Wednesday 22nd August 2007 :FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round Replay

Walden handed out an FA Cup tonking to UCL opponents Wootton Blue Cross on Wednesday night.  After a disappointing 2-2 draw on Saturday, the bloods were determined to progress in the cup.

Prolific goal scorer Ben Riches was first on the score sheet, with a goal in three minutes . 0-1.

Mastyszoenwicz tested the Bloods keeper with a close range shot and  minutes later a Joswaik lob just skimmed the crossbar. Vallis free-kick found the unmarked Kingham, whose header rebounded off the post. Strongs pace beat the home defence and his cross found the head of Danbury, which Keens did well to tip over the bar.
Daniel broke through the "Walden Wall" but his volley was well saved by Pledger.

With the gale force winds in Woottons favour, Pledger did well to tip Tom Hole's bouncing shot over the bar. From the corner Hole fired in a header that was scrambled off the line by Flack.

Khinda collected the clearance on the edge of the box and volleyed in past the unsighted Pledger to equal the scores.1-1 (34 minutes). From then on Walden settled into their attack mode and a free kick by Vallis was headed on by Flack for Kingham to head home for Waldens second. 1-2 (44 minutes .

Half time  Wooton BC 1   Saffron Walden Town 2

Second half the Bloods applied the pressure and Ben Riches pass was met by Strong who slotted home from acute angle.1-3 (54 minutes). Chadwick was next in line with a jinxing run to beat the off-side trap and he lobbed the oncoming keeper to increase Waldens score.1-4 (75 minutes).

With the "Walden Wall" in fine form and restricting the Wootton attack to just one shot on goal in the second half their dominance paid off. Young Spike Bell ran the home defence ragged and his cross to Chadwick was headed on to Riches to fire in Waldens fifth goal.1-5.(80minutes).  The last ten minutes saw the Bloods lay siege to the Wootton goal, Bell's curling free-kick was well saved by the home goalkeeper. Riches showed his class with a shot on the turn that beat the exposed Wootton goalkeeper. 1-6 (82 minutes).

Bell again tested Keen with a curling corner that was tipped round the post. In the last minute Keen pulled off a finger tip save to deny Clarke a certain goal.

All in all Walden showed their strength in a squad with three youth team players on the field and totally dominated the second half to the delight of the Walden travelling faithful.

Full time  Wooton BC 1   Saffron Walden Town 6

Walden

D.Pledger, M.Danbury, G.Strong, (M.Clarke), A.Riches, P.Flack, T.Butchart.(capt), S.Bell, S.Kingham, B.Riches (T.Richardson), K.Vallis (R.Cannon), R.Chadwick.

Subs not used D.Bicknell. K.Badcock.

Next round Walden play away at Stanway Rovers on the 1st September.