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Wallingford competed well against League Leaders North Leigh, but Kevin Lewis’s long range strike gave the visitors all three points at the Hithercroft.
North Leigh started brightly, with Wallingford looking scrappy at the back. Liam Hope struck an early chance into the side netting, while Karl Dodds headed just wide from a dangerous Andrew Helby free-kick. On 22 minutes the visitors took the lead, Kevin Lewis hit a powerful first-time shot from 35 yards which skidded off the turf and although John Shea got his hands to it, he couldn’t prevent it from hitting the back of the net. Wallingford played their way back into the game and just before half time Danny Legget looked to have skipped through on goal but a North Leigh defender caught him late. The referee only showed a yellow card to the defender, as there looked to be other players covering, but this was little consolation for Leggett, who had to be stretchered off with an ankle injury. Early in the second half John Shea had to make a good point blank save from substitute Danny Wise after Ingram and Boateng collided with each other, but after this, Wallingford came back into the game and had some good possession. Leggett’s replacement Zinzee Taha had the best chances, firstly when he squirmed past a couple of defenders with good close control but scuffed his shot wide. Ian Lovegrove then set him up with a nice touch into the area, but he pulled his shot into the side netting. Wise could have made the game safe with 15 minutes left when he ran clear after a counter attacking long ball out of defence, but he lofted the ball well over the bar as Shea came out to save. In injury time Ross Tyler made visiting ‘keeper Richard Barrett tip a curling free-kick over the bar. Zinzee Taha created the final late chance with another mazy run into the box, but Aaron Baker couldn’t quite reach his cross into the six-yard box and North Leigh held on for the three points. AFC Wallingford travel to Abingdon Town next Saturday. AFC Wallingford: Shea, Boateng, Lovegrove (Massaquoi 85), Ingram, Barlow, Tyler, Touray (Styles 30), Fofanah, Leggett (Z.Taha 40), Baker, A.Taha. |
