Veteran defender Stuart Warley scored the winner as Saffron Walden Town reached the semi-final of the Hinchinbrooke Cup at the expense of Eynesbury Rovers last night (Thursday, March 20).
It was the Bloods’ third match in six days, and it proved to be a tricky encounter against a young, but very good, St Neots-based Eynesbury team.
Walden started slowly and rarely bothered the host’s young debutant keeper Louis Cook in the first half.
His opposite number, Jason Harvey, meanwhile, had to pull off an excellent one-handed save to tip the ball over the crossbar to ensure his team went in level at the interval.
Bloods boss Colin Wallington reorganised the team at half time, and it soon paid dividends when they took a deserved lead, Chris Reid heading home in the 55th minute.
Walden began to take control and played some good football. Jamie Solkon came close to extending the advantage with another header from a free kick which narrowly went past the post.
United Counties League side Eynesbury had chances of their own, and eventually forced an equaliser in the 70th minute when a super strike by Owen Dickson hit the back of the net.
Then Walden then threw on Wardley. Soon after his introducation the ex-QPR man, playing out of position up front, rose high to head home the winner past Cook.
There was still time for James Crane to see his effort chalked out for offside for Walden, before Spike Bell made a match-winning diving clearance off the goal-line after Dickson’s shot had been parried by Harvey.
Walden held on for victory to set up a semi-final tie against Stotfold, a date for which has yet to be announced.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here