Saturday 6^th March

Wasps 4-2 Henley: Hellenic League Div 1 East

The Wasps welcomed Hellenic League local rivals Henley Town to The Playing Fields on Saturday for what was to be ‘a game of two halves’.  On a crisp and sunny afternoon, chilled by an easterly wind, the home crowd were treated to a great come back by The Stingers who once again demonstrated their great team spirit and confirmed that they are an improving outfit.

The match kicked off without any significant incidents as both sides passed the ball around well probing for any weaknesses. However the match game to life in the 6^th minute Henley’s Jamie Piercey connected sweetly with a loose ball just outside the penalty box giving Chris Tullet in the Wasps goal no chance and the visitors took an unexpected 1-0 lead. The Wasps reorganised back to 4-4-2 from their initial formation and responded well but Fred Tripp was unable to convert a half chance after he got on the end of a long ball and returning old boy Kieran Webb sent a fierce shot just wide after turning his marker. Then in the 16^th minute The Wasps found themselves 2-0 down. They missed two makeable challenges on the edge of the penalty box allowing Henley to break into the box; the third tackle gifted Henley a penalty kick which was emphatically put away by Tommy Bolan. The Wasps once again rallied, passing the ball around effectively for periods of time, and got their reward nine minutes later when Kieran Webb’s clever dribble and shot found the back of the Henley net in the 25^th minute. The match continued to be contested evenly for the remaining minutes and the score remained at 2-1 to Henley at half time.

Wasps made one change during the interval with Ryan Jones replacing Frazer Fennel-Ball. The second half started brightly as both Wasps and Henley looked to bag the all important 4^th goal of the match. It was not long to wait as the score was levelled at 2-2 in the 52^nd minute when Wasps’ Danny Moakes struck a perfect 20 yard free kick right onto the stanchion inside the top right hand corner of the Henley net. Both sides once again locked antlers thereafter creating chances and delivering dangerous crosses into each other’s penalty areas. The Wasps defence stood strong and Chris Tullett’s dominance of his area foiled Henley’s longer balls into the box. At the other end Kieran Webb continued to weave his close quarter trickery, breaking free from two defenders but shooting over the bar in the 60^th minute, and Henley generally found the Wasps one touch interplay between the mid-field and forwards difficult to manage. The Wasps got their third and fourth goals in quick succession. Tom Seddon’s well directed header in the 79^th minute and a clever long range Freddy Tripp lob over the advancing Henley ‘keeper in the 80^th minute sealed all three points for the Wasps. Wasps put on fresh legs to secure a 4-2 victory with Dave Gutteridge and Mark Heffernan entering the fray during the final fifteen minutes.

Wasps Reserves: No Fixture.

Fixtures: Saturday 13^th March

Holyport vs Wasps: Hellenic League Div 1 East 3 p.m. Kick Off

Wasps Reserves vs Thame Reserves: Hellenic Reserve League Div 2 East 3 p.m. Kick Off

Saturday 27^th February

Thame United 4-2 Wasps: Hellenic League Div 1 East

The Wasps were on the road again last Saturday and faced high flying Thame United who are ground sharing at Wallingford whilst their new facilities are under construction. The match was subject to a late pitch inspection but thankfully some good work from the ground staff and their forks allowed the match to go ahead on a heavy pitch. The conditions were a factor in the eventual result and credit should be given to the fitness levels of both sides and also a Referee who allowed as good a match as you could expect in the conditions to flow as the players struggled to find their footing.

