REPORT BY PETER DUDLEY

Hosts Wakering had suffered a disappointing loss at Benfleet in midweek so were looking to bounce back from that, Wick themselves had recorded some very notable wins this season, especially in the cups, so they were not fazed by anyone in this division and with their dangerous attacking talent would certainly cause Rovers some issues today.

And in the first period that certainly was the case, Rovers had been disappointing at Benfleet in midweek and they were not really on it in the first half here and had Wick found their shooting boots then this game could really have been over by half time, Leo Lopate fired wide with one effort before Wick grabbed the lead in the 17th minute, it had been coming, when Andre Anderson fired a left footed effort into the bottom corner.

And they really should have doubled their lead when a sublime pass from skipper Adam Cheniti sent Issa Sidibe clean through, but hosts keeper George Martin managed to deflect the ball onto the post before it bounced back out and into his grateful arms, had that gone in then Wick would have been well in control, instead GWR went up the other end and levelled, fine margins as they say.

It came when a ball swung into the box by Shaun Gittleson (I think!!!) appeared to be overhit, but, the gusty winds seemed to hold the ball up and deceive visiting keeper Mohammed Nasim who failed to get to the cross and saw Harry Talbot rise the highest to beat him to the ball and send a looping header into the net, meaning the game was all square heading into the break.

Wick should really have been 3 or 4-1 up at the half, they certainly were found wanting in front of goal, apart from Anderson's goal aside, hosts keeper Martin certainly earned his corn too, and with the hosts now having the wind with them, they must have felt happy to be level and now with a chance to put some pressure on their opponents, they had been miles off the pace so far so needed to improve.

And three minutes into the second half and after Wick almost pounced on an opening down the other end, Rovers edged in front and it was that man Talbot once again, capitalising on some lacklustre defending to fire home from inside the box, and now Wick were the ones who needed to respond, although initially after that goal the hosts had their tails up and you felt if they got another things to go very south for the visitors quickly.

To Wick's credit though they dug in and then started to become a threat, just like the first half, although it was a half where both sides had chances to net further goals, Nasim had to get down smartly to stop one Wakering effort, and Talbot somehow headed a golden chance off the bar and over, had it gone 3-1 then you felt GWR would go on and win the game.

Wick though always looked a danger, and you knew if they could stay in the game they would always have a chance of scoring again and levelling the contest up, and in the 88th minute they won a corner, which was swung into the box where Sidibe rose brilliantly to plant a powerful header in off the post, 2-2, with a heap of stoppage time to come, and they felt they could go on and win it.

Rovers themselves also felt they could win it, it made for a very exciting conclusion to the game, a game that had been pretty exciting throughout, Wick could easily have won it but fired over, Rovers put plenty of pressure on the visiting back line but stood firm, and in the end the game was to end all square, it had been a very enjoyable watch, so not a bad one to witness after a months sabbatical.

Oh, and one final thing, the Wickers fan's behind the goal decided to chant in my direction 'Dudley give us a wave, Dudley Dudley give us a wave' to which I responded with a nice friendly wave back and a clap too, it was a lovely thing to experience and they will never know how much of a boost it gave me after my recent struggles, so I thank them for that, am sure they were happy enough to head back East with a point. The hosts hospitality was excellent as always too, so I thank them for this, it's what makes this level of football so special, the people who make the matchday experience so enjoyable.

Full time Great Wakering Rovers 2 Hackney Wick 2