FREDS WIN CUP CLASSIC AGAINST GROVE CHALLENGERS

Last season's Wantage Town Under 11's only just managed to get enough players together to start the 2014-15 campaign, before stepping into the ring. It was, metaphorically speaking, a blank canvas, but soon bloodied. Their neighbours , Grove, battered them 10-1. No quarter asked. None given.

They were not only experiencing 9v9 football for the first time, but for many, it was their first time playing any kind of competitive football!

Wantage walked off the pitch at half-time, having been hit seven times! Eternal optimists with a die-hard Rocky vibe, enthusiasm intact, the green and white hoops willingly crossed the line to carry the fight once more. There would be no white towel. They went down 3-1 in the second half, but were pleased they landed a punch before the referee put a stop to it. Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn. No failure, just feedback.

This season, as Under 12's, with a much more disciplined shape and a little more know-how, THE FREDS as they are lovingly known, welcomed Grove back to Alfredian Park for a cup clash!

Fear, hope and expectation all feel different inside and consequently influence performance - Wantage brought the latter.

The Freds started brightly, but Grove countered. Stan Herbert rounded Lewis Jordan to score and Jake Stewart struck from distance.

Wantage were on the ropes. The black and white stripes had stirred up some negative core memories and looked strong.

However, guard raised, against the odds, Wantage started to make a fist of it. The hoops needed to sew a seed of doubt and Jonny Hitman Hall forced it before the break!

After a moments rest, the old adversaries resumed battle. Their opening exchanges in the field were even until Wantage punched a hole in the Grove defence and released Jonny Hall who thumped home a deserved leveller. Wantage gave much, and if there be footballing gods, their colossal sacrifice had been weighed. Hitman Hall was gifted a carbon copy of his previous chance and exercised his craft - 3-2!

With ten minutes on the clock, THE FREDS withdrew from the flanks and crowded the centre. Fight won.

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