Match Preview: West Norwich Wanderers FC vs Upper Cross FC
Match Preview: West Norwich Wanderers FC vs Upper Cross FC
The first of the two sides competing for the trophy is the home side, West Norwich Wanderers FC. They currently compete in the 99kits.com Norfolk Sunday League, topping Wensum Print Division two. Their opponents are Upper Cross FC, who also compete in the same division, sitting in fifth place in the table having played the same number of games as West Norwich Wanderers FC. The two sides met in the league on Sunday 9th March with West Norwich Wanderers returning from Upper Cross with a tight 2-1 win so we could well be in for another close game.
Having received a bye in the First Round of the Wensum Print Sunday Junior Cup, West Norwich Wanderers journey to today’s game began with a comprehensive 10-3 home victory against Sprowston FC. The Third Round saw them win by the same margin as they travelled to Horsford U18’s and put seven past them without reply. Another away trip in the Quarter-Finals followed as they met Sprowston Rangers and in a much closer game they emerged as 3-1 victors. The Semi-Finals saw a return to the seven goal wins as they swept aside Wensum Helles 7-0 to book a place in the final.
Unlike their opponents, Upper Cross’s cup campaign began in the First Round and they nearly fell at that first hurdle as they just edged past Wensum Wanderers on penalties after a 3-3 draw in normal time. In contrast, their Second Round win was by an astonishing 29 goals as they beat Bulldogs U18’s 29-0. Round Three brought a trip to the west of the County to face CSKA Emneth Reserves and Upper Cross would have been delighted to pick up a 2-1 win to progress to the Quarter-Finals. Their reward for that win was a home tie against Newsman Celtic and this brought a comfortable 6-1 win to line up a Semi-Final trip to Swanton Morley U18’s who gave their visitors a real battle with Upper Cross finally managing to prevail 2-1.
The third team on show for the spectacle will of course be the match officials. The Referee is Troy Tobias, Assistant Referees are Lewis Church & Chris Brown with Fourth Official, Ron Bloomfield. We wish them every success in what I hope will be a memorable occasion for all involved.