Sunday 29th October 2023 ko 11:00

Southern Combination Division One

WICK 2 (Hack 31 Crouch 33)

OAKWOOD 3 (Agymane 11 Etherington 48 Ramen 62)

Abandoned 66 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch

Att 189

Entry £7

Programme £2

We’d sat under Storm Babet overnight and I was happy enough to see our hotel in one piece, let alone any other consideration. There’d even been a tornado in Littlehampton with a house near Wick losing it’s roof. Robyn and I went down to breakfast failing to see how we’d see any football that day. In fact the only possible silver lining was that at least it had stopped raining….

But GroundhopUK owner Chris Berezai had been speaking to both Wick and Billingshurst, and much to my surprise, actually make that amazement both games were on, for now anyway. Given the coach wasn’t heading back to the hotel after the games, we had no option but to use the car, and given Robyn’s ankle problems we were fortunate to be able to use the car park, and thanks to the gateman for showing compassion. There’s no way Robyn could have walked up Crabtree Close, and she spent the entirety of our stay sat in the bar. She didn’t lack company either!

I liked Wick’s company as we had a year earlier, but it was obvious that the weather had put off all but the most committed. The club did everything that could possibly have been expected and the legendary tea ladies worked as I knew they can.

We were treated to a good game too, what there was to it! Thanks to Oakwood for playing at such a weird time, and travelling in such difficult conditions too. The game was a great advert for the league, with both sides holding the lead. But once the rains came back, and with a vengeance, the pitch began to hold water, and you could see referee Mark Spence become more and more uncomfortable with the conditions.

He clearly understood the situation and did try to get the game completed, but a ball was punted forward, landed in a puddle and stopped dead with a splash once too often, and the final whistle called a premature to proceedings. Was it the correct decision, probably yes, and equally yes I do remember the hop games at the likes of Pencader and St Dennis where conditions were worse but the game was completed. I’d also comment that after that hop game at Pencader the pitch was rendered useless for the rest of the season.

I helped Robyn back to the car, and made for Billingshurst, surely that couldn’t survive the weather could it?