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Wallingford fell to another defeat after two goals before half-time were enough to give Highworth a comfortable win.
It looked for a while like Wallingford might put an end to their recent poor form after a bright start. Musa Mannah made a brilliant early save from a close range Paul Hunt shot, but otherwise the Wallingford defence weathered the storm and created a few half-chances in the first half. Abdouli Taha nearly beating Highworth Keeper Ian Gill with a 35 yard effort and then Zinzee Taha went on a mazy run, cutting in from the right and getting a left-footed shot that was deflected straight into Gill’s arms. The match looked pretty even until on 40 minutes the ball fell to Highworth’s Matty Goodwin on the edge of the area. The Wallingford defence allowed him too much time to flick the ball up and strike a brilliant volley which dipped into the top corner of the net. Minutes later the visitors should have levelled the score. Michael Fellows corner caused chaos at the near post and in the resulting scramble Abdouli Taha had an effort brilliantly saved by Gill, who then reacted first to deny Ian Fenn on the rebound from five yards out. In the dying seconds of the half disaster struck for Wallingford. Levett’s cross looked to be harmless, but it bounced in front of Mannah, who spilt the ball straight into the path of Matt Pratley who made no mistake from close range. A stunned Wallingford never looked like getting back into the game, although Andrew Styles volleyed just wide from the edge of the area, and Tom Ingram went close with the header, Highworth looked comfortable in the second half and should have added to the scoreline. Hunt missed a couple of glorious chances, while Mannah made a brilliant save to deny Tom Dingle. Abdouli Taha almost pulled a goal back in the 90th minute when his long range effort bounced off the top of the crossbar, but it was too little too late for a Wallingford side that has now not won in seven games. AFC now entertain fellow strugglers and ground-sharers Thame United on Easter Monday. AFC Wallingford: Mannah, Ingram, Massaquoi, Fenn, Strudwick, Tyler, Fellows, Styles, Z.Taha (Simpson 79), A.Taha, F.Touray |
