Witham Town 3 Saffron Walden Town 0

Step 4/5 Inter-Step Play-Off, Saturday 30th April

I returned to my spiritual home of football in the shape of Spa Road, Witham, on the final Saturday in April and saw hosts Witham Town survive relegation to the Essex Senior League and keep their place in the Isthmian North after they swept Saffron Walden Town aside in their Step 4/5 Inter-Step playoff.

It is always a special and emotional time for me when I return to Spa Road, it is the ground my father took me too for my very first football game as an excited ten year old back in 1990 when Witham Town drew 2-2 with Rainham Town, and we spent many a time watching them play for the next two decades and became heavily involved with the club with my dad being programme editor for six years.

And in 2008 when my father passed away, the club’s officials came to his funeral which I will always be grateful for, and they also played a charity game in his honour the summer after, which was very nice indeed. One of those club officials who attended my dad’s funeral was then chairman Tony Last, who sadly passed away a few years later, so I made sure I went to his send off too, may him and his wife and daughter forever rest in peace up there in the sky, you will all be missed that is for sure.

So, as you can see, I have a big emotional attachment to the club, I grew up in Witham and went to school there too, spending my first 17 years there before moving away, so yes coming back is always an emotional time, and this was a very big game for the club against ESL runners up Saffron Walden Town, who I have great affection for too after covering the league for a few years now.

Walden have always treated me like royalty when I have visited their Catons Lane ground, and this was there big chance to win promotion to Step Four, which for the club would be an amazing achievement, so on one side I had the awful thought of Witham being relegated, but on the other side Walden winning promotion, and vice versa (Witham staying up and Walden failing to achieve their goal), so to say my emotions were all over the show would be an understatement.

Anyway, enough about how I was feeling, and more about the game, Witham netted a 95^th minute winner last weekend to make sure they got the relegation playoff spot in the Isthmian North at the expense of Barking, who were sent down as a result, Walden of course netted a comfortable win over Hoddesdon Town last weekend to seal the runners up spot in the ESL and the play off game today, if you would like to see my blog on Walden’s win last weekend click here http://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2022/04/saffron-walden-town-2-hoddesdon-town-0.html

It had been a remarkable run of form for The Bloods coming into this tie, they were unbeaten in twelve games with eleven wins, whereas Witham had struggled hence their lowly position although four points from their last two games made sure they made this playoff tie, so they would draw on that grit and determination to get themselves through this tie, it would certainly be a battle against a Walden side who know how to win games right now.

The visitors almost had the ideal start too, as less than five minutes in had a golden chance to take the lead when Kris Oti found himself clear on goal, but saw his finish well saved by the onrushing Rhys Madden, who saved his side from making the worst possible start in front of 697 at Spa Road, but thereafter Walden barely threatened as Witham began to create the more clear-cut chances.

Jimmy Wallace could only nod wide at the far post from a corner, and then Adam Vyse saw an effort beaten away by James Young, and Young would make another couple of decent saves to keep the hosts out, and although Walden did see Gavin Cockman drag an effort wide down the other end, their only other chance of the half of note, the hosts were to go into the break a goal ahead.

This is because five minutes before the break a corner kick in from the right saw keeper Young fail to deal with it and the ball found it’s way through to Rian Mclean who sent a downward header from point blank range into the corner of the net, and send the home fans behind that goal wild, Witham had that all important lead.

Walden needed a quick response in the second period, but it was Witham who were to strike the next blow, and what a goal it was too, as ten minutes into the second period Josh Osude burst down the right flank before cutting inside onto his right foot and firing an unstoppable effort beyond Young into the far corner, it was a special strike and Walden now had it all to do.

Seven minutes later though Witham all but ended the contest when they added a third, again from a corner as no one from Walden dealt with the ball in and Wallace climbed highest to power home a header from close range, and the hosts now had a comfortable three goal cushion, and they could almost see the game out with relative comfort.

The hosts did blot their copybook before the end though as with seventeen minutes of the ninety to go Archie Tamplin was shown a second yellow for going through the back of Craig Calver meaning the hosts would finish the game with ten men, but this was really the only negative for the hosts all afternoon and they easily saw out the game to take a big win and keep their place in the Isthmian North for next season.

This was Walden’s first loss in thirteen games, and they choose one of their biggest to put in probably one of their most disappointing performances especially second half where they were outplayed by their hosts, keeper Young was the only reason the score line wasn’t more as he made some decent saves.

They battled well especially first half and if Oti had netted that early chance who knows, but it’s another year of ESL football for The Bloods next season as a result, but they can be proud of their achievements this season for sure.

Full time Witham Town 3 Saffron Walden Town 0