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Ryman League Division One South
WORTHING (0) 2 (Pulling, Hill)
WALTON & HERSHAM (1) 2
Attendance 625 (How Many!?)
We never do well against nine men. Remember Windsor on the first day of the season? Walton seem to like playing with nine as well as on our previous visit up there, found themselves reduced to nine after since-departed ‘keeper Tucker was out of luck when dismissed for reaction to a challenge on him by Sam before another went from the pitch and the manager from the dugout. This time it was the turn of Thompson and Hurdle to see red and they could have no complaints about either dismissal.
We started without the injured Wes Lopez and Glen Davies while Stewart Holmes and Nko Ekoku were rested after midweek exertions. Ashley Carr made his home debut, partnering Sam up front.
We started slowly, having the lion’s share of possession, which we were unable to convert into clear chances. Of course, when playing like this it was inevitable that Walton would take the lead and they duly did with their first shot of the match which took two deflections on its way past Will When we finally did create an opening, Mark Pulling fired over the bar when well placed and with Ashley Carr not at the races in more ways than one, changes would have to be made if anything was to be had from this game.
Rather surprisingly, Andy Lutwyche replaced Clay Lamont at half time in a bid to preserve the immense Lamont for Monday. Carr was given five minutes after the break until being replaced by Nko as the Rebels pressed for the equaliser. Sam blasted a half chance over almost immediately and we began to play as the unorthodox Ekoku began to ask questions of the Walton defence and questions that Thompson was unable to deal with as his cynical shirt tug earned him his second caution of the game and a subsequent red. The Rebels pushed on and it was to be man-of-the-moment Mark Pulling who restored parity with a beautifully executed half volley with the outside of his right foot from 20 yards to make it 8 goals in 8 games for the likeable midfielder.
The petulant Hurdle, who had led a charmed life all game steamed into Mark Knee soon after the restart and was given his second yellow although it could have been a straight red such was the lateness of the challenge. So down to nine, surely the Worthing win was a formality? Wrong. A long ball from Packham was sloppily given away by Nko and after a slip by the error-prone Lutwyche, their forward was clean through on goal, slipping the ball past Will to restore the Walton advantage and to provoke some wild celebrations from the Walton team.
Ben Carrington replaced Sean Edwards to add more firepower to the side but the equalising goal came from an unlikely source as Owen Hill popped up to smash an unstoppable shot from 25 yards into the top left hand corner with three minutes remaining. The outstanding Nick Gindre in the Walton goal was could do nothing about such a sweetly struck goal and it gave the Rebels 5 minutes to try and conjure up two more points – a task that was just to be just beyond their reach.
So another point earned in our quest for promotion and with all our rivals winning it is going to go right to the wire as we look for promotion this season. The most worrying aspect was the sight of Sam Francis hobbling after the game – let’s hope that his foot injury is not too serious and he’s back soon. We need him as our run-in gets tougher starting with our chums at Lewes on Monday. It’s going to be huge.
TEAM – Will Packham 7, Sean Edwards 6 (sub Ben Carrington 6), Chris Dicker 7, Des Guile 6, Clay Lamont 7 (sub Andy Lutwyche 5), Owen Hill 8, Mark Pulling 7, Paul Rogers 7, Sam Francis 7, Ashley Carr 5 (sub Nko Ekoku 7), Mark Knee 6 SUBS NOT USED Ross Johnson, Stewart Holmes, Ted
MY MAN OF THE MATCH – Owen Hill, up and down the pitch all game and contributed when it mattered.
7th Feb 2004