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For the second time this season Wallingford held second-placed Ardley to a draw, in a game of two contrasting halves.
The visitors started brightly and Luke Holden should have opened the scoring after a mistake by Tom Ingram let him run clear, but he chipped the ball over the bar with just John Shea to beat. Minutes later a good run and cut back from the byline from Adam Richmond left Holden with another great opportunity which he snatched at and scuffed wide from 10 yards out. Aaron Baker had a decent chance a few minutes later when he headed straight at the keeper from Abdouli Taha’s cross. More poor defending from Wallingford then nearly presented Chris Hill with a close range chance but Tom Ingram denied him with a good last minute tackle. Aaron Baker had another couple of good chances before the break. Danny Leggett flicked on Shea’s long kick, but Baker’s shot wasn’t powerful enough to trouble Steve Edwards in goal. Baker, still regaining his sharpness after injury then miscued from 10 yards after Fletcher Hoey cut the ball back from the byline. Ardley put Wallingford under immense pressure before half-time with Shea keeping the home side in the game. A brilliant one-two from Holden and Hill saw Hill run clear but Shea got out quickly to smother his shot. Shea then brilliantly tipped over Steve Garbutt’s powerful drive before Ian Fenn headed a looping cross off the line. Shea tipped a Phil Martin long range effort wide, but Hill finally looked to have beaten Shea after a goalmouth scramble at the far post, only for Andrew Styles to clear off the line. Wallingford somehow survived until half-time and gave a much improved performance in the second period. Holden made a good chance for himself from a counter-attack, outsprinting Barlow on the left to get into the area, but he slices high and wide. Apart from that, the home side managed to prevent Ardley from creating any real opportunities and began to look the more comfortable side. Abdouli Taha created a good opportunity when he beat a player on the left and whipped in a superb cross, but Leggett headed the ball just over the bar. Despite their second-half possession, Wallingford struggled to penetrate a solid visitors defence, however. Baker did get free in the are with 15 minutes left, but his shot was deflected just over the bar. AFC Wallingford must feel happy with avoiding their 3rd consecutive League defeat, but have not scored a goal in 5 games. AFC Wallingford : Shea, Fenn, Massaquoi, Ingram, Barlow, Styles, Hoey (Z Taha 75), Tyler , Baker, A.Taha, Leggett. Subs not used: McMahon, Touray |
