Saturday 19thApril 2008

Ridgeons League First Division

Walden continue their progress up the league to keep their promotion hopes on track with a crucial win over in form Debenham LC to go joint third on 60 points.

From the kick off Shaun French came close with a header inches wide of the Walden goal.  Then, Ian Gedny out jumped the Bloods defence to head into the grateful arms of Kieron Badcock. 

From the clearance a four man move, started by the impressive Jamie Solkhon, whose through ball to Richard Chadwick was crossed to  Kevin Vallis who then set Ben Riches up to volley home past Craig Ellis in the Debenham goal. 0 -1. (4 minutes). 

The Hornets were straight back into the attack and John Farrell's looping header skimmed the cross bar. Minutes later the inform Kieron Badcock parried a Shaun French header and Peter Flack was on hand to head the ball off the line. Stuart Jopling out jumped the "Walden Wall" to set Taylor-Holt up with a swerving volley that Kieron Badcock saved. 

Shuan French met a free kick with a header that skimmed the cross bar and Stuart Jopling finally beat Stuart Badcock with a looping header but was adjudged offside. Walden replied when Joe Murphy shrugged off a tackle to slip a pass through to Richard Chadwick who should have scored with a volley that curled past the post.  

On the half hour Zac Collins fierce swerving free kick tested the agility of the Hornets goalkeeper . Debenham replied with a long ball up field to Stuart Jopling who headed high over the bar. 

Walden started the second half as they did the first, with Greg Strong's cross beating the Debenham defencc.  Craig Ellis could only parry the ball into the path of Ben Riches, who blasted his shot past the stunned Hornets rearguard. O-2 (46 minutes). From the restart Walden pushed forward to try to increase the lead with Joe Murphy jinking round his marker and unleashing a volley that the agile Craig Ellis managed to parry for a corner. 

Greg Strong curled in his corner kick that struck the post but was then cleared off the line by Mark Dowling. Debenham continued to try for a goal with Ian Gedney out pacing the "Walden Wall" but his shot was clearedoff the line by Sean Anderson. 

The game continued with both teams challenging for every ball and top league scorer Stuart Jopling saw his goal bound header parried at full stretch over the bar by Kieron Badcock. The Bloods replied when Richard Chadwick dribbled round two defenders but his shot was cleared off the line into the path of Brad Green whose volley cleared the crossbar. 

Substitute Spike Bell showed off his skills on the run to beat his marker to set up Brad Green with a volley that struck the cross bar. In the final minutes of this high octane game,  Debenham surged forward looking for a goal, but could not find a way past man of the match Kieron Badcock.  Substitute Glyn Roberts and then Taylor-Holt also saw their goal bound shots saved by Badcock .Jopling was denied a certain goal in the last minute by the Bloods keeper. In the last attack of the game Joe Murphy and Richard Chadwick combined to set Spike Bell free with a volley that skimmed the cross bar. 0-2(90 minutes).

A highly entertaining end to end game with both teams looking for promotion, played at a fast hectic pace with Walden sticking to their game plan of keeping the ball on the deck to take the spoils.

Team. K.Badcock. S.Anderson. G.Strong. A.Riches.(capt) P.Flack. J.Solkhon.(S.Kingham 74) J.Murphy. Z.Collins. B.Riches (B.Green 66) K.Vallis(S.Bell 84) R.Chadwick. Subs not used. D.Pledger. T.Richardson.