Waltham Abbey 0-1 Waltham Forest
Forest recorded their first win since the 15th of October thanks to a solitary Luke Stanley goal, away to Waltham Abbey.
Abbey had been one of the form teams in the division, having picked up 13 points from a possible 15, including the 3-2 victory at Cricklefields on the 17th of December. However, their good run was put to an end by a hard-working forest side which included debutants Lewis Frost and Pavor Hodur.
It was the home side who had the first chance of the match. A collision between Hodur and an Abbey attacker resulted in the loose ball falling to former Stag Adam Bolle, but his shot was straight at Hodur and Forest were able to clear.
Not long after, Forest took the lead. Kayan Kalipha neatly flicked on a long ball, giving Luke Stanley the room to lift the ball over the on-rushing Hayward in the Abbey goal.
Stanley could have got his second of the game not long after, but a high challenge forced him out of heading in a back-post cross.
Abbey had much of the possession in the final 10 minutes of the half, and despite a spell of three corners, they were unable to create any meaningful chances.
Courtney White was proving to be a real handful for the home defence, and just after half-time, he broke through to a one-on-one position. However, his shot was straight at Hayward, and Kalipha could only spoon the resulting rebound over with the goal at his mercy.
Forest were then denied a penalty, when White was taken down in the box. However, before the ball went out of play, White picked himself back up and earned his side a corner.
As with the first half, Abbey then enjoyed a long spell of pressure. Hodur was forced to save well twice using his feet, and had it been for some more accurate finishing, the home side would have no doubt posed more of a threat to Forest’s lead. Indeed, one second-half shot was so wayward, that Forest were awarded a throw-in.
Efe Echanomi was brought on as a late substitute, and had three chances in as many minutes for Forest. On three occasions he was able to make some room for himself, but he fired wide twice, and over once.
In the last action of the match, Peggy Lokando was put through on goal, but inexplicably decided to square the ball rather than take the shot on.
Forest will not care how the win came, and the relief was clear to see on the players’ faces come the final whistle.
Forest now travel to Chatham Town on Saturday.
