks like chivalry is dead after that exchange! Shimell has now taken the players for a warm up but most seem to be looking to see if there is any grass on the wicket rather than concentrating on the run.
The umpires are out in the middle now and the players take to the pitch. A glace at the clubhouse clock by the umpires and there is the signal ‘play’ to Walton and Weybridge, who gets us underway with some fast medium passing which makes life uncomfortable from the beginning. Wanderers are trying their usual style of play but all too often are hitting the ball straight to the fielders keeping the pressure on. Oh! a lack of concentration there and the 4s are suddenly 0 for 1.
Play continues and the 4s are slowly building back into this, with some excellent forward drives from Kevin begin to piece the Walton and Weybridge inner ring, Aherne is slowly getting some freedom at the other end. No sooner have I said that, than the second is gone!! An excellent ball from the Walton and Weybridge player opening up the defence.
Only a few overs left till drinks here now and the 4s build in confidence despite being 2 down. Wilson is finding his timing having moved down the order to left-mid and slowly some clear calling begins to see partnerships formed. Unfortunately no one has put some runs on the board. And the umpires have signalled drinks and the 4s are up against it here. We’ll be back right after these messages”
“Welcome back, the second session of the morning is just underway with news that 12th man Stanbury has joined the 4s line up. Hopefully his fast running between the lines will see a big score. The 4s are looking a lot more confident now and, yes, there it is! The first run of the day, scored by Aherne with a well worked individual stroke off a ‘short’ ball. Is this the start of a come back for the innings?
As play continues here it seems the Walton and Weybridge team have taken note of the increased confidence of the 4s and have starting spreading the balls wide in order to tempt the 4s players out of their comfort zone and wear down the fitness. And that strategy seems to have paid off as another one falls illustrating a slight lack of defensive strategy as one too many attacking strokes are mis-timed.
The 4s press on but oh dear! As is often the case another in quick succession, this one going right through Notley’s gate.
And that’s lunch with the score at 1 for 4, I afraid this match is over.
Well how do you sum up that performance. A lot of positives can be drawn and I am sure with some time in the nets this team can push on through the autumn and achieve some victories. Wong played a solid all round game to secure MOTM and Shimell as DOTD will probably be all over the back pages tomorrow for leading that controversial warm up.”
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