
Walthamstow 3-2 Heybridge Swifts
Walthamstow secured a crucial 3-2 victory over Heybridge Swifts in the Isthmian League to keep their play-off hopes alive in front of 348 fans at home.
The home side got off to a fantastic start, taking the lead in the 8th minute through Bilal Sayoud. A long throw-in from Small was flicked on by a defender, landing perfectly for Sayoud to finish clinically into the net.
Despite Walthamstow’s early dominance, Heybridge Swifts responded in the 29th minute with an equalizer from Scott Sloots. A tame long-distance effort escaped the grasp of Finn Rushton, and trickled over the line, ensuring the teams went into the break level at 1-1.
Walthamstow created several opportunities before halftime, with Ibe and Peart combining well to test the Swifts’ defence, but they were unable to regain the lead before the whistle.
Stow started the second half well and took the lead again when Louie Johnson shot hard and low through a sea of bodies from the edge of the box, but the joy was short-lived as a Rushton own goal levelled things up again.
Stow attacked well all game, and on another day could have had more than the three they finished with. Alieu Njie hit the post following a corner, and Kevin Songolo was brilliantly denied by a last-ditch tackle.
Walthamstow sealed the win in the 77th minute. Johnville Renee won the ball back in midfield, and then countered down the right flank, delivering a pinpoint cross to Sayoud, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
The final minutes saw a series of substitutions as Walthamstow looked to secure their lead. Sayoud was replaced by Oyebola in the 82nd minute, followed by Ibe making way for Oti at 84 minutes, and finally, Salau was substituted for Livings-Corbin in stoppage time.
Stow saw out the rest of the game pretty comfortably, and could have scored late on, but Khris Oti’s effort struck the inside of the post before being cleared.
This victory keeps Walthamstow in the hunt for a play-off spot, and they will look to carry their momentum into their next fixture on the road against Wroxham next Saturday.