Saturday February 21st: Swalwell FC 1 - 5 Wideopen & District AFC (Shaw, Shickle, Nutman, Bruce, Holt)

Way back in October when these two sides met at Lockey Park, Wideopen were the victors with a hard fought 1 nil win. Swalwell in the past couple of season have been a difficult side to play and they produce some good quality football teams.
Wideopen were well aware that they had to get at their hosts and unsettle them from the first whistle. And what a tempo they started at, from the first kick they closed Swalwell down all over the pitch and forced them to play back. There was only 4 minutes on the clock when Wideopen took the lead through Shaw, he closed in on the defence and coolly slotted the ball in.
It was fast and furious from the visitors and Swalwell were struggling to live with them, more pressure and Wideopen won the ball. Then they proceeded to pass it through the midfield with one touch football. A second goal came this time from Shickle and then a third this but time from an impressive ground covering break by Nutman. Wideopen were three goals up after only 12 minutes.
The pressure was relentless from Wideopen, Swalwell were trying to get their game together but the visitors firmly shut the door to them at the back. Wideopen's defence was solid and the midfield was impressive with a work rate that left you breathless just watching.
A fourth goal for Wideopen was reward for more good pressing, this time it was Bruce who got his name on the score sheet. This was still the first half and Swalwell were all over the place.
Wideopen were forced into making a couple of substitutions towards the end of the first half, but the performance level was still the same.
The second half and Swalwell did come out fighting and put the Wideopen defence under some pressure, but they were holding firm at the back. Some shots narrowly went wide of the Wideopen goal, but Gray in goal was not really tested.
Wideopen created chance after chance to increase their lead, but were a little wasteful with their finishing.
Swalwell did get a goal and it came via the left foot of the right midfielder, he took a chance and used the wind to bend the ball into the far corner of the goal giving the keeper no chance.
Wideopen replied to that straight away with a good break away and an effort from the unlucky whose shot came back off the post. The rebound fell to the master of the four-yard-finish, Holt, who tucked the ball away. He seems to have the ability to score from anywhere in that six yard box with deadly accuracy.
A fine power and skill display from Wideopen in this game saw them take all three points and complete only their second double of the season.