Essex Senior League – Friday 28th October 2022
Attendance: 154
Woodford Town 2-2 Saffron Walden Town
Luke Parrott 13′ 12′ Solomon Ofori
Lee Sharpe 18′ 38′ Craig Calver
Report By Harrison Nathan
Photos By James Walkinshaw
A good point under the lights at Ashton’s, as the Woods stretch their good run of form to just one loss in seven games since the beginning of the month.
With just 8 minutes on the clock, tough-tackling midfielder Ope Mosuro went down needing treatment and he was unable to continue, seeing Andre Anderson replace him. The loss in midfield wasn’t the biggest concern for the Woods manager on the night, Glen Reeves as only 3 minutes after the injury, Saffron Walden took the lead. Ofori’s strike from distance was hit with power and went in past Callum McEvoy in the Woodford goal…
An instant reaction from the Woods was to follow. Only a minute after the visitors took the lead, Luke Parrot danced through past the helpless Walden defence before firing past the keeper to make it 1-1 and score his 5th goal in his last 4 appearances. If the reaction from Woodford wasn’t already good enough – it was about to get even better. Zee Lopez’s corner made its way to the back post where Woods defender Lee Sharpe rose highest to head it home and give the Woods the lead as they completed a quick turnaround, sending the Ashton’s crowd mental!
The Woods would have liked to go into the break ahead, but 10 minutes before the whistle a break from Saffron Walden saw a chance for Craig Calver let fly from around 25 yards out, his shot sailing past Callum McEvoy who could do nothing about the effort. Half time approached with the game all level, but there was really promising signs from Woodford that they could push on and win the game in second half.
A flying start to the second half saw both sides come close, but there was no major clear cut chances for either team I the early stages of the second half. Glen Reeves turned to his subs and subbed on Wale Odedoyin – he came on and proved a struggle for the Saffron Walden defence. The substitute arguably had the best chance of the half. The referee decided against giving a penalty, instead pulling it back for an earlier foul just outside the penalty area – Odedoyin stepped up and his low free kick struck the outside of the post and went behind for a goal kick. There was also a few more penalty appeals as the half went on, all of which were waved away by referee Alan Steward. Montel McKenzie also saw his 90th minute free kick fly just past the post as Young made some vital saves in the Walden net to keep the game level.
In the end it finished 2-2, with Woodford picking up a solid point against strong opposition. Normally, it’s a game where you’d take a point, however you can only think had the Woods have had just one of those penalty decisions go their way, the result could have been greatly impacted…
A huge thank you to everyone who turned up at Ashton’s and created a fantastic atmosphere, your support doesn’t go unnoticed. We’re back in action next Friday night when we face Clapton FC at Ashton’s on match day 12 in the Essex Senior League.
Our u15’s are also in action next Sunday (6th November). They face Edmonton United in the London FA County Cup Round 1. Feel free to come down and support the youngsters as they look to kickstart a cup run in the county cup.
COYW!
Woodford Town starting XI: McEvoy (GK), Brown (Kpemou – 56’), Mckenzie, Machado, Sharpe, Byrne, Mosuro (Anderson – 8’), Mbembi (C), Parrott, Phillips (Odedoyin – 65’), Lopez (Christou – 85’).
Unused substitutes: Kai Peters
Saffron Walden Town starting XI: Young (GK), Skelton, Monk, Pullen (C), Hurley, Watson, Calver (Leech – 46’), Pullen, Manduakila (Maybanks – 89’), Ofori (Lewis-Kirwan – 89’), Scully (Dear – 89’).
Unused substitutes: Nathan Scarborough
