Tuesday 8th April 2008

South Midlands Floodlight Cup Quarter Final

Cup holders Saffron Walden go into the semi final after beating top of the table Hoddesdon Town in a thrilling encounter on a freezing night at Catons Lane.

Walden dominated this cup tie in the first half, with numerous attacks on goal with Kevin Vallis shot striking the post on ten minutes. Tommy Butchart’s cross found Ben Riches in space who then set Vallis up with a fierce shot that Hoddesdon’s David Cape saved. Greg Strong then curled a free kick round the wall but saw Cape parry the ball to deny Walden the lead.

Riches outpaced his two markers and his cross was met by Vallis with a goal bound shot that Cape caught at the second attempt. On the half hour another swerving free kick by Greg Strong was pushed round the post by the visitor’s goalkeeper.

The last minute of the first half saw Hoddesdon make a rare foray into the Walden penalty area and Zac Collins was harshly penalised for a foul on Lee Mitchell.

Hoddesdon captain Andrew Martin stepped up to fire in a shot but Kieron Badcock pulled off the save of the match to keep the scores even.

The second half saw Walden apply more pressure on the play and Tommy Butchart saw his swerving volley saved by the busy Cape in the Hoddesdon goal. Next up Richard Chadwick out jumped the defence with a header that struck the inside of the post while Greg Strong’s cross found Spike Bell ghosting in on goal with a header that just skimmed the post.

Hoddesdon found a way through the” Walden Wall” but Kieron Badcock was on hand to parry Lee Mitchell’s header. From the corner kick Mitchell saw his header cleared of the line by Greg Strong .

“The Bloods” continued to apply the pressure when Zac Collins beat two defenders and fired a in a shot that David Cape did well to save to deny Walden a goal.

Kevin Vallis curled in a free kick but Matt Danbury’s header was cleared off the line. Then substitute Tom Richardson charged into the box to meet Greg Strongs cross with a header that Cape gathered. 0-0 (90 minutes) 

Extra time saw a rare attack by the visitors culminating in Andrew Martin firing wide of the exposed Walden goal. The Bloods replied with Greg Strong’s curling free kick finally beating Cape to put Walden in the lead.1-0 (100mins)

Hoddesdon pushed forward to get the equaliser & Mark Teasdale’s volley was pushed round by Badcock, from the corner kick Lee Mitchell’s header was cleared of the line by Sean Anderson.

Walden replied when Spike Bell’s shot was cleared off the line and Tom Richardsons header  was saved by Cape.

In the last minute Richardsons pace beat two defenders and his cross was met by James Solkhen with a diving header that skimmed the cross bar.1-0(120 minutes)

Team K.Badcock. S.Anderson. Greg Strong. A.Riches. M.Danbury. T.Butchart.(T.Richardson.80) Z.Collins. S.Kingham. B.Riches (S.Bell 62).K.Vallis.

R.Chadwick (J.Solkhen 68). Subs not used E.Lewis. J.Murphy.