AFC WALTON...5 AFC NORTH WINGFIELD....1
Manager Benny kept faith with the starting 11, that had grabbed all 3 points, at THEN league leaders Harleys Scarlets last week, as AFC themselves today, had chance of going to the top of the league, at Home to AFC North Wingfield, a team they had already crushed 8-1 just 3 weeks previously. Kicking down hill, the hosts came straight out of the blocks, and within 3 minutes Leading scorer, Jez Mitchell had the keeper diving to make a timley save as he latched on to a wonderful through ball. Danny Brown went even closer 2 mins later, Bettney picked out the run of Mitchell, who ran on to cross for the winger to crash the ball against the cross bar. Wingfield had the ball in the net on 9 mins, Bettney, Silcock and Bennett got into a tangle at the back and lost the ball, but the visitors striker was pulled back for a foul whilst winning the ball.
Wright had a shot cleared on 15 mins after a strong Lee Walton run and pass picked him out. Danny Brown had the ball in the visitors net on 18 mins after a great team move and cross found him in acres of space, but he was adjudged to be offside. Mitchell lashed a cross that missed everybody right across the 6 yard box on 20 mins, and another great move involving a number of players ended with Wrights shot being well saved. MITCHELL grabbed a well deserved goal on 28 mins, Bennett picked him out with a pinpoint long range pass, and the striker brushed off his marker to fire home. Wingfield almost drew level 4 mins later, an attack through the middle saw Bettney clear with a fine tackle and from the resultant cross, Megyesi rose to head clear under pressure.
They did however pull the goal back on 36 mins, there appeared to be little danger when the lad picked the ball up some 35 yards from goal, but he wrapped his foot around the ball with a rasping drive that beat Furniss in the home goal. AFC did the right thing, and cancelled out the goal within a minute, Paul Walton looked up and picked out the run of MITCHELL, who controlled the pass and scrambled clear of is marker and slipping a first time shot low past the keeper for 2-1. Right on the stroke of half time Wingfield had a player cautioned for pushing Walton as the players left the field. HALF TIME AFC Walton..2 AFC North Wingfield...1. Benny kept the same 11 at the start of the 2nd half and Bettney went close moments in, a corner was hacked clear and fell to him 30 yards out, his first time strike fizzed inches wide of the upright with the keeper flat footed. Danny Brown was finding more and more freedom up the right hand side, and his strong running was causing the visitors full back problems, as he linked with both Walton brothers, Wright and Mitchell on numerous occasions.
His moment came on 57 mins, a strong run after a fine pass saw him go past the defender, and as he crossed, an untimely intervention by another defender heading towards his own goal, saw the keeper try, but was unable to stop the ball crossing the line. Wright went desperatly close when he shot inches wide after being picked out with a crisp through ball by Mitchell on the hour. Later on 64 mins Paul Walton picked up a caution for dissent, and a minute later Taylor came on for Bennett, who picked up a knock on his already injured foot, and within 3 mins the sub saw his rasping 20 yard drive from the corner of the box, crash against the bar. The bar was to be rattled again on 73 mins, a through ball picked out Mitchell and his angled drive clipped the bar and going over. A limping Paul Walton was replaced on 75 mins, with Cupitt coming on in his place.
Megyesi came within inches of claiming Goal Of The Season, with an audacious attempt from way, way in his own half, he sank his foot into the ball and it sailed high towards the visitors goal, the keeper then had to scramble to push the ball away, just narrowly saving his blushes inches from his goal line.. Moments later Furniss had to be alert as Megyesi went close to heading into his own net. Wright fired across the face of the goal after Taylors fine through ball on 82 mins as Wingfield began to tire . MITCHELL grabbed his SIXTH personal hat-trick for the club, bringing him level with, till then, leading hat-trick star Wright when he latched onto a through ball from Higginbottom, who had only been on the pitch for 5 mins. He ran through making contact with the ball brushing it past the keeper, and rolling it into the empty net. Within a minute, the ever running WRIGHT grabbed a well deserved goal, but found himself embarrassed by the way it came about. Mitchell picked him out and the red hot striker barely got a toe to the ball, but sneaking it past the unlucky keeper, and it just about crept over the line for 5-1. FULL TIME AFC Walton...5 AFC North Wingfield...1
