Felixstowe & Walton United FC

FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED 2 - 0 WALTHAMSTOW

 Seasiders hit the 50 point mark as the winning run continues

Felixstowe & Walton United’s sparkling form in 2024 continued with a 2-0 home win over playoff chasing Walthamstow. Goals from Sam Ford and Josh Hitter were enough to secure a crucial three points at the AGL Arena.

Despite the Seasiders recent record, several other teams are on similar runs so the top section is as tight as ever and defeat would have seen them lose the second position spot that they have occupied for a remarkable sixteen consecutive weeks. Walthamstow are in the mix just below the playoff zone, with games in hand and were making their first league visit to Felixstowe. The visitors had played at the AGL in recent times though, beating Felixstowe 1-0 in the FA Cup back in 2018. A 1-1 draw between the sides in London earlier in the season had shown what a tough side they are to face, Josh Mayhew rescuing a point in the 90th minute for the Suffolk side on that occasion, and Stow had held leaders Lowestoft to a 2-2 draw last time out.

Stuart Boardley made four changes to the starting eleven, Billy Holland and Tom Bullard both unable to take part, with Zak Brown and Josh Mayhew starting on the bench. Callum Harrison, Henry Barley, Sam Ford and Stuart Ainsley all started.

There was a quiet opening five minutes but the game sprang into life on 6 minutes when Charlie Warren beat the offside trap on half way and burst towards goal, he cut inside and was about to shoot from the edge of the area but decided to make a left turn to beat one more advancing defender and was tackled before a shot could be made. Callum Harrison’s corner on 9 minutes was fumbled by the goalkeeper and he could only pad the ball out to Josh Hitter who shot over the bar. Henry Barley’s 12^th minute effort from the right angle flew just wide of the far post as Felixstowe continued to do all the pressing early on. Barley put across a beautiful ball on 14 minutes that Sam Ford took down and set up Harrison from 20 yards, his piledriver was batted away by the goalkeeper. The Seasiders got the goal they deserved on 18 minutes, Josh Blunkell was first to a long ball forward from the away side, his clearance was put out to touch half way inside Walthamstow’s half and from the quick throw in, Sam Ford twisted and turned inside the box before slotting home perfectly past the keeper. Blunks hadn’t had much to do in the opening spell but he was ready for Walthamstow’s first effort, a forward beating his man on the left and sending in a superb effort from an angle that looked to be heading for the far top corner until Josh flew across his goal to save spectacularly. Charlie Waren and Sam Ford raced clear on 32 minutes but were forced wide and Warren lashed the ball wide under pressure. Shortly after, it was Ford racing down the right and he set the ball in to Harrison on the edge of the box who drilled his effort just wide of the left-hand post. The visitors came close to an equaliser in added time, another fine effort from 12 yards was again brilliantly kept out by Blunks.

Felixstowe were still in control in the second half, albeit creating fewer clearcut chances, they were comfortably dealing with everything the visitors came up with, the back four in total control, with Noel Aitkens like a Rolls Royce in midfield and the away defence struggling to cope with the attacking flair of Warren, Ford, Harrison, Hitter and Barley. It took until 66 minutes for the visitors to trouble the home defence and in all honesty, it was poor finishing and an inability to make the most of a rare chance that denied them this time, the ball was lost on 20 yards and with two forwards lining up to score, neither were able to get a meaningful effort on target and the chance disappeared. 2 minutes later and it was Felixstowe who should have scored, Aitkens sent an incredible pass down the right for Sam Ford, he beat his man at the byline and sent the ball across for Charlie Warren who placed his shot towards the far corner, with the keeper pulling off a fine save. Walthamstow had their final real chance on 78 minutes, but again could not take advantage of a rare error at the back, with two players again faffing around with the ball instead of shooting and from a great position, sent the ball way over the bar. A one nil scoreline always leads to nerves around the ground, no matter how well we are playing and this was no different, it had been an impressive performance throughout from the home side with an energy and press that had caused the visitors problems all afternoon, but those nerves were gone on 89 minutes when the second goal arrived. Felixstowe had three opportunities from 16 yards, firstly a last-ditch tackle denying the shot from Warren, Harrison’s follow up was blocked before Hitter smashed the ball home through the keeper to send the home crowd wild. No further danger came and the Seasiders comfortably secured their fourth consecutive victory, all without conceding a goal.                                         

Report by Stuart Daynes

Photos by Stefan Peck

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