Virginia Water vs Windsor & Eton

Match Report

We made the short trip to face local rivals Virginia Water who we beat 2-1 in the reverse fixture back in October, thanks to goals from Leo Decabo and Nick Thumwood.

The home side had an early chance, with James Goodey being slipped through and bared down on goal. The angle was closed down thanks to Luke Phillips and the attacker’s shot was forced high and wide of the post.

Finley Purcell made a comfortable save from a free kick. It was a low strike that went under the wall but was safely collected by the gloves of Purcell.

We had a chance to go ahead through Tremayne Wooliscroft after his shot from the edge of the area took a wicked deflection and up and over for a corner.

It was Wooliscroft’s first goal for the club that broke the deadlock, thanks to a brilliant header. Phillip’s wicked delivery from the corner was to the back post, there, it was headed back across goal by Luke Appleton where Wooliscroft headed home to put us ahead. 1-0 Windsor and Eton.

Another well worked set piece from Webby’s men which lead to a goal, as has been the case all season.

We linked up well down the left with Morrison Hashi, Decabo and Phillips involved. Phillips first time delivery looked deadly but was well caught and held by Virgnia Water goalie, Matthew Jones.

We made it two, through Juwon Akintunde with his second goal for the club. Sam Hutchings provided a brilliant ball through the lines which our new signing latched onto and saw Jones come out of goal, before he slotted home to double the lead.

Hashi made it three not long later, his fifth goal of the season. Phillips’ header played Hashi in who was forced wide by the keeper before he turned and slotted the ball in at the near post past Jones.

Akintunde hit the post as we searched for a fourth of the game. George Weston-Brown’s cross found Decabo who controlled the ball well, before his backheel found Akintunde. The striker set himself before he unleashed a shot that struck the post, he left the keeper rooted to the spot.

On the stroke of half time, we made it 4-0 this time thanks to an own-goal. Decabo whipped in the corner that Shuaib Jalloh tried to head clear but got his timings all wrong and the ball ended up in the bottom corner, as Decabo celebrated to the crowd.

Sam Hutchings nearly added a fifth as he intercepted the ball in the midfield and drove at the defence. As he closed down on goal, he fired a low shot that just rolled wide and past Jones in goal.

A fantastic four goals up as the first half ended. Webby’s side dominated the first 45 and looked to get back to winning ways.

Just five minutes into the second half we we awarded a penalty after a foul on Weston-Brown. His trickery down the right-hand side was too much for the defence, after he skipped past his first man he was both tripped and bundled to the floor which left the referee no chose and gave the spot kick.

It was Decabo who stepped up and put away the pen to make it 5-0. Jones got a hand to it but there was just too much power on the shot as we started the second half as brightly as the first.

We controlled the game well and limited the away side in terms of chances and shots, Purcell was left untroubled in goal.

Substitute and Enzo Pashaj looked to get in on the action, the winger cut in on his left foot and tried to curl one in but couldn’t beat Jones in net as the home side’s keeper made the save.

There were claims for a red card after goalkeeper Jones took out substitute Aiden Payne-James after being through on goal. The referee only awards a yellow however. There was some cover at the back which might have saved Jones from receiving a worse punishment.

Weston-Brown rounded off the afternoon with a sixth goal for Windsor and Eton in the 79^th minute. Substitute Tahir Carmichael played a great ball over the defence in search of the right-back. The Virginia Water defender’s header back to goal was not strong enough which allowed Weston-Brown the chance to clip the ball delicately over the keeper for number six.

We nearly made it seven after Pashaj’s strike nearly found the back of the net. Decabo played a nice ball into Pashaj who turned nicely onto his favored left foot before he unleashed a powerful strike that had Jones worried but flew just over the bar for a goal kick.

The lads certainly did not sit back after half-time and added two goals in the second half and could have had more.

Our biggest win of the season, away to our local rivals was a huge result and was good to get back to winning ways after a defeat and a draw in our last two. We face Wokingham in just two days, and look forward to seeing your support, back at Stag Meadow.

– Samuel Scrace