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Wallingford crashed out of the Linaker Insurance Brokers Challenge Cup to Division One East side Finchampstead after failing to score for the 6th consecutive game.
It could have been so different had the home side taken their early chances. With just minutes gone, Abdouli Taha put Aaron Baker in the clear, but keeper Stuart Harris saved with his legs. Midway through the first half Taha had a similar chance when Fletcher Hoey's ball was missed by a defender, but he hit his shot first time and pulled it wide of the post with just the keeper to beat. Baker then went close again, turning in the area and firing just wide, while Danny Leggett just failed to get onto the end of a dangerous Taha cross. At the other end, John Shea made a brilliant save, tipping over Ryan Adgor's drive from the edge of the area. Shortly after half-time, Justin McClurg got on the end of a high ball from the other end of the field from Harris, but volleyed straight at Shea. The same player then blasted over after a mistake from Ingram. At the other end, Taha crossed to the far post where Fletcher Hoey arrived unmarked, but Harris came off his line and blocked Hoey's low shot with his legs. The warning signs were there, however and the visitors took the lead with quarter of an hour to go when McClurg wriggled free into the area and fired left-footed into the top corner. Minutes later Shea had to be alert to prevent Dean Boulthwood from flicking the ball over his head. He then made a good save from another long range Adgor effort. Wallingford piled players forward to score that elusive goal. Hoey lofted the ball into the box where Tom Ingram arrived but headed over the bar. Taha tried his luck from 25 yards, but struck the ball just wide into the side netting. From a corner, Taha then floated in a cross to the far post where Hoey arrived unmarked again, but his header was parried clear by Harris. With minutes left, Hoey then got to the byline and centred the ball for Taha, who could not get over the top of the header and looped it over the bar. Finchampstead held on for an unlikely but deserved victory and Wallingford will need to go back to the drawing board to work out why they cannot score, especially with a tricky away trip to Fairford coming up on Saturday. |
