A DISASTEROUS five minute spell around the half-hour mark, spelt the end for WGC’s 100 per cent start to the new Southern League Div 1 Cental season.
It was particularly disasterous for debutant goalkeeper Oscar Frost, brought in as cover for absent number one Connor Sansom for this top-of-the-table game with Didcot, who came into the game also unbeaten.
WGC had started the game the more impressively of the two unbeaten sides, skipper on the day Eddie Corbit hitting a 20 yarder just past a post and producing a defence-splitting pass that put Luca Gordon through.
Gordon went around Didcot keeper Leigh Bedwell, but gave himself too wide an angle to score and the chance was lost.
Then on 26 minutes the game turned on its head. Central defender Frankie Impey played a back pass to young keeper Frost. He miskicked and then in a panic brought down Didcot’s Connor Barrett. The visitors’ top scorer Owen James rammed in the resulting penalty.
Then five minutes later, WGC troubles were doubled, as Frost again pulled down a Didcot forward in Jenson Wright. A second spot-kick was awarded, a second yellow card issued and the Citizens went 2-0 down as James again crashed home the kick and keeper Frost left the field, sent off!
WGC had an hour to play with 10 men and no recognised keeper on the bench.
Skipper Corbit took up the gloves, as WGC tried to battle back from such adversity.
Nick Ralfe had a low shot saved by keeper Bedwell and Luis Cantello cleverly turned in the area, only to strike the keeper’s legs with another WGC effort.
But as the half entered stoppage time, Didcot added a third, a slick move ended by substitute Reuben Harry leaving emergency keeper Corbit with no chance, to see the game effectively over at the break, Didcot leading 3-0.
To their credit, WGC gave a very creditable second-half showing.
They immediately restored Corbit to their midfield with striker substitute Evaristo Mendes going between the posts for the second 45 minutes.
The bumper 443 crowd – there to celebrate the opening of Herns Way’s new facilities - had their spirits raised, when two minutes after the restart, a Corbit free-kick reached Impey and he fired high into the net on the far post to reduce the leeway to 3-1.
A clever back heel from Junior Moses gave Ralfe another shooting opportunity, but his effort was comfortably saved by Bedwell.
Didcot broke out and sealed the win, as Harry was put in for his second and for a 4-1 lead.
WGC almost had a second, as again teenage defender Impey hit the Didcot crossbar with a rising header, midway through the half.
As the game went into stoppage time, WGC got a penalty of their own to try and further reduce the deficit, when Moses was hauled down after a slick left-wing move.
Corbit’s penalty, aimed at the top corner, was pushed upward and onto the bar by keeper Bedwell only to bounce out.
WGC: Frost, Cantello, Impey, Gauthier, Ntege (Robertson 43), Corbit, Nosike (Hayes 72), Moses, Gordon (Mendes 46), Ralfe (Mosanya 69), Gyamfi (Rookard 46).
