Ilford netted fifteen minutes from time to see a well contested derby at Cricklefield end all square in an Essex Senior League contest on a chilly January evening in Seven Kings.
With Jonny Fowell feeling under the weather it was left to Adam Peek and Darrell Gosnell to take charge of the hosts against a Walthamstow side who were playing their first match since the departure of Ryan Maxwell, but the visitors knew a positive result would see then back into second.
There was an early chance for the visitors when Lewis Francis got clear but he stumbled as he went to shoot and it allowed hosts keeper Joe Taylor to make a save, and the resultant corner was then flicked wide by Ben Crilley.
Callum Ibe then saw a volley tipped wide by Taylor as the visitors threatened to grab the lead, but it was the hosts who edged ahead in the 21st minute with their first real chance of the game when a cross was flicked on by Dom Wynter-Stevens into the six yard box and Jordan Fisher was there to bundle the ball over the line from close range.
Stow though managed to level in the 33rd minute when a through ball from Dwade James found Francis who managed to slot beyond Taylor into the bottom corner, and then James sent a powerful volley over the hosts bar as the visitors looked to edge in front themselves.
The game was then halted for a few minutes after Ilford forward Alfie Walker had to be stretchered off after a challenge, hopefully it is not to serious and he makes a swift recovery, but it isn’t nice to see someone leave the field of play that way.
Stow had one more chance before the half was out when Ibe poked wide of the hosts goal on the stretch, and it meant the game was all square going into the break.
Half Time Ilford 1 Walthamstow 1
Stow so nearly grabbed the lead inside the opening minute of the second period when after a decent run into the box by Ibe had fallen to James, he drilled a ball across goal which just invaded Francis who was coming in at the back post.
The hosts then volleyed an effort at goal which was straight at James Bransgrove in the visitors goal, but seven minutes into the second period Walthamstow went down the other end and won a free kick which was brilliantly curled home by Francis for his second of the game.
Ilford looked to fight back and saw Larry Akanbi break free, but his effort was well saved by Bransgrove, before the Stow keeper had to make another brilliant stop to deny Akanbi again, this time from a volley.
Stow themselves were looking for what could be a clinching third and saw a Vinny Murphy free kick go straight at Taylor, before Bransgrove had to make another terrific save down the other end to deny the hosts once again.
But from the resulting corner he could do nothing to prevent Fotey Jaiteh’s corner from going straight into the far corner, the ball seemed to bounce inside the area before going into the far corner of the net, and the game was level going into the final fifteen minutes.
Stow then saw substitute Emiel Aiken poke a cross to the near post wide, before The Foxes headed wide at the other end as both were searching for a winner, and the hosts had the final chance of the contest in stoppage time when Akanbi saw an effort brilliantly blocked by Murphy, and it meant this contest ended in a draw.
It means Ilford climb from 15th to 12th and are four points off a top ten position, whilst Walthamstow do go into second place on goal difference ahead of Hashtag United and five points behind leaders Saffron Walden Town.
Full Time Ilford 2 Walthamstow 2
No comments:
Post a Comment