Wanderers first pre season game
Last updated : 14 July 2007 By Chairboy
Wanderers played there first game of the season on wednesday night in front of 700 supporters at the small Watchet Lane ground, home to Holmer Green. This game had been arranged as part of Holmer Green's centenary celebrations and Wanderers fielded a very strong team in there honour. Paul Lambert took his full squad of players to Watchet Lane and the fans werer treated to a real display of attacking football against the footballing minnows. Wanderers won the game 5-0 and it could have been far more. The first goal came after a corner from young youth teamer Robert Rice was flicked into the path of on rushing trialist Ramon Calliste who simply tapped the ball into the net. The game was tight in the first half and the score remained 1-0 up to the break when all things changed as a new XI walked out for the Wanderers. It wasnt long before the renewed pressure took its toll on Holmer Green and after 2 minutes of the second half, new player Derek Duncan took a shot after a low Russell Martin ball in only to see the ball rebound to Scott McGleish who had the simple task of tapping it past the goalkeeper who got a touch on the ball on the way in. It was not long before it was 3-0, and the best goal of the night was seen, Bullock passed a short ball to Stefan Oakes from the corner and the ex-Leicester man pivoted on the ball before releasing a delicious cross into the box for new centre half Leon Johnson to powerfully head the ball into the roof of the net. Wanderers continued there dominance and on 67 minutes Jermaine Easter fed a equisite through ball through to Scott Mcgleish, who calmly lobbed the goalkeeper from 10 yards. Wanderers continued to bombard Holmer green with attacking pressure and the score was boosted to 5 when trialist Andre Boucard fed through to Jermaine Easter who thumped the ball hard and low to the bottom of the net. Overall it was a simple run out for the blues and it gave all the fans chance to see there new players in action. Below is a list of the players and how we rated them out of 10.
FIRST HALF
GK - Jamie Young - Had very little to do and was only called upon for goal kicks, the game wasnt really set up for Jamie to be tested and therefore he was a lonesome figure for the whole first half. 6/10
RD - Sam Stockley(c) - Sam had a solid game and delivered some fanstastic crosses in the first half, tried to push the game and really get the boys going on a bobbly surface. Did well and showed the Wanderers fans that maybe he might be the new choice for captain(as revelaed by the MAD team) 6/10
LD - Alan Massey - The young man did himself no harm with a very solid display, looked calm and assured in possesion and in the air was very strong. Only downside was he lacked the vision to push forwards when attacking and maybe that held him back a bit from being more involved in the game. 7/10
CD - David McCracken - A simple yet effective performance, always assuring his fellow players at the back and looked very calm in the air, didnt really have a lot to do in the game. 6/10
CD - Tom Cadmore - Again another young player did himself the world of good by putting in an assured performance, was led on well by his fellow centre half McCracken and looked strong in the tackle. Sometimes he held back when players were attacking him and possibly he needs to correct this in the future when he will face tougher games against better teams. 5/10
RM - Robert Rice - The star man in the first half, always running and putting the defence under pressure, a really tough player to win the ball from as he is full of pace. Some great deliveries and was unlucky not to score from a freekick. *9/10*
LM - Sergio Torres - Oh how nice it is to see a fit Torres playing good football again, caused no end of problems with his skill and vision and had a very good game even though he was played in his non preferred position. If he can keep fit he will be key to how well Wycombe can do. 8/10
CM - Fiston Manuella - A trialist from nearby team Aylesbury, bought in as a box to box player with a feisty tackle, it was shame Wanderers fans saw none of this, yet they saw an inept display from player clearly lacking match fitness. He wont be coming back 2/10
CM - Steven Gregory - The youth team captain looked assured and calm in possesion and did his chances no harm with a wide range of passing. Looked a real threat and definitely opened up a window for some first team games. 8/10
ST - John Sutton - The much hyped about striker had a quiet game, but nevertheless a decent one. Held the ball up very strongly for the on coming midfielders, looks like he will have lots of assists next season. 7/10
ST - Ramon Calliste - The trialist ran his socks off to impress but in his eagerness to suceed, he failed to do the simple things right, he scored a good goal and looked decent but you need more than that to impress in there games. 6/10
SECOND HALF
GK - Scott Shearer - Did he touch the ball? We dont think so, only rated due to him being on the pitch!!! 6/10
RD - Russell Martin (c) - SOlid and assured at the back, formed a good link with Bullock and really put in some great balls for the strikers. Back to the old Russell Martin it seems! 7/10
LD - Craig Woodman - Bombed forwards as often as he could and did look very good when he had the ball, maybe lacking a bit of fitness but he still looked decent on a hard pitch. Supplied lots of balls into the box. 7/10
CD - Leon Johnson - A great performance, really led the line at the back with some great tackling and work from the set pieces. The star man of the second half. 9/10
CD - Lewis Christon - Was the man who stayed back out of the defence and therefore wanst really in the match. Tried hard but maybe didnt have the effect on the game he could have wished for. 5/10
RM - Martin Bullock - Oozed class and style, ran at the fullback and gave him a headache, he formed a good partnership with Martin and supplied some great deliveries to the front men again. Will really be a key player to the blues if he can keep up his great work. 8/10
LM - Derek Duncan - The best of all the so called "younger heads" on display. Very effective and very fast! Used his pace to great effect and looked equally comfortable with either foot. Lokks a real gem of a player based on 45 minutes alone, lets hope he gets a chance to put his footprint on the first team next term. 8/10
CM - Andre Boucaud - The trialist from Reading left the Wycombe fans drooling for more. He was quite simply superb, put in so much effort and you could see he wants to play for this team. A true form of a box to box player, clever passing and the right attitude have earnt him the right to join the first team on a trip to Germany! 9/10
CM - Stefan Oakes - Back to his former self after an appalling end of season last year. Some great passing and skill made us remember what the real Stefan Oakes is made of and the main ingredient is class! 8/10
ST - Scoot McGleish - We will keep it short, he proved in 45 minutes why he is so highly rated and why he deserves the number 1 striker spot every week. 2 good goals! 9/10
ST - Jermaine Easter - Looked like he would rather be on holiday at times. When he had the ball he looked sharp, when he didnt he looked like he couldnt care less! 7/10
UNUSED SUBS - Leon Crooks(CD), Fola Onibuje(ST) and Jack Obersteller(LD/LM)
