On Saturday we welcomed a high scoring Walton team who beat us comprehensively at their ground earlier in the season. From kick off Walton caused chaos in the Cranleigh box as we couldnt seem to clear the ball and we were lucky not to concede an early goal .
After being under pressure a great corner by Sullivan Howick was narrowly volleyed wide by Ethan Payne.
With 10 minutes gone a great through ball by Ethan for a rapid Jack Westerman brought our opening goal , in fact the Walton keeper looked favourite to gather the ball but Jack beat him to it
went around him and calmly rolled it into an open net 1-0 . Less than 5 minutes it was 2-0 with arguably the move of the game. Jack Westerman was again tormenting the Walton defence with his pace before passing across to Charlie Gibson who beat a defender before smashing it into the top corner from outside the box.
It was now a very end to end game as Walton pushed forward.
A long ball over the Cranleigh defence seemed to be under control before a bad bounce took into the path of the Walton forward who went on to score 2-1. At the end of the half Cranleigh had a deserved 2-1 lead.
As the second half started Walton pushed for the equaliser . A great save by Isaac Denton Miller as he dived to push a goal bound shot onto the post, a real scare for Cranleigh. Frustration was starting to show as Walton couldn’t find a way past a very strong Cranleigh defence. The Walton team were now resorting to blatant pushing and kicking leading to a succession of Cranleigh freekicks.
One moment of madness as a Walton forward conceded a freekick for pushing turned and smashed the ball as hard as he could off the pitch . With 5 minutes left it seemed a ridiculous and petulant act as Cranleigh made no hurried attempt to retrieve the ball.
As the game drew to a close Sullivan was released down our right and with the keeper to beat drove his shot past the far post. Unbelievably a great ball by Charlie Gibson saw the same result a minute later.
Massive relief at the final whistle and a 2-1 win for Cranleigh. An amazing result as we held a free scoring Walton side to 1 goal. Previously this season we have left leads slip late on but we are learning to see games out now.
Scorers
Jack Westerman
Sullivan Howick
Man of the Match
Harry Dancaster – Fantastic display marshalling an impressive defensive performance
