Cornard United 0 Saffron Walden Town 3

Saturday 31 October

Ridgeons League First Division

Walden maintained their steady climb up the League with a convincing 3-0 win over seventh placed Cornard United at Blackhouse Lane.

With five changes from Tuesday night’s game, Alex Riches returned from Injury and took the captains armband to lead Walden to an emphatic victory. Zac Collins, back from a long injury, slotted into midfield alongside Tim Langer and Greg Strong.

From the Kick Off a well worked cross to spike Bell tested the Cornard keeper with a fierce strike and fired in a shot that Garry Roberts could only parry over the cross bar (5 minutes). From the corner a Tim Langer cross found Greg Strong unmarked on the far post with a header that clipped the crossbar (6).

Langer was again the provider with a quality pass to find Zac Collins free on the edge of the penalty area to curl a shot around Cornard’s stranded goalkeeper. (0-1, 19 mins).

Cornards new signing striker Ashley Collins tested the Walden keeper with a fierce strike and then Tom Wiffen beat the offside trap and sent in a curling volley that Yates had to save at full stretch. (31).

Minutes later a Greg Strong header was well saved by the under fire Roberts in the Cornard goal (33). Next, a Tim Langer cross found Spike Bell with a diving header that just shaved the goalpost (35).

The second half saw the Bloods go straight into attack with Brad Green fending off a heavy challenge to break through the defence and he was able to slip the ball past the diving Roberts (2-0, 59 mins).

Walden continued to dominate the game while Cornard were unable to beat down the “Walden Wall” in the second half. A fine move saw the pace of Graeme Turner beat two defenders and his cross found Strong with a shot that skimmed the cross bar (65). Collins was then hauled down in the area and Brad Green stepped forward only to fire the penalty over the crossbar (69).

But ten minutes later the hardworking Green made amends with a powerful strike that Roberts got a hand to but he was unable to prevent the ball crossing the line for Walden’s third goal (0-3, 74 mins).

Spike Bell, on a jinking run through the home defence, then blasted in a shot that Roberts just managed to hold onto. The strength of defender Ben Riches then caught the home defence on the back foot and his darting run ended with a fierce shot that shaved the crossbar.  In the closing minutes Riches again tried to get his name on the song sheet with a 25 yard lob that had Roberts back peddling to push over the bar (88).  Bell and Collins then combined with a slick passing move to set up substitute Connor Wilson who outpaced the defence but shot inches wide of the exposed goal (88 mins).

Team

R Yates, B Riches, J Solkhon (C Wilson 75), A Riches (capt), P Flack, G Strong, S Bell, Z Collins, B Green, G Turner, T Langer (L C Barbosa- Inacio 83).  Sub not used : M Das