Walthamstow are out of the FA Trophy after a 2-1 loss away at Welwyn Garden City.
It was another frustrating afternoon for the Stow, who were denied a place in the next round after Welwyn came from behind in the second half. It wasn’t a bad performance from Stow, but two defensive mistakes were at fault for the loss.
Stow were the better side in the first half. They didn’t create many clear cut chances but had more of the ball and denied Welwyn who struggled to create any real chance. Their only real opportunity was when returning defender Keano Robinson mistakenly gave the ball away to midfielder Eddie Corbit who drove into the penalty area but dragged his shot wide.
The visitors looked for an opener and came close where Tristan Goodridge’s cross nearly floated into the top corner, but just flew far of the post. Goodridge was later brought off injured, with Gassem Benelghazi coming on to replace him. Apart from that, Stow’s only other chance was when Joden Trickett headed over the bar from Keano Robinson’s long throw. Max Mitchell was forced to make another change in the first half, when Tayo Oyebola was clattered by Welwyn and former Stow goalkeeper Connor Samson, however there was no foul given. James Collins came on as a replacement.
Just two minutes into the second half, Stow went in front. Substitute James Collins brought down a long ball and ran into the penalty area where his effort crashed against the inside of the post. The ball was cleared only as far as Riley England on the left hand side, who played the ball back into Collins where he turned and found Joden Trickett in the box who headed home, despite goalkeeper Samson getting a massive hand to it.
The lead didn’t last long, as Welwyn found a leveller five minutes later. Jordan Peart’s pass was cut out by midfielder Eddie Corbit, which fell for striker Ethan Rookard who attempted to go around goalkeeper Luke Mewitt but was cut out by Jared Small. Rookard managed to win the ball back and find Corbit unmarked who fired the ball into the net to level the game.
Welwyn turned the game around and took the lead in the 76th minute. Eddie Corbit’s ball over the top found substitute Kendall Gyamfi who had only just been brought on. The winger sprinted past Keano Robinson and found Luke Mewitt off his line, which he then calmly dinked the ball into the net to give the hosts the lead.
The hosts could’ve made it three right away after another lapse of concentration at the back by Stow. Kieran Gauthier’s long ball caused confusion for Keano Robinson and Jared Small, who managed to run into each other leading Kendall Gyamfi to have another opportunity where he almost recreated his first goal but he hit the crossbar. The ball fell for Evaristo Mendes, who found the run of unmarked Nicholas Ralfe who was denied from close range by Mewitt.
Stow weren’t out of it yet, and came close to an equaliser on two occasions. Elijah Grant’s cross went right through the hands of Connor Samson and fell for Shaun Mavididi at the back post, but it was cleared off the line by Egan Ntege and collected by Samson. Grant came close again where Robinson’s long throw landed at the feet of the striker, but he was denied from close range.
It was another frustrating defeat for Stow, who bow out of the FA Trophy. Their attention turns quickly to league action as they host Gorleston on Tuesday night.