Spectators at Wadham Lodge were treated (pun intended) after Walthamstow picked up three points in a 5-2 win over Canvey Island on Saturday afternoon.
It only took six minutes for Stow to open the scoring. New signing Benas Vaivada was played through on goal but the pass was overhit and seemed to be easily gathered by former Stow goalkeeper David Hughes, but the ball rolled out of his hands giving Vaivada an empty net to roll the ball into, making it 1-0.
Ten minutes later, Stow were awarded a penalty after Vaivada was brought down in the box by defender Alfie Cutbush. Captain James Collins stepped up and fired the ball through David Hughes and into the back of the net to make it two.
Stow looked for a third as Rickie Hayles was denied from a header, and Denim Nnamudi’s impressive pass found Benas Vaivada through on goal, but the midfielder took one too many touches and the ball was gathered by Hughes.
The game then turned on it’s head as Canvey got a goal back. A goalmouth scramble from a corner was poked home by Calum Newson to make it 2-1.
Not long after, the visitors levelled the scoreline. Sam Bantick’s effort from distance crashed against the post but fell for George Okoye who tapped the ball home and sent both teams into half time level at 2-2.
It was a wake up call for the Stow, but they responded brilliantly as they regained the lead in the 53rd minute via Tristan Goodridge. The midfielder picked up the ball and drove on to the edge of the box where he blasted his effort into the roof of the net and gave Hughes no chance.
Five minutes later, Stow got their fourth of the afternoon. Ozzy Adeniji’s cross found Joden Trickett at the back post who got his foot to the ball and directed it into the bottom corner.
But Stow didn’t stop their momentum as they made it 5-2 just four minutes later. Substitute Elijah Grant did really well to win the ball back off of defender Lester Ward, drive towards goal and lob the goal over Hughes and into the net.
From that point onwards, the scoreline remained the same. Canvey came close to pulling one more goal back in the 71st minute when Sam Bantick’s header was saved at point blank range by goalkeeper Luke Mewitt.
Walthamstow enter the month of November, with a trip to last season’s Essex Senior League winners Little Oakley next weekend.