Both sides wisely did their best to avoid the boggy central areas and much of the action took place down the flanks with Thame being more effective during the initial encounters. Wasps’ Dave Zealey did break away delivering a good ball into Danny Moakes but when the Thame keeper collected the effort his quick distribution saw Thame break forward and earn a free kick wide on the right wing. Thame netted their first of the afternoon from the resulting free kick which was delivered into the heart of the 6 yard area and, with the Referee deeming the challenge on Wasps ‘keeper Chris Tullett to be fair one, Thame bundled the ball into the net on 15 minutes. Thame grew in confidence but the Wasps defence stood firm and contested maters well as their opponents, rightly avoiding the boggy midfield, sent a barrage of deliveries into the Wasps penalty box. Wasps did try to get their normal quality passing game going but, with the conditions not being conducive, any promising situations usually ended up being thwarted by Thame work rate.  The Wasps did threaten on a few occasions, notably in the 21^st and 23^rd minute when Fred Tripp was foiled by the Thame keeper and then by a last ditch defensive tackle. The mud then played its part and Thame went close after the ball was stolen from the Wasps back four and a good effort hit the Wasps post with the follow up being blasted wide. In the 31^st minute during a rare Wasps foray Fred Tripp sent his long range effort wide. However, it was Thame that continued to look more dangerous. Wasps work ethic and competitive spirit smothered any end product though and Thame did not create another clear cut opportunity until the 33^rd minute when Ross Crawford made a superb tackle as Thame’s number 9 was through on goal.  The Wasps passing and movement did get them back into the match before the half time interval and the game opened up providing a lot of end to end penalty box entertainment. With both the Wasps and Thame trying to get behind each other’s defences using the firmer footing along the wings they both created numerous half chances from crosses as each defence skidded around on the slippery surface. Wasps’ good work paid off when some intelligent interplay between Dave Zealey and Danny Moakes provided a great chance for Fred Tripp who duly accepted the opportunity and equalised, 1-1, with a close range header in the 39^th minute. The game settled down and looked like it would drift into half time but Thame, somewhat unexpectedly, went 2-1 up in the 44^th minute with a very well placed shot into the far corner. Ryan Jones wing play created the last half chance for the Wasps as he drilled a great cross through the 6 yard area which unfortunately only just avoided the necessary touch.

Wasps began the second half with an increased vigour and were evidently more vocal after the half time instructions from manager Martin Kenealy. They got their reward in the 55^th minute when Tom Seddon very calmly finished off a good Wasps move by passing the ball under the advancing Thame keeper. The Wasps were only level for a couple of minutes. The Wasps failed to pass their way out of defence and with the ball getting stuck in the mud, Thame stole the ball from 25 yards, broke through and converted to go 3-2 in the lead in the 56^th minute. This quick flurry of goals increased the pace of the match and the atmosphere grew both on and off the pitch but it was Thame that gained the advantage looking physically stronger and being more direct and decisive with their play. Wasps’ manager Martin Kenealy reacted by replacing Ryan Jones with Sam Morgan and pushing Matt Skinner into midfield but Thame remained camped in the Wasps half forcing a series of corners. The inevitable 4^th goal for Thame came in the 68^th minute following a corner being headed clear to the edge of the box only to be met by a clinical strike which whistled into the corner of the Wasps net giving Chris Tullett no chance. 4-2 to Thame. Wasps reacted well and, with 15 minutes remaining, pushed Thame backwards. A Danny Moakes header from a Danny Gray cross was well smothered by Thames keeper, Danny Gray caused Thame issues with his direct running at the Thame defence and Dave Zealey’s deflected cross nearly beat the Thame keeper. Wasps put some more fresh legs on as Mark Heffernan replaced Ryan Sweales in the 80^th minute and continued to put Thame under pressure. Another change saw Miles Beaven replace Matt Skinner in the 90^th minute but, although Wasps continued to probe into injury time, they could not get a third and Thame always looked dangerous on the break. Thame held on and the result helped them go top of the Hellenic Div 1 East and Wasps remained exactly in mid table.

Wasps Reserves: Match called off due to waterlogged Pitch.

Fixtures: Saturday 6^th March

Wasps vs Henley: Hellenic League Div 1 East 3 p.m. Kick Off

Wasps Reserves – No Fixture.