AFC North Wingfield....1 AFC Walton....8.
AFC Walton full back Martyn Higginbottom made his 100th appearance today, but it was returning hot-shot striker Jez Mitchell that grabbed the headlines with a four goal haul @ King George V playing fields. Also returning was Captain and midfield general Shaun Goodwin, after serving a 3 match ban. Benny rang a few changes having almost an entire squad to choose from, he reverted to a 4-4-2 formation, to add a bit of cover to the defence. With the unlucky pair Danny Brown, and last weeks hat-trick hero Craig Megyesi dropping to the bench.
Walton started well with Lee Walton and Chris Bettney taking on a wide role, and Goodwin, after a short time, winning the midfield heading duels, they began to push forward, looking to release Mitchell at every opportunity, as the striker looked full of energy and running after his enforced lay off. They grabbed a deserved lead after just 10 minutes when Goodwin won a header in the middle, he found Bettney, who played in MITCHELL who raced onto the ball and clipped it over the advancing keeper. Wingfield almost replied immediately, heading over from a corner when well placed.
Mitchell was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when he appeared to be tripped in the box, Wingfield cleared the ball upfield and Furniss had to be on his toes to make a smart save, the ball was cleared by Cupitt to Mitchell who skipped through the hosts defence, but was halted by a great tackle winning a corner for the blues. Bettney lifted the ball in and a crisp first time volley from Lee Walton was well cleared. A throw in on 20 mins was played forward to Wright, who's first time ball found MITCHELL who swivelled in the box to crash the ball home for 2-0. Wright went desparately close on 23 mins, firing wide after being found by Bettney after a smart 1-2 with Goodwin.
MITCHELL grabbed his hat-trick on the half hour, after a blatent two handed push on Wright led to a free kick. He placed his shot right in the corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance. Moments later Lee Walton danced his way through the hosts defence before Mitchell pulled his shot just wide. The hosts went close on 35 mins after a back pass from Cupitt was mis-kicked by Furniss, but the keeper made ammends making a fine diving save from the resultant shot on goal. Dean Brown went close with a long range blockbuster from clearly 35 yards out on 38 mins, after good work by his team mates picked him out.
A long raking pass by Silcock was chested down by MITCHELL, who then missed his kick before regaining his composure and firing a low shot between the keepers feet and in for 4-0. Right on half time Goodwin went close after a move between Silcock and Bettney picked him out, but he shot just wide. HALF TIME AFC North Wingfield....0 AFC Walton....4.
Benny asked for more of the same in the 2nd half, against a tiring Wingfield side, who had struggled against the pace of Wright and Mitchell, the trickery of Walton and Bettney plus the strength of Goodwin and Shane Bennett in the middle. The few times they did get through they found the back four defending as one providing cover for Furniss. Bennett was replaced on the hour by Paul Walton, as his lack of match practice was again catching up with him after his long lay off. Seconds later came a moment of magic, a long kick downfield by Furniss was controlled by Mitchell who played the ball back to LEE WRIGHT who hit a screamer of a shot from clearly 40 yards out, the ball SMASHED off the underside of the crossbar and up into the net leaving the hosts keeper looking as though he was waving to his mammy with absolutely NO CHANCE of saving it. It surely is a massive contender for goal of he season. Paul Walton was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after the heel of his standing foot was clipped as he was about to shoot on 62 mins.
Megyesi replaced Cupitt on 65 mins leading to a formation change but it was Wingfield who profited almost immediately as the visitors defence found themselves outnumbered afer the ball was lost in midfield.The hosts striker finished well firing into the bottom corner of the net. They did however restore a FIVE goal cushion just 3 mins later, Mitchell danced and weaved his way past defenders before being upended in the box. BETTNEY made NO MISTAKE with the spot kick, firing into the net. This looked to have broken the hosts resolve and a further change taking off Bettney who picked up a slight ankle knock on 71 mins, bringing on Danny Brown in a like for like swap. A trip on Wright 25 yards out saw another free kick, and DEAN BROWN fired the set-piece home from an acute angle on 80 mins. Another magic moment on 85 mins saw an end to the scoring. Higginbottom doggedly won the ball out wide before playing in Danny Brown down the wing, he sent through a sweet through ball that Mitchell smartly stepped over throwing the hosts defence completely and allowing PAUL WALTON to collect the pass and smash home. Walton went close moments later hitting a 30 yard strike that the keeper clutched and held onto just under his crossbar. FINAL SCORE AFC North Wingfield...1 AFC Walton....8. MOTM Ricky Silcock...an assured all round display.
