On Saturday afternoon I popped over to Wadham Lodge, Walthamstow, to check out ESL newboys Wadham Lodge as they took on Hertfordshire side FC Broxbourne Borough.
The Hertfordshire side play in the Spartan South Midlands League and finished 2nd in Division One last season behind Welwyn Garden City so this was going to be a stern test for Tony Levoli’s side and sure enough the visitors had the first opening on 2 minutes when a cross from the left saw a point blank header beaten away by the hosts keeper.
However on 5 minutes Broxbourne did take the lead after calamity defending from the hosts. Wadham’s keeper called loudly to claim a long ball on the edge of his area but his defender tried to bring the down and as he did this it was pinched from him by a Broxbourne attacker who knocked into an empty net with the keeper stranded in no mans land. Lodge 0 Borough 1.
Wadham almost hit back immediately as a ball across was controlled and struck at the visitors goal but their keeper saved and then saw a header go over the bar. On 12 minutes Wadham did level after winning a free kick on the left hand side this was swung into the box and onto the head of a team mate who guided the ball into the corner of the net. Lodge 1 Borough 1.
On 18 minutes a poor ball across Wadham’s back line almost resulted in goal for Broxbourne but the effort flashed just wide but on twenty minutes more defensive woes from the hosts gifted the visitors a second goal. From a goal kick the keeper played a short one to his defender on the edge of the box but the defender miscontrolled the ball and the forward stole in and lifted the ball over Lodge’s keeper for the lead once again. Lodge 1 Borough 2.
However as poor as the hosts were at the back they were fantastic going forward and on 26 minutes they levelled once again as a ball back over the top following a clearance from the defence saw Broxbourne appeal in vain for offside and left the Wadham front line a simple task of squaring across goal and tapping home. The visitors were furious no offside had been given. Lodge 2 Borough 2.
However Wadham were the victims of their own downfall once again as almost immediately Broxbourne caught Wadham cold down the left and the visitors full back closed in on goal and finished beautifully into the far corner to complete a mad first half hour. Lodge 2 Borough 3.
The hosts almost levelled again on 36 minutes but saw a towering header from a corner go over the bar and then with three minutes to half time came a decent effort from the edge of the box from Broxbourne but Wadham’s keeper got everything behind it and just about held onto the ball. A minute before the break saw a great chance for Broxbourne as Wadham left a man totally free inside the box but his header is miles off target and in fact went across the six yard box and was almost headed in by a team mate but he could only head wide. A very entertaining half was then brought to a close.
Half Time: Wadham Lodge 2 FC Broxbourne Borough 3
Early in the second half Wadham’s defence was under pressure again as Broxbourne threatened but the shot was hit wide and then Wadham should have levelled as no one picked up Wadham’s centre half from a corner but his header from point blank range was over somehow. Wadham were now exerting some pressure on the Broxbourne back line as we came towards the hour mark but they could’t find that killer touch in front of goal.
However the visitors hadn’t lost their touch in front of goal and went further ahead on 61 minutes as a ball into Wadham’s box caused problems yet again and it broke loose for an attacker to rifle into the bottom corner and give Borough a two goal cushion. Lodge 2 Borough 4.
Cue lots of changes from both sides as they decided to try some new players or formations or whatever they need to do in pre season. The changes didn’t seem to effect Broxbourne’s attacking prowess though as they scored a fifth goal on 74 minutes after yet more sloppy play from the hosts who allowed the visitors to break down the right hand side and the ball across the box was thumped home first time at the back post. Lodge 2 Borough 5.
The visitors had further chances to add to their lead, firstly on 76 minutes they had an effort well saved by the hosts keeper and then four minutes later the keeper made another save although the ball still had to be cleared off the line as the power of the shot almost allowed the ball to bounce in after the save had been made.
Moments later Wadham grabbed one back as the hosts attacker out-muscled his marker on the edge of the area down the left and he squared for his team mate to control and then place the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Lodge 3 Borough 5.
Another spectacular save from Wadham’s keeper with three minutes to go kept Broxbourne out before the return ball was poked just wide of the far post. The referee brought proceedings to a close minutes later and a very entertaining friendly came to an end. Wadham will have to improve on their defending before the season begins in two weeks but they have many positives to look at as well, especially up front where they do look dangerous at times. Broxbourne look a decent outfit and will no doubt have another good season if this performance is anything to go by.
Full Time: Wadham Lodge 3 FC Broxbourne Borough 5
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