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Wallingford's recent run of good results came to an end with a narrow defeat at North Leigh, in a match where they struggled to get out of the starting blocks until the final 20 minutes.
North Leigh started brightly and Joe Burnell crashed a close-range volley against the crossbar in the third minute. Garry Clarke then made a brilliant save on 10 minutes, tipping over Andy Malabe's dipping shot. Wallingford looked shaky at the back against the two-times winners of the Hellenic League and struggled to retain possession of the ball going forward in a dull first half. Abdouli Taha wasted a good chance on the break and Ross Tyler curled a 35 yard free-kick just over the bar, but apart from that North Leigh were in control. Malabe managed to get a shot in from an angle, but straight at Clark. Chris Allen also got a header in just before half-time, but headed straight at the keeper. Aaron Baker had a great chance for the visitors shortly after half-time. Taha hit in a shot-cum-cross from the left and keeper Richard Barratt parried as far as Baker, whose right foot shot was cleared off the line. The home side then took the lead when a cross from the left caused chaos in the Wallingford area, and Substitute Andy Helby rifled low into the corner, giving Clarke no chance. However, the visitors finally came to life in the last 20 minutes, and should have had a clear cut penalty when a defender caught Baker blatantly with a trailing leg after he had run clear into the box, but the referee incredibly said no. Garry Clark kept the score at 1-0 with a great save from Liam Hope, tipping the ball just past his near post.Wallingford continued to create a number of very good chances. Andrew Styles put Baker clear in the box. A brilliant last-ditch tackle from Huxley denied him, but the ball fell to Taha who had an open net from a difficult angle, but blazed the ball high and wide. Taha then had got clear on the left again after a good ball from Tyler, and curled the ball over the keeper, but just wide of the top corner of the net, with Baker waiting for the ball in the middle. Substitute Zinzee Taha also had a great chance, making space for himself in the area with a zig-zag run, but Barratt did brilliantly to deny him with his feet. From the corner, Abdouli Taha swung in a brilliant cross to Baker at the far post, who headed into the side netting. At the other end, Clark made another brilliant save, this time to deny Carl Dodds from a corner, but Wallingford could not break the deadlock at the other end. Tyler turned on the edge of the area but shot straight at the keeper in the dying seconds and North Leigh held on the secure the 1-0 win. AFC Wallingford: Clarke, Parker, Massaquoi, Fenn, Ingram(Touray 80), Hoey, Fellows (Z.Taha 75), Tyler, Baker, Styles, A.Taha. Sub not used: Shea |
