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Wallingford progressed to the next round of the Linakers Insurance Brokers Challenge Cup with an exciting win over Abingdon Town in which they came back from a two goal deficit.
The visitors were ahead after only 4 minutes when Ian Fenn couldn’t deal with a high ball into the box and Paul Jezzard managed to get clear in the area, lobbing skilfully over the advancing John Shea. Wallingford fought back,Steve McMahon found Andrew Styles in space on the right hand side of the area, but he pulled his shot wide of the post. Ten minutes later Abdouli Taha swung in a brilliant ball from the touchline putting Matt Bianchini clear in the box, but he mis-hit his shot straight into the keepers hands. With twenty minutes gone the visitors took a two-goal lead after a bad misjudgement from keeper John Shea. Paul Jezzard got a cross in from wide on the right and the ball looked to be heading to Ian Fenn to clear. However, Shea called out for the defender to leave the ball for him, not noticing Abingdon Striker Gary Hartley just on his shoulder, who showed good initiative to nip in and stoop to head the ball into an empty net. A shocked home side almost pulled a goal back within 5 minutes when McMahon beat the offside trap on the right and crossed the ball low into the middle where Bianchini just missed connecting. Abdouli Taha turned and fired the ball goalwards but Abingdon keeper Rob Hamling brilliantly punched the ball off the line. Just before half-time, however Wallingford did pull a goal back. Michael Fellows got to the byline and drove the ball into the centre where Hamling had to dive backwards and fumbled the ball into his own net. In first half injury time Simon Barlow nearly found the equaliser when he met a corner with a well hit volley which was cleared off the line. Abingdon managed to survive until half-time, but the second half was dominated by Wallingford. With 50 minutes gone Fellows found Zinzee Taha making a good run down the right channel into the area. The striker, who had looked goal-shy in the first half lashed a superb shot in off the far post giving Hamling no chance. There was no let up for the visitors after that. Abdouli Taha got on the end of a McMahon cross, chesting the ball down and getting in a powerful right foot shot which Hamling did well to parry. Taha was first to the rebound but smashed the ball fractionally over the crossbar. On 70 minutes however, the home side did finally take the lead. Andrew Styles struck a 25 yard shot which was too hot for Hamling who could not keep the ball out. In the final minutes Wallingford had several chances to further their lead. Zinzee Taha fired over from 12 yards, Andrew Styles went clear on goal but dragged his shot wide and Hamling brilliantly saved a McMahon free-kick. Wallingford will play Division One East side Finchampstead next in the First Round. AFC Wallingford : Shea, Fellows (Hoey 65), Lovegrove, Ingram, Fenn, Barlow, Styles, McMahon, A Taha, Z Taha, Bianchini. Subs not used: Touray, Parker |
