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SoccerKits Plus Supplementary Challenge Cup.  Wallingford crashed out of the Supplementary Cup after being undone by a controversial penalty decision.
Easington always looked dangerous early on and striker Ricky Johnson went close on a couple of occasions, on one occasion only denied by a brilliant last ditch tackle from Brad Chalmers. Jamie Debanks wasn't far off with a 30 yard strike for the visitors, but straight away Easington counter-attacked and a simple ball down the left saw Spaull outpacing the Wallingford defence and he fired in low past Craig Evans for the opener. Evans then made a fine save to deny Johnson from close range. As the game went on, however, the visitors became more confident. Right-back Aaron Davies played a one-two with Shaun Weston and the youngster received the ball in the six yard box, but a defender got a toe to the ball and deflected his shot just wide of the post. New signing Jordan Weaver then went agonisingly close when his surprise right-foot shot from the edge of the area swerved wickedly in the air and wrong-footed the keeper, who just managed to get a his fingertips to the ball and deflected it onto the crossbar.  Wallingford continued to up the pressure in the second half, playing some of their best football of the season. Weaver and Lamont both went close with long range efforts, while a freak deflection of a defender from a Shaun Weston pass spun goalwards, but fell just wide of the post. Just as the visitors looked likely to force an equaliser however, disaster struck. Debanks miscontrolled Davies defensive throw-in and Ricky Johnson found himself clear on goal. He skipped past Evans and tumbled to the ground. The referee quickly pointed to the spot, much to the protests of the Wallingford players. Evans was shown a straight red card for his protests and Johnson converted the penalty past stand-in keeper Peter Lamont, who went the right way, but couldn't get down quick enough.
Wallingford continued to play well with ten men. Substitute Jefferson Harriott had the ball in the net with a smart close range finish, but the goal was disallowed for a marginal offside.. Harriott then almost turned provider with a dangerous cross which a stretching Michael Weir was a hairs breadth away from tapping in at the far post. However, Easington added a third past a stretched Wallingford defence, Johnson slotting the ball inside Lamont's near post after a scramble in the box. Jamie Debanks did pull a goal back from the spot after Harriott was held back on the byline, but it was too late for Wallingford's cup hopes. AFC Wallingford : Evans, Davies, Stourton, Chalmers, Debanks, Hayday, Lamont, Weir (DeSousa 80), Weston, Weaver (Harriott 70), Fellows. |
