Walthamstow 4-3 Witham Town
Walthamstow picked up their first win of the new year after a 7-goal thriller at home to Witham Town in the Isthmian League.
Both teams started brightly with Witham coming eagerly close to taking the lead in the 13th minute. Jordon Elongo’s cross found former Stow forward Tayo Oyebola at the front post who got in front of Jordan Peart and got his foot onto the ball only for it to roll inches wide of the post.
It was only two minutes later when Stow took the lead thanks to Charlie Heatley. Demi Elegushi’s forward pass found Wilson Bernal who put in a lovely ball for Heatley who fired past Bill Lawlor to give Stow the first goal of the afternoon.
The visitors weren’t giving up and were looking for the equaliser when a long throw was flicked on into the path of Ziad Bakaar who laid the ball off for Jordon Elongo. His shot was blocked by Jared Small, but the rebound came back to Bakaar who could only find the side netting.
Witham did have the ball in the net when Sam Bantick’s shot was saved by David Hughes and the rebound headed in by Jordon Elongo, however the flag was up against Elongo and the score remained level going into half time.
The second half began with Witham once again coming close but denied by some top draw defending. Tayo Oyebola’s cross found Fred King unmarked at the back post, but his attempt was saved by David Hughes and the ball fell for Elongo whose shot was blocked by Shawn Joseph and eventually cleared away.
Stow found their second of the afternoon five minutes later when Callum Ibe found Brian Garzon’s overlapping run and his cross found Heatley. His shot was saved by Bill Lawlor but the rebound fell for Ibe who thrashed the ball into the net.
Stow continued to push and look for a third but were denied by the frame of the goal. Ryan Mallett’s loose pass was collected by Bernal who found Heatley in the box, but he could only smash the ball onto the crossbar from six yards out.
The home side did find the third goal after Callum Ibe was brought down by Tayo Oyebola in the box, giving the referee no choice but to point to the penalty spot. Brian Garzon was the man to step up and send the goalkeeper the wrong way to give Stow a three-goal lead.
Witham did pull one back straight up the other end when substitute Ben Allen’s through ball found Jordon Elongo who fired past David Hughes giving the visitors a potential lifeline.
Stow looked to have killed the game when Charlie Heatley scored one of the best goals ever seen at Wadham Lodge to make it 4-1. Brian Garzon’s header was picked up by Heatley who took one touch away from the defender and rifled the ball into the top corner sending Wadham Lodge into pandemonium.
The visitors weren’t done yet as they managed to win a penalty when Shawn Joseph was judged to have brought down Elongo in the box. Sam Bantick took the penalty and sent Hughes the wrong way reducing the lead to only two.
Up the other end, Stow came close to a fifth if it wasn’t for a great save from Bill Lawlor. Substitute Umaru Kabia was played through by Rasheed Salau, and he found Heatley in the box, but his shot was tipped over the bar at point blank range from the Witham goalkeeper.
Witham made it a nervy last ten minutes as they pulled another one back to make it 4-3. Ben Allen’s deflected shot fell for Ziad Bakaar who found the top corner, giving the visitors a huge chance to snatch a point.
However, it wouldn’t be the case for the visitors as Stow managed to see out for the final minutes of the game and pick up the three points in the first game of the new year. Walthamstow remain at home on Tuesday, taking on Cambridge City in our rearranged fixture.
