Ridgeons League First Division

Monday 24 march 2008

Kevin Vallis snatched the points for Walden in the last minute of the game, after defender Ryan Cannon was stretchered off to hospital after a late tackle that snapped his tibia and fibula. 

It was a  game that saw Walden rely on their passing to dominate the first half with Sean Anderson heading wide of an exposed goal in the opening minutes. Chadwick shrugged off a heavy tackle to pass across goal while both Anderson and Strong were inches short of slotting the ball home.

Ben Riches shot was well saved by Paul Rutherford in the Halstead goal.  Greg Strong was also twice denied a goal by the agile goalie.

Bloods captain Tommy Butchart making his first start after a long injury, jinked round two markers and set Chadwick goal bound to pass to Anderson who shot wide of the target.

Emerson finally found a way through the “Walden Wall” only to fire a shot into the grateful arms of Pledger.

Some good work by Riches to get in behind the Halstead rearguard  set Cannon up to shoot  only for Rutherford to pull off a fingertip save. Anderson was then quick to react to a loose ball and fired in a shot that Rutherford managed to hold.

The Second Half saw a lively Halstead start well with Emerson’s shot testing Pledger in the Bloods goal. Barton’s cross found the head of Bryan unmarked on the far post but he headed wide of the exposed goalmouth. Ryan Cannon on a run jinked through the home defence unleashed a volley that Rutherford held onto to deny Walden the lead.

Then Barton found Emerson with space on the edge of the area but his swerving shot was saved by Pledger.  The last five minutes saw Steff Falla lunge in with a late tackle on Cannon, which shattered his leg with a sickening crack. The game restarted and Richardson came close with a header to test Rutherford while Bell’s volley was well saved by the busy goalkeeper.

Deep into injury time the three Walden substitutes combined, with Spike Bell outpacing his two markers to flick on to Tom Richardson, who in turn set up Vallis to shrug off a tackle to plant into the Halstead goal. 0-1 ( 90 minutes.)

Team  D.Pledger. M.Clark. R.Cannon. A.Riches. M.Danbury. T.Butchart.(capt). G.Strong (S.Bell.57) S.Kingham. B.Riches(T.Richardson.83) S.Anderson(K.Vallis.69)

R.Chadwick. Subs not used –K.Badcock. Z.Collins.