Saturday 5th October 2007 :Ridgeons League First Division

March Town 0  Saffron Walden Town 3

Walden's March to Riches

With Walden's captain Butchart out injured, Alex Riches took the helm to lead the Bloods to a convincing 3-0 victory.  

Some good work by winger Spike Bell to beat the Hares defence set up Clarke whose shot was saved by Goode. Cannon and Bell's combined passing move then beat the home defence, only for Bell's header to be tipped over by Goode. 

Brand replied for March with a jinking run into the box to shoot but Pledger was there to gather. The skillful Karama dribbled round his marker to fire in a fierce volley that Pledger - at full stretch - tipped over the bar.  On the half hour Bell's pace beat two defenders to gain a corner and from the kick, towering defender Flack outjumped the March defence to head home Waldens first goal.0-1 (34minutes) 

From the restart Walden were straight into the attack and Barker outpaced the Hares defence to pass to Cannon who volleyed over the bar. 

The second half saw the Bloods dominate the play with Alex Riches, Danbury and Barker all solid in defence which meant that the Hares had no shots on goal in the second half. 

A corner by Vallis was met by Ben Riches who headed down into the March goal to increase the lead. 0-2 (50 minutes).  Clarke should have increased the lead when a corner by Bell left him clear at the far post ,but he headed wide instead.  Clarke was next to test the Hares goalie with a shot that Goode did well to save.  From a freekick Vallis curled the ball round the wall and rattled the crossbar.

In the closing minutes Clarke's curling shot round the goalie was disallowed as Badcock had run in to make sure the ball crossed the line.  But in the closing minutes Badcock made up for this when Bloods captain Alex Riches planted a cross on his head to place in the net - 0-3 (90minutes)    

Team:

D.Pledger. M.Barker. A.Riches. M.Danbury. P.Flack. KVallis(T.Richardson) S.Kingham.S.Bell.(Z.Collins) B.Riches(D.Badcock). M.Clarke. R.Cannon.

Subs not used T.Butchart, K.Badcock.