 Wallingford goalkeeper John Shea was taken to hospital after being knocked unconscious in a goalmouth collision, as Wallingford fell to another unlucky defeat.
Rob Laurie opened the scoring for the visitors with a simple finish from Lewis Jones' long throw which caught a reshuffled Wallingford defence by surprise. Shea, returning to the side for his first start of 2008, made a couple of important point blank saves from Simon Gywnne and Lee Ferneyhough, while Cory Hyde also hit the post for Pegasus. Jefferson Harriott had missed a couple of good chances for Wallingford, but then turned provider, flicking the ball over the top for Lamont to run onto. The young midfielder controlled well and lashed the ball past Morgan to equalise. Five minutes before half time and the game was overshadowed by some harrowing scenes. John Shea, celebrating his birthday that day, rose to take a difficult catch at a corner and a Pegasus player accidently caught him late. He clashed heads with the player and landed awkwardly on the ground and began fitting. The game was suspended for 45 minutes while he was tended to on the pitch, and after regaining consciousness he was taken to John Radcliffe Hospital, where he recovered well, and was treated for a dislocated finger. When the game restarted there were another five minutes before the official 'half time'. Wallingford looked the sharpest after the long break and took the lead. Jordan Weaver crossed from the right and Pete Lamont got in front of a Pegasus defender, leaping to head the ball goalwards and against the underside of the crossbar. The ball bounced back into play but Lamont was first to head home the rebound. Pegasus had the better of the second half, however, and it was not long before they were back in the game. Aldrich's cross from the left found Laurie in the middle who directed the ball brilliantly with his head past the despairing fingertips of stand-in keeper Dinarte De Sousa. Half way through the second half the visitors took the lead when Hyde found space on the left, cut inside and struck a powerful shot into the roof of the net from just outside the area. De Sousa then saved with his feet to deny Gywnne on the break. At the other end, Aaron Davies struck a good chance over the bar when he got into a good position on the left. Wallingford were given a glimmer of hope late on when Andy Mowan was sent off for his second bookable offence, but Pegasus defended well to hold onto their lead. AFC Wallingford: Shea (De Sousa 40), Davies, Fellows, Pierce, Pitson, Debanks, Lamont, Hayday, Weaver, Harriott, Weston (Weir 70)
|
