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Wallingford ended Ardley's 100% record in an entertaining draw at The Playing Fields. The tireless Aaron Baker deservedly equalised Chris Hill's first half strike in a match that saw plenty of good chances for both sides.
The visitors started very brightly and had several early chances to take the lead. Aaron Baker turned and fed Andrew Styles who surged into the area but his low shot was saved by Rob White. With ten minutes gone Baker almost created another goal when he got clear on the left and crossed into the middle where Ian Fenn arrived 5 yards out, but a defender got a deflection on the ball and Fenn headed agonisingly over. Abdouli Taha then made a brilliant goalline clearance when poor defending let Chris Hill find space in the area and his shot beat Garry Clark. Although off balance, Taha managed to get a foot to the ball and it was cleared to safety. Wallingford then had the ball in the net after Danny Mason smashed the ball past his own keeper, but the referee's assistant spotted a push by Baker. Hill was causing Wallingford plenty of problems at the back and when Carl Standen beat a defender on the left and curled in a perfect cross, he looked odds on to head home, but under pressure from Paul Massaquoi he headed wide. Darren MacNamara then managed to get onto a ball over the top and beat Clarke with a lob, but the ball bounced wide. However, minutes later Ardley did take the lead. A cross from the right took a lucky richocet in the area and fell to Hill, who battled the ball past two defenders and poked the ball low past Clarke from a tight angle. Just before half-time the visitors almost equalised when Ross Tyler chipped the ball into the area, Baker controlled brilliantly and rounded the keeper, but a defender managed to get back and deflect his shot wide. Minutes after the restart Ardley probably should have doubled their lead when Standen arrived unmarked in the box but blasted the ball over the bar from close range. Straight away Wallingford had an equally good chance when Styles capitalised on a miskick and threaded the ball through to Baker, whose shot was saved by White down low to his right. With 15 minutes left Hill went close again, turning on the edge of the area and curling in a shot inches away from the top corner. Five minutes later and Wallingford equalised. Abdouli Taha got the ball on the left and curled in a cross from deep. Baker made a great run into the box and looped his header over the keeper to make it 1-1. In the dying seconds Styles touched the ball through to substitute Zinzee Taha who had a great chance to win the game, but smashed the ball over the bar. Wallingford will face another tough test when they travel to North Leigh on Saturday. AFC Wallingford: Clarke, Parker, Fellows (Z Taha 75), Massaquoi, Fenn, Ingram, Hoey, Tyler, Styles, Baker, A.Taha. Subs not used: Gordon, Shea. |
