FOOTBALL: Wick progress after early scare in derby game

Wick had not played since December 12 and Clymping since Boxing Day, so a certain amount of rustiness was bound to be involved in this game.

Both sides fielded full-strength line-ups, so that players could get a proper game under their belts after such a long lay-off – not that the lack of match action really affected the first 20 minutes or so. It was end-to-end stuff, where arguably Clymping should have gone one up.

The rustiness was not just player exclusive it appeared. The linesman flagged for offside against Clymping's Richy Moss, who was not interfering with play, but referee Dave Smith waved play on, asking his assistant to lower his flag.

The lively Richard Ghent picked up the ball, waltzed through the Wick defence and slotted home under Alex Bryant in the Wick goal. Referee Smith then opted to change his mind and awarded offside.

A bizarre decision that both managers felt could have had more of a bearing on the final result. Wick boss Carl Stabler said: "They say that goals change games and had that one counted, who knows?"

From that moment, on Wick took control and rather predictably went a goal ahead on 18 minutes. A hopeful overhead kick from Scott Murfin found the very impressive Phil Turner clean through on goal.

He consummately slotted the ball into an empty net after Clymping keeper Matt Paice had rushed out of his box. It was a pity for Paice who had kept his side in the game with a string of good saves.

After that, it was essentially one-way traffic, as the gap in quality and fitness began to tell. It took Wick until the second half to press their advantage home however, as top-scorer Murfin was put through and beat Paice at his near-post on 49 minutes. This was again another contentious decision, as Murfin looked to be offside.

There was no way back for Clymping, who rarely ventured into the opposition half, and the result was put beyond doubt when Ben Torode, who was excellent all night, netted straight from a corner on 72 minutes.

A glac cherry was placed on Wick's cake with just three minutes to go, as substitute Luke Huggett punished Clymping for failing to clear their lines.

Stabler said: "I felt 4-0 flattered us a little, but it was a useful run out for us."

Clymping boss Dominic Di Paola was more philosophical on the game: "It's always good to test yourself against higher opposition, but their fitness told in the end. Had the disallowed goal stood, it may have been a different story, but I'm happy with the effort my players put in."

WICK: Bryant; Torode, Sutcliffe, N.Murfin, Buckland; Turner, Clayton, Pearce, Barnard; Gaskin, S.Murfin. Subs: Sharman, Huggett (Sutcliffe, Barnard 46), More (S.Murfin 65), Sleep, Ripley.

CLYMPING: Paice; Biggs, D.Di Paola, Castro, S.Di Paola; Young, Shelley, Rayner, Ghent; Miller, R.Moss. Subs: Mitchell (Miller 52), Gaskin (Moss 65), Hand (D.Di Paola 88), Brown, Oakley.

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