Saturday 17th November :Ridgeons League Division One

The Bloods were boosted by the return of Dean Godden from long term injury and prolific scorer Ben Riches from a groin strain and Walden laid siege to the Fakenham defence from the opening minute.

Greg Strong saw his fierce free kick saved by the visitors goalkeeper while Chadwick’s shot was saved by the foot of Stockdale for a corner. A Greg Strong corner then found Stokes whose shot on the turn was cleared off the line by Morgan. From the clearance a through ball to Fakenham’s Darby caught the bloods rearguard on the back foot and Darby lobbed over a perfect cross to beat the advancing Pledger. 0 – 1 (14minutes).

From the restart Walden surged forward looking for the equaliser with Stokes and Kingham both guilty of firing volleys over the cross bar. Kingham made amends when the lively Chadwick beat two markers in the area and set the ball up for Kingham to blast into the net for the equaliser1-1(23minutes).

Stockdale was on hand to scramble a shot off the line by Vallis and Stuart Kingham blasted in another volley, only to see Stockdale pull off the save of the match. Fakenham then tried a rare foray into the Bloods half but Critton tried a long range shot that sailed over the bar.
Stokes shielded the ball and with a lay off pass, split the Fakenham packed defence to Strong who fired across goal, but no takers for the easiest of chances. Before half time Kingham met the ball with a power header that was scrambled off the line and Stokes header just skimming the cross bar. 1-1 (half time).

In the second half the Bloods continued in their attack vein, Chadwick’s jinking run beat three defenders to shoot against the post. Vallis and Strong both had shots saved by the visitor’s goalie, while Godden came close with a header from a corner kick that was cleared off the line. Chadwick should have wrapped this game up with a volley into the net, but somehow that man Stockdale pulled off another fine save. In the closing minutes Waldens never say die attitude paid off, Vallis beat off a lunging tackle to set Strong on his way to shoot, which took a deflection into the net to put the Bloods in front. 2-1(88minutes).

From the restart Fakenham’s attacking substitute French found space on the wing & volleyed into the arms of Pledger. Ben Riches came close to increasing the lead with a header but was denied by the busy Stockdale and substitute Joe Murphy’s fierce free kick rebounded out off the cross bar to Godden ,whose shot was well saved by man of the match Stockdale in the visitors goalmouth.

Walden’s injury crises lessens with the return of Godden and Riches, plus club captain Tommy Butchart is making steady progress from injury to bolster the Bloods push to a top five position.

Team D.Pledger. M.Barker. R.Cannon. A.Riches. D.Godden. K.Vallis. Z.Collins (M.Clarke). S.Kingham (B.Riches) P.Stokes (J.Murphy) R.Chadwick.
Subs not used P.Flack. A.Badcock