March football vs Saffron Walden Town. Picture: Steve Williams.

NEVER was the phrase “a game of two halves” more appropriate than at the mar G.E.R. Ground on Saturday.

March football vs Saffron Walden Town. Picture: Steve Williams.

The Bloods stormed into a three goal lead at half-time time, only to surrender the initiative to a plucky March team in the second half. Fortunately, Walden managed to hold on to the three points, as they returned to winning ways, after another entertaining game.

Stuart Wardley, playing up front again, had two good efforts early on, forcing a full length save from the keeper in the 5th minute, and then a finger-tip save over the bar from a header two minutes later.

Matt Snelling had a lob shot over the keeper cleared off the goal line, and Wardley had another powerful shot just go wide of the post, before Walden at last took the lead in the 21st minute. Ross Laird held the ball up well before laying the ball back to Snelling, who drove a low shot into the net from the edge of the box.

Walden increased their lead in the 29th minute. Laird made a delightful pass to Snelling, whose well-timed run was rewarded when he shot wide of the keeper into the goal.

Two minutes before half-time Snelling turned provider with a well judged high lob forward to Laird who hit a first time volley into the back of the net, to round off a fine first half performance.

James Crane and Dan Grindrod both forced saves from the March keeper Ben Collett, early after the re-start, but gradually Walden let the initiative slip and March pulled a goal back when Robbie Masters headed home a free kick in the 57th minute.

The Bloods had a let-off when Masters turned in a left wing cross in the 75th minute, but was ruled offside by the referee’s assistant. The warning was not headed, and what appeared to be a comfortable victory, suddenly became anything but when Lewis Thompson glanced a header from a free kick into the net with six minutes remaining.

Three minutes from full time Louis Harper should have made the game safe when he volleyed Wardley’s pass over the crossbar, with only the goalkeeper to beat.

SAFFRON WALDEN: Jason Harvey, Dan Dea’th , Dan Grindrod, Jake Noble, Alex Riches, Chris Reid, James Crane, Matt Snelling (Charlie Davies – 81 mins), Ross Laird , Louis Harper, Stuart Wardley (Peter Davies – 88 mins).