Solid performances pull the M2’s through despite some sticky moments as they took on an out of form Wapping 2’s side on home turf on Saturday.
The 2’s were bolstered by Matt Alister coming into the side providing a welcome addition to our forward line. Vivek Dongha commonly known as The Wizard of Winchmore Hill is known best for his lightning hands and U18 England selection is perhaps not as well known for his prolific goal scoring, but the fates laid on a different path for him as he cut swathes through the Wapping back line and put Gate ahead with a well timed volley. Southgate looked strong with 5 PC’s well defended by the Wapping keeper and defensive runners but were unable to convert that pressure meaning the game went into half time with the boys nursing a 1-0 lead.
The second half started with 2 PC’s given away to Wapping who were well seen off by Ollie Wickens and his lieutenants. Yet slowly captain Fell marshalled his men and managed some periods of sustained pressure which led to Scottish international Aedan McCrossan picking up a nice ball from Northern Irish international Matt Alister who turned on a sixpence shipped his defender and crossed the ball to the Wizard from Winchmore Hill who in rude form justified his England selection with a demanding whack of the ball beating the Wapping keeper and making his brace and ensuring his MOM nominations.
Yet Wapping returned fire with a nicely taken goal in the 55th minute bringing them back into the game.
Another good period of play followed with plenty of Southgate possession before the wheels of Harry Haynes were deployed with a lightning turn of pace down the left channel reaching the baseline and catching the canny Sim Bird with a precision pass that Sim with his customary flair polished off like a pig in a blanket. 3-1 and Southgate were away.
Yet then followed a slightly unfortunate few minutes when the game started slipping from the grasp of the magnificent M2’s and a PC from Wapping broke down but was recovered with a scrappy ball across the face of Wickens’ goal and muscled in through a quagmire of arms, legs and a diving social secretary.
4-2
Yet not to be outdone the Wizard grabbed the ball from the sidelines and danced his way through a wattage of wapping defenders finding Will Shepherdson at the edge of the D who in turn picked out the dominant presence of Aedan McCrossan who claimed a well taken team goal leaving Southgate with a confident 4-2 victory. The 3 points leaves Southgate well placed at the top of the table with two games left before the Christmas break.