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Matt Bianchini saved the game late on for Wallingford after a poor second half performance from a spirited Wantage side.
Giles missed a sitter after just 5 minutes for the home side. Gavin Jones crossed from the right, the ball was flicked on to Giles at the far post who had an open goal, but tried to chest the ball down, only succeeding in directing it wide. The visitors looked bright early on. Matt Bianchini latched onto a long ball from Garry Clark and forced keeper Terry Burton into a good save, tipping the ball over the bar. On 15 minutes the visitors then took the lead. Bianchini got clear on the right and cut the ball back from the byline. Wantage couldn’t clear the ball properly, and Abdouli Taha struck a powerful volley right-footed past Burton . Richie Bourne went close midway through the first half with a curling shot from 30 yards that flew just wide, but Wallingford had much the better of the first half. Bianchini had a good chance just after the break when Danny Leggett curled in a brilliant cross from the right, but his header looped just over the bar. After that, the home side took control and a fifteen minute purple-patch changed the course of the game. Wantage won a corner and Giles arrived in the middle to head home from close range. Straight from the kick-off Wallingford lost possession and Jones had a great chance at the far post, but his close range effort bounced back off the underside of the crossbar with Clark beaten. Minutes later Paul Day went close when his shot from the left got a massive deflection and looked to be headed for the net before Clark got his fingers to the ball and just tipped it over the bar. Wallingford did not survive for much longer, however and from another corner from the left Giles made a good run again into the far post area and connected well with a volley to make it 2-1 to Wantage. The home side looked to be holding on well until the 85th minute when Terry Burton, who had an otherwise good game, scuffed a goalkick straight into the path of Bianchini, who controlled the ball well, advanced into the area and slotted the ball past the keeper, who got a touch but couldn’t prevent it from rolling inside the post. AFC Wallingford : Clark , Hoey, Parker, Ingram, Barlow, McMahon, Styles (Z.Taha 78), Touray (Fenn 45), Bianchini, Leggett, A.Taha. sub not used: Shea. |
