Walthamstow 1 - 0 City

Cambridge City travelled to North London for their penultimate away match of the

season, Walthamstow being the Lilywhites’ opponent on a sunny but surprisingly chilly day.

City had been reeling from the previous week having conceded from a late penalty

against Brightlinsea Regent, while the home side had picked up just 1 win from their last 5

games. Walthamstow drew 1-1 with Maldon & Tiptree in their last outing.

With City without a win in 7 away matches, they went into the game hoping to do the

double over a team this season for just the second time. These two teams met on the 8th of

October. George Smith and Jack Thompson were on the score-sheet to record a 3-1 win.

It was Walthamstow who kicked off but it was the Lilywhites who had the first main

chance. Ramiah Mills took a throw on the left with Jayden Gipson almost connecting with the

throw but he just wasn’t able to make it.

Tayo Oyebola ran down the right and looked for Louis Johnson in the penalty area but

City’s defenders did enough to clear the danger.

With 13 minutes gone Jack Thompson fed Ramiah Mills on the left-hand side with the 19

sending in a cross right past the posts with none of his teammates able to apply a finishing touch.

A City throw from Mills forced Walthamstow’s Ali Njie to clear after a brief goalmouth

scramble, and then, just a few minutes later, another Mills long throw found Alex Teniola, whose looped header wasn’t enough to trouble goalkeeper Lamar Johnson.

Oyebola then ran into the penalty area and, after feeling very light contact, went down

sprawling in the box. Referee Richard Baker pointed, not to the spot, but for a free kick.

Oyebola, however, was not cautioned for the dive.

Midway through the first half, City had the ball in the right place with a throw. Mills took

the throw which led to a scramble in the area, before Teniola forced a save from Johnson in

between the posts. Jamie Dicks took the corner that was then headed away. Walthamstow then

countered in the best possible way. Malaki Toussaint received the ball on the right and then sentthe ball over towards the far post, waiting there was Louie Johnson to thump home and give Stow the lead.

City were knocked back by the Walthamstow goal, but they were determined to hit back

quickly and sharply. A perfectly weighted long ball found Jack Thompson who then threaded it

through to Giani Ashley. Ashley then crossed but Njie was on hand to pick up the pieces. The

resulting corner was defended, but Jamie Dicks tired his luck from 25 yards after the defended

corner fell to his feet, Dicks sending his shot wide.Rasheed Salau was then upended by Ed Tassell, who received a yellow card for his troubles. City survived the goalmouth scramble after the free kick was sent in.

With 4 minutes left to play in the first half, City had another decent chance to level the

match. With Mills again taking a throw-in, Dicks latched onto the throw and he fired in a cross

with Tassell almost the benefactor.

1-0 was the score at half time, and, after the second half got underway, it was Walthamstow

who looked more likely to double their lead.

After 50 minutes, Tyrone Baker spied goal-scorer Louie Johnson on the right, with City’s

defenders knocking away the danger.

Mills was then sent through with his shot being cleared away for a corner. Jack

Thompson took the corner and Jayden Gipson very nearly did what he does best, in scoring,

but his header popped just over the bar.

Next, Walthamstow had a free kick just outside the penalty area but Baker drove his

effort straight into the City wall. Then, shortly after, Walthamstow had a corner which saw

Reid head towards goal but had his shot deflected wide.

Then, with 63 minutes gone, City had their best chance since going behind. After some

neat midfield play, Jack Thompson used superb vision to pick out Giani Ashley. Ashley’s

touch took him into the penalty area, but, although he was only 6 yards away from goal, he

got underneath the ball and scooped his opportunity over the bar.

After 67 minutes, Toussaint saw Jordan Peart on the wing. Peart carried on the attack by

firing a cross towards the far post. Oyebola was the successful target but the winger headed

wide and the score stayed 1-0.

City came close again with 73 minutes played. Ramiah Mills had, once again, sent a long

throw into the penalty area and Walthamstow managed to clear away the chance. The corner

was whipped into the box and Gipson jumped up highest to slam a header onto the underside

of the crossbar. Mills was almost rewarded for his tenacity to follow up on the header, but a

miss-kick stopped him from claiming an equaliser.

After 76 minutes, Walthamstow thought they had doubled their lead. Johnson was the

scorer who wanted to turn assister, and his run was perfect but Baker’s, who turned the ball

into the net, wasn’t, with the assistant’s flag being raised to deny the striker.

With the match heading towards it’s conclusion, both teams were seemingly happy with

their game plans. City pushing to score an equaliser, while Walthamstow were happy to sit

back and invite pressure while hoping for a counterattack to secure the win.

Walthamstow had a couple more chances before the end. Johnson having a shot blocked

while James Philp made an unusual mistake when trying to clear a ball up field, his kick looped up high and back into danger. The resulting shot just crept wide of the far post, but not

without taking a nick on the way through.

City then threw themselves forward to find an equaliser but, unfortunately, they had no

such luck. The best chance came right at the end with Mills taking a throw. The ball then fell

back to Mills’ feet but the striker’s cross had too much on it and it floated harmlessly wide.

Right at the end Louie Johnson picked Tassell’s pocket and surged forward to put the

icing on the cake. The striker’s shot not troubling Philp, however, and the chance was lost.

Fulltime followed shortly after with Walthamstow the victors, 1-0. City’s performance just

wasn’t up to scratch today and the Lilywhites left North London empty-handed.

Connor Taylor-Creek