AFC Wallingford Official Website

AFC Wallingford beat Benson Lions in a comfortable performance which saw them finish off 4-2 winners. The goals came from Tom Collins (2), Michael Butcher and Tarome Hemmings.

Picture: (Man of the Match Ben Gladwin puts in another challenge against Benson's livliest player)

Wallingford progressed to the next round of the North Berks Shield in a game where they never really got started but did enough to win the game comfortably.

Wallingford started on the front foot with Jordan Brown and Tom Collins having shots inside the first 5 minutes. Benson were already finding it difficult to stem Wallingford’s flow and were only able to shoot from distance and rarely trouble Bovingdon in the Wallingford Goal. Good play between Tristan Lewis, Ben Gladwin and Collins saw Courtney Amos just mistimed a header when well placed on 18 minutes. 10 minutes later and against the run of play Bensons forward got turned and his mishit shot from 25 yards somehow bounced past Bovingdons outstretched arm and into the bottom corner. Amos almost equalised immediately with a thunderous dipping volley but saw his effort rebound off the bar with the keeper beaten. Amos then bundled the ball wide from a Tristan Campbell corner on 37 minutes but Wallingford were level before the break. Wallingford won the ball back inside their 18 yard box and with 3 passes Collins found himself through on goal and he lifted the ball over the keeper from 12 yards.

1-1 at the break with Wallingford having the better of the chances and 70% possession but finding it difficult to get themselves going.

A Campbell free-kick was deflected wide after Brown had been brought down on the edge on 50 minutes but it was Brown who was involved heavily in Wallingford’s 2^nd. Brown raced through and somehow managed to bundled the ball through goalkeeper and defender before Collins smashed in from 1 yard. Collins and Brown were now linking up well and causing Bensons back line difficulties but couldn’t find the killer goal. On 70 minutes Wallingford’s 3^rd did come. Butcher received the ball 20 yards from goal and drove inside past 2 defenders, his left foot shot was struck well but with the aid of a massive deflection it bobbled into the corner past the stranded keeper. Campbell and Gladwin were now starting to control the tempo of the game in midfield, finding passes freely and another good move almost saw Gladwin claim the 4^th. Collins found space as the ball came in from wide but his shot was saved and it fell to Gladwin free at the back post. His sliced volley then hit the bar and a Benson defender cleared. Some lazy defending then allowed Benson a 2^nd on 82 mins when having cleared the initial corner Wallingford’s defence switched off and the ball was bundled in after an excellent cross from out wide. 16 year old Tarome Hemmings then eased any nerves as he finished off a well worked move in the 84^th minute to make the score 4-2.

Chairman Gerry said “It was good for the boys to get back into the thick of it after 3 weeks off and although they never really got started they always looked like winning the game”

Wallingford face fellow NB Premier side Didcot Casuals at Home in the next round on the 28^th November.

Wallingford's next game is only their third league match this season when Harwell Village come to the Hithercroft next Saturday. Harwell currently sit one place and one point above Wally having played 2 more games this season. In their other league matches they have beaten Lambourn 6-1 and Didcot Casuals 1-0, drawn with Drayton and lost 3-0 to the leagues early pace setters Faringdon Town.