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AFC Wallingford were well beaten yesterday by Henley Town despite playing well and dominating long periods of the game. The game ended 4-1 with Wallingford finishing the game with 10 men.

Picture (Tom Heslop punches away on his debut last weekend against Holyport)

AFC Wallingford suffered their first pre-season defeat on Saturday against Henley Town. With 2 experienced heads unavailable in Chadbone and Kelleher and two or three other key players missing there were plenty of positives and negatives to take away from a game. These games will be crucial in preparing the young squad for the coming season.

On what will be the smallest pitch Wallingford will play on all season the game started well. Both sides had early opportunites to open the scoring with Brown and Baker having the best opportunities for Wallingford but it was Henley who took the lead 15 minutes before the break. Campbell gave away a soft free kick on the edge of the box which was expertly put away by Henley’s lively wide man. Wallingford responded quickly though and Bakers excellent cross was turned in to his own net by Henley’s right back to leave the scores level at half time.

Pleased with the first half and having felt they could be leading Wallingford continued to play well but only 90 seconds into the second half Ashley Godwin, making his debut at right back, dived in inside the box and gave Henley the chance to take the lead from the spot. Boylan made no mistake with the penalty. At 2-1 Wallingford looked the better side and created a number of good openings but failed to find the net. Poulter had his effort cleared off the line when through on goal, Brown also saw an effort cleared off the line after rounding the keeper and Gladwin, who’s passing caused problems for Henley all game, could only force the Henley keeper into a double save when finding himself 8 yards out. It was from a Wallingford corner that Henley broke away to grab the 3^rd completely against the run of play. The ball was cleared high up the pitch, Amos missed his first touch and the ball found Henleys Right midfielder just inside the box to lash home past the helpless Heslop. This was now exactly the test the young Wallingford players needed with Henley continuing to win physical battles and flying into tackles. Wallingford looked comfortable in possession and continued to create openings and cause Henley problems despite playing the last 20 minutes with 10 men after Campbell failed to keep his discipline. Henleys forward squeezed a shot in at the near post near the end and the game finished 4-1.

Match Squad:

1. Tom Heslop

2. Ashley Godwin 

3. Tristan Lewis

4. Ben Gladwin

5. Michael Butcher

6. Courtney Amos

7. Ross Baker

8. Tristan Campbell 

9. Josh Poulter

10. Jordan Brown 

11. Jordan Lee-Brown

12. Josh Springer