Tuesday 26th February :South Midlands Floodlight Cup

Tuesday night saw Cup Holders Walden take on higher league opposition Oxhey Jets with eight changes from Saturdays game. Manager Marc Das relied on youth and depth in the squad to progress to the next round of the Cup.

Collins was first to test the Oxhey defence with a powerful header that keeper Channer parried. Bells free-kick then found the head of Badcock - unmarked on the far post - but Channer was on hand to deny a goal. The impressive James Solkhen showed why he is another of Walden’s rising young stars, when he cut inside his marker and fired in a shot that skimmed the crossbar.

Ed Lewis also pulled off a fine fingertip save from Oxheys Karl Bull swerving goal bound free kick.

Ryan Cannon gathered the ball from defence and he slipped a pass through the channel to Bell, who jinked round his marker to plant a goal in the net. 1-0 (36 minutes). Minutes later Cannon’s fierce volley shaved the post while Chadwick’s cross picked out the head of Bell, but Channor was again there to gather.

In the Second half Walden took their foot of the pedal and allowed Oxhey to penetrate the defence when an O’Mara volley was cleared of the line by Riches. Gladdy and  Danslow were both guilty of blasting their shots over the bar from close range.

An O’Mara shot was then cleared off the line by Clark and Lewis tipped Bull’s fierce shot over the bar. From the corner kick a goalmouth scramble saw Bywater slot in a goal through a packed defence to even the scores. 1-1 (83minutes)

The game progressed into extra time and towering defender Danbury out jumped the visitors defence with a header that rebounded out onto his foot to slot in past Channer. 2-1(92minutes)

From the restart Anderson gathered the ball in midfield and set Bell on his way to outpace the Oxhey defence and fire in past Channer to increase Walden’s lead.  3-1 (97minutes).  In the closing minutes Collins acute angle shot nearly beat the Oxhey keeper as the ball slipped between his fingers for a corner.

An excellent result that gave some of Walden’s squad players an opportunity to make their mark in the first team as we progress into the next round of this Cup.

Team : E.Lewis, M.Clark, R.Cannon, A.Riches, M.Danbury, S.Anderson, S.Bell, Z.Collins, R.Chadwick (M.Das. 109),  D.Badcock (S.Davidson.68), J.Solkhen (G.Strong 68), Subs Not Used M.Clarke. D.Pledger