UEA FC 7 vs 1 Wensum Albion

Back at home following their disappointing 0-1 defeat away at title contenders Marlborough the previous week, the 2s had to pick themselves up and return to winning ways to keep the pressure on their rivals. A number of absentees due to illness, injury and reading week saw a changed but still strong 2s side head out with the intent to play quick passing football at a damp Colney Lane. The U's started possitively with Katase and Wargent immediately causing problems down the flanks and linking up well with the lone striker, Read. It was not long before the Yellows took the lead with Wargent's quick feet in the box seeing him brought down right under the nose of the referee and Rafuse unsurprisingly converted the spot kick to open the scoring. The tempo was evidently being set by the home side, with the game under control and UEA looking dangerous on every attack. A teasing corner from Wargent found the head of the onrushing Fred Harle to score his first goal of the season. As the majority of games have gone on this season, Kibbey had little to do but take goal kicks and organise his defence for the first half. The XI were composed for the entirety of the half in what was not an easy surface to play on, yet the front four were testing the Wensum defence consistently with Bell and Evans acting as playmakers and Rafuse and Moulton getting forward from full back with every opportunity. With it looking predictable that UEA would add to their lead, the best goal of the game came shortly before half time with some neat exchanges between Katase and Read seeing Toddington played through to round the keeper and record his first goal for the club.&nbsp;<br /><br />The half-time team talk was relatively straight forward with more of the same wanted and more goals the aim. Centre back Luke Nickels got himself on the scoresheet after an inviting ball into the box from the impressive Wargent found him unmarked at the back post to head home. The goals kept coming as some good build up and crisp passing led to Read teeing up Katase to cap his best performance of the season with a well taken goal. &nbsp;A double change soon came with Januitis replacing Read and Antoniades replacing Toddington for his debut. Wensum began to have some possession in UEA's half without testing Kibbey, and misplaced passes started creeping into the U's game, yet the defence still remained strong and unpanicked. With Wensum losing possession in UEA's half, the home side broke at speed to add to their growing tally, when Rafuse played in Antoniades to cut in back to his right foot and cross to Wargent to cooly finish to record his first goal in his first start. Somewhat against the run of play, Wensum grabbed a consolation when a midfielder cut in to hit a strike from distance over the head of Kibbey to continue UEA's search for their first clean sheet of the season. With the game simmering out, UEA were on the offensive once more and Katase played in Wargent to complete his brace in what was a fine man-of-the-match performance.<br /><br />A professional performance and a big win was needed after the disappointment of defeat to Marlborough, who UEA will play in their penultimate home game of the season in their next fixture. With a number of players impressing and a number of players returning, many in the squad are putting their hands up for selection in what is becoming a very good UEA 2nd XI.&nbsp;