Saturday 12th April - Ridgeons League First Division

Walden continued their push for promotion against high flying Gorleston FC at Catons Lane in front of a crowd of 171 on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Lucky mascot 4 year old Toby Smith led the Bloods out for his second time to victory against a strong Seasiders squad.

"The Bloods" dominated this game from the first whistle, Richard Chadwick came close in the first five minutes with a curling volley just wide of the post. Greg Strong's corner kick found Stuart Kingham outjumping the visitors defence with a powerful header that Tom Marsden parried to deny Walden the lead.

Walden suffered a severe set back when influential captain Tommy Butchart pulled up with a torn hamstring and was stretchered off, to be replaced by substitute Spike Bell. On the half hour Stuart Kingham fired in a shot that rebounded out to Ben Riches whose shot was cleared by Lois Turner to Kevin Vallis with a shot that was cleared of the line by a packed defence. Sean Anderson then went on a run from defence into the goal area to fire in a fierce volley that was cleared off the line by Kyle Howell, to deny the Bloods a certain goal.

Walden came out for the second half determined to build upon their first half dominance and after two minutes Kevin Vallis slotted a ball through the Gorleston defence to Ben Riches who fired home his first goal of the game. l-0 (46minutes)

From the restart Walden gained possession and Greg Strong shrugged off a tackle to set Ben Riches to score his second goal in of the game in just two minutes.2-0 (48minutes.)

Gorleston were unable to penetrate Walden's dogged defence ,with Matt Danbury and Alex Riches ariel power giving no quarter. Both Sean Anderson and Greg Strong attacked down the flanks pinning the visitors back in their own half.

Zac Collins latched onto a loose ball and slipped a through ball to Richard Chadwick who jinked round two defenders to set up Stuart Kingham with a volley that beat Tom Marsden in the visitors goal.3-0 (56 minutes.) . Shortly after, Gorleston defender Louis Turner received his marching orders for a second bookable offence, after bringing down Chadwick on the edge of the penalty area.

Substitute Spike Bell outpaced three defenders and cut inside the box with a cross to Ben Riches ,whose swerving shot was parried by the busy Tom Marsden to deny Ben his hat-trick.

Kevin Vallis then showed off his dribbling skills when he dummied his marker and crossed the ball onto Spike Bell, who headed just wide of the post.

Walden substitution paid off with Brad Green making a darting run down the wing, and his cross was met by Tom Richardson with a fine volley that missed the post by inches.

In form Gorleston came up against a "Walden Wall" that did not allow a shot on goal for the full 90 minutes and the only time they managed to penetrate "The Bloods" defence,Goalkeeper Kieron Badcock rushed out of his area to head clear of the advancing Gary Todd.

Team.

K.Badcock. S.Anderson. G.Strong. A.Riches. M.Danbury. T.Butchart ( S.Bell.l5) (T.Richardson 75). Z.Collins. S.Kingham.(B.Green 80) B.Riches. R.Chadwick.

Subs not used  - E.Lewis. J.Solkhen.