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Wallingford slipped to another home defeat in a game in which they had good spells but were unable to seize the initiatives with goals when on top.
Both sides started scrappily, neither able to keep hold of the ball, although it was Wallingford who should have taken the lead. Aaron Baker found himself clear of the visiting defence, but his shot was saved by the feet of Gareth Walker. John Shea made a good save at the other end from Darren Howell?s goalbound header, and soon after the best move of the match so far saw Dan Kirby head home Matt Shelton?s cross from the left to give the visitors the lead. It took AFC only 4 minutes to get back on level terms. It was another excellent cross, this time from Zinzee Taha who, having found space on the right, delivering a perfect cross onto the head of Aaron Baker who gave Walker no chance. Wallingford finished the first half the stronger, some resolute defending keeping Milton at bay led by a promising debut by Adjei Boateng at right-back. AFC threatened at the other end and should really have gone in ahead. Great work from the ever-lively Baker set up Zinzee Taha, only for Walker to make a great save from keep out Taha?s shot. Abdouli Taha then got to the bye-line only to cross straight to the ?keeper, and again there was no way past Walker as he was down low to his right to gather Danny Leggett?s shot. It was Milton who went closest to scoring in spite of this pressure, only the woodwork saving Wallingford as Martin Fox?s header crashed off the underside of the bar before being cleared by Paul Massaquoi. The second half didn?t match up the first in terms of goalmouth incident ? Wallingford soaked up Milton?s pressure quite comfortably and looked dangerous on the break. Martin Fox was a rock at the heart of the visiting defence, however, repelling everything that came his way so that the closest Wallingford came was a shot from Danny Leggett which went narrowly wide. Milton stole all 3 points 8 minutes from time when, after James Clarke?s cross was only half-cleared, Paul Davis drilled a low shot beyond John Shea and into the bottom corner. Wallingford pressed forward in search of an equalizer, but there was still no way past Walker and his defence. Ross Tyler?s shot from 20 yards drifted wide of the far post, this was followed by the final whistle and another case of what might have been for AFC. Team: John Shea, Adjei Boateng (sub Simon Barlow), Paul Massaquoi, Ian Lovegrove, Ian Fenn, Ross Tyler, Zinzee Taha, Tom Ingram (sub Andrew Styles), Aaron Baker, Danny Leggett (sub Michael Fellows), Abdouli Taha. |