Wealdstone will hope to cause the biggest FA Cup upset of the Second Round against the club where I broke through as a young professional – League One leaders Wycombe Wanderers.
This article is written by Wealdstone player Max Kretzschmar
The game is being televised nationwide on ITV, a rarity for a club like Wealdstone who sit in 19th in the National League. Wanderers’ manager Matt Bloomfield has incredibly led the ‘Chairboys’ to the top of League One with ten straight victories in all competitions. Their red hot form leaves them four points clear of Wrexham in second place.
I can recall many coach journeys to away matches with Matt Bloomfield as we sat together on a table together with Joe Jacobson and Sam Wood. It was always clear that ‘Blooms’ loved the game but loved analysing it from a tactical point of view. Whether it was Premier League or League Two, we would debate long and hard. It’s great to see him doing so well as a manager and it’s inspired me to take a possibly similar route in my career post playing.
My FA Cup Experiences:
Bloomfield and I reached the Third Round in 2016. We drew 1-1 with Aston Villa at home and lost the following replay 2-0 at Villa Park. I was on the bench for the home tie and disappointingly not in the squad for the away trip. I remember my teammates getting shirts from their Premier League counterparts in the home changing room and I simply couldn’t bring myself to get one as I felt I had’t played a part in the game. I felt like I hadn’t earned it. Looking back, I had scored in an earlier round vs Halifax Town on our route to Villa Park so I had contributed in a small way. Maybe I should’ve grabbed a shirt.
In 2018, I went to Swindon Town in the FA Cup Second Round with Woking of the National League South at the time and picked up an unlikely 1-0 away victory which lives long in the memory of Woking fans until this day. Jake Hyde scored the only goal of the game and the 3rd Round draw pitted us against Premier League side Watford and huge coup for a club like Woking. But are there any things I can take from that day which will help us this week against Wycombe Wanderers? What does it take to cause such an upset?
Your Goalkeeper To Be On Fire:
It’s been a tumultuous season for Wealdstone in between the sticks this season having lost two starters to injury this season. Archie Matthews suffered a dislocated shoulder against Forrest Green Rovers in a 2-2 draw away from home. His successor, a familiar face to the Stones, Sam Howes picked up a hamstring injury in a 2-0 win over Aldershot. Subsequently his loan from Leyton Orient was terminated.
On both occasions, the number two goalkeeper Jacob Adams was substituted on a kept clean sheets in both games. As an outfield player is can be hard when coming on as a substitute to adjust to the speed and tempo of the game. I can’t imagine how hard it is for goalkeeper to just come on ‘cold’ and perform to a high standard. Jacob has certainly done that though! His shot stopping and kicking in particular have been excellent and has helped us achieved the positive performances and more importantly results in recent weeks.
Obviously when playing against the League 1 leaders you will expect your goalkeeper to have a very busy day and I’m under no illusions that Saturday will be any different. Wycombe Wanderers are top scorers in the league with thirty six, an average of well over two a game. But in my experience, if you can defend well and the keeper just has ‘one of those days’ something magical can happen.
You Have To Take Your Chances:
Playing against higher opposition will mean attacking chances will be few and far between usually. So when those chances come, it’s imperative you, as a player, can stake calm and focused. Elite strikers of old like Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer talk about ‘going cold’ in front of goal. With the best finishers, time seems to slow down when baring down on goal allowing them to pick the best technique to put the ball in the back of the net.
Currently, forwards Alex Reid, Sam Ashford and I seem to be scoring the goals in recent weeks. The creativity from wide areas has been excellent and has supplied us with chances a plenty. It will be vital to keep and use that strength of ours this Saturday. But we will have to be ruthless if we stand a chance of a cup upset.
You Always Need A Bit Of Luck:
This may sound like a wishy washy thing to suggest but I’m telling you it could be the most important. Sometimes you get a sense on the pitch that things are just falling your way. An opposition player misses an open goal. The woodwork being rattled numerous times. Maybe a big refereeing decision goes your way. When these things add up in a game you get a sense that today will be your day. It’s then up to you to capitalise and ‘seize the day’.
Whether all these stars align on Saturday remains to be seen and the bookies will suggest that it’s unlikely they will. But history in this amazing cup tells us that it’s certainly possible. We will be going into the game highly motivated with the prospect of a possible Premier League draw in the next round achievable. The magic of the cup lives on!
