Walthamstow 1-2 Witham Town

Walthamstow are now without a win in six, going down 2-1 to Witham Town at Wadham Lodge in the Isthmian Division One North.

Sitting seventh and eighth in the table, it was a must-win game for both sides to have any desperate hope of securing a play-off place.

There was a debut at the back for Hamid Bun-Seisay, a recent signing from Newham Athletic, who was with Rotherham United as a youngster. And it was very nearly one to forget, as in the sixth minute he headed back towards his own goal. Wrongfooted, Walthamstow keeper Lamar Joseph-Johnson had to react at full stretch to divert the ball away.

But Walthamstow grew into the game, and with Bun-Seisay’s long throws proving a real treat, they took the lead after ten minutes. Witham Town failed to deal with a throw, allowing Ali Njie to nod over on-rushing keeper Harry Fairs who was left flailing at thin air.

Walthamstow’s confidence grew, and there was only one team in it for the next half-hour. Louie Johnson was well-placed twice in the Witham Town box, but on both occasions he couldn’t quite get the ball under control.

But on 38 minutes, the game turned in favour of the visitors. Andrew Sesay broke through on goal, and despite getting a shot off, he was adjudged to have been fouled by Joseph-Johnson. Referee Matthew Rowling had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Freddie King lashed home the resulting penalty.

Two minutes later Stow were behind, Joseph-Johnson fumbling a routine near-post corner into his own net.

The game was becoming increasingly niggly, and the second half lacked any real quality from either side. Walthamstow’s task got harder on the hour when Suley Zuhdu was sent off for a petulant stamp after being fouled.

Walthamstow were given a golden chance to get back into the game with a quarter of an hour to go, when Luke Ige was adjudged to have handled in the box, but Johnson’s penalty was poor and easily saved by Fairs.

From then on, there was little for Witham to do to see out the game and consign Walthamstow to a fifth defeat on the bounce.