AFTER notching their first win of the season last time out, WIFC racked up a convincing 7-2 win at MK Dons this morning. After 5 defeats on the spin since the start of the 2015/16 campaign, WIFC’s 20th season of IFA football, the Internet ‘Orns have struck 12 times in the two wins to get the season back on track.
Manager Richard Walker rallies the troops pre-match
After a fast start during which Tom Smithson and Dave Sitkowski both went close, WIFC took the lead after Smithson was tripped in the box and Ben Pegram slotted home the resulting spot kick. WIFC were indebted to a Jez Hinds save as MK attacked from the restart and it was soon 2-0 as the home keeper dropped a high Pegram cross and Mark O’Connor bundled home the loose ball.
Mark O’Connor continued his goalscoring start in style
WIFC kept up the early pace and O’Connor scored again shortly afterwards, sliding in to convert a low Smithson cross, while Smithson and Dan Butterick both drew good saves from the home keeper. WIFC completed a strong first half display when Dave Soloway powerfully headed home a Pegram corner.
The challenge for the second half was to keep performance levels high, but it took a dubious goal from the home side to spark WIFC back into life. A superbly worked free-kick restored the 4 goal advantage when Jimmy Davis’s smart chipped free-kick set Lamar St Cyr away, his cross diverted for a deserved first goal for the club by Smithson.
Jimmy Davis capped his latest return from injury with a fine display in midfield
MK Dons added a second when a long ball was converted by the centre forward but as legs tired and gaps opened, WIFC were able to add two more. Davis finished smartly after good work from Solway, then O’Connor completed consecutive hat-tricks when he tapped in after being teed up perfectly by Richard Murphy.
John Sitkowski’s excellent display, after being moved inside to centre half after an early injury to Moz Clarke, saw him win the inaugural ‘Morecambe Pennant MOM’ award
Hampton & Richmond await next weekend, while the 2014/15 awards will be dished out that evening at the traditional venue, Ali Baba’s in Watford.
Team. 4-4-2, `R to L.
Jez Hinds; John Sitkowski, Moz Clarke, Stu Nicholls, Dave Sitkowski; Ben Pegram, Dan Butterick, Lamar St-Cyr, Richard Murphy; Tom Smithson, Mark O’Connor. Subs Cleveland Brandy, David Morren, Dave Soloway, Jimmy Davis.