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 Craig Evans saved a penalty and made a string of saves as Wallingford stunned fifth-placed Milton by grabbing a point a Potash Lane.
Despite being bottom of the Hellenic Premier League, Wallingford have been in improved form of late, having taken the lead in the last four matches, and they took the lead here too. Michael Weir's cross from the left hit a defender and spun into the air, catching the strong wind. Milton couldn't clear the ball and Jefferson Harriott cut the ball back for Shaun Weston to fire the ball low past ex-Wallingford keeper Craig Griffiths in the Milton goal.. The lead didn't last long, however. Charlie Moone went on a mazy run, skipping past two defenders and getting into the box, before Jamie Debanks barged him over when he looked odds on to score. Moone picked himself up and despatched the penalty low down inside Craig Evans' right hand post to make it 1-1. Ten minutes later and Milton won themselves another penalty. Jemel Johnson got clear on the counter attack and rounded Evans, but Debanks blocked the ball on the line with what appeared to be his chest. The referee's assistant decided he had used his hands and the referee pointed to the spot. Moone stepped up again and placed his penalty low towards the right hand post again, but this time Evans got down quickly and made a terrific save to palm the ball wide. With the wind behind them, Wallingford created a couple of decent chances, Harriott shot just over the bar from a tight angle after bringing a highball down in the area. Weston and Harriott then both went close from long range, although they probably had better options in the box. The second half was one-way traffic however, as Milton used the strong wind to their advantage and peppered the Wallingford box with high balls. Debanks made a last ditch tackle to deflected a Johnson shot over from 5 yards, while Evans made excellent close range saves to deny Moone, Johnson and Paul Davis. Tom Butler then had a great chance, but volleyed into the side netting from 5 yards after a swirling high ball had found him unmarked at the far post. It seemed only a matter of time before Milton took the lead, but Wallingford dug deep and Craig Evans got in the way of everything the home side could throw at him. Defender Dean Flockton got forward and was denied twice by Evans, first when the keeper saved his downward header onto the post, and then he got down well to block his right foot effort after a lucky ricochet had found him unmarked in the middle. Wallingford had a couple of opportunities on the counter attack, Tommy Hayday tried his luck from distance and Michael Fellows had a shot from the edge of the area that deflected straight into the keepers arms. With time running out Milton threw everyone forward but Evans frustrated them once again with a double save from Moone and Bailey. In the dying seconds Wayne Harbert mis-hit a volley at the far post and Wallingford held on to repeat the scoreline from the Hithercroft in September and claim their first point of 2008. AFC Wallingford : Evans, Davies, Stourton, Debanks, Pierce, Lamont, Fellows, Hayday, Harriot (De Sousa 85), Weston, Weir (Stoute 88) |
