Visitors Refuse To Roll Over - Wallingford Town vs. Chinnor

The Chinnor keeper clearing his lines in the first half

Free of the travel restrictions of last week I looked a little further afield to a town and ground I'd really liked the look of for a while. The town in question was Wallingford and today they were hosting Chinnor in The Hellenic League Division One East. The town had appealed on an aesthetic level as well as there being a lot of history in the local area which included being a royalist stronghold in The Civil War to being home for Agatha Christie. Today's game pitted mid table Wallingford against bottom placed Chinnor. The hosts were looking to bounce back following a six one drubbing at Aldermaston last time out while Chinnor were looking for just a second win of the season. 

Kick off at Hithercroft

Wallingford attack from the off and the Chinnor keeper makes a great save from a header at his near post. At the other end Chinnor work their way in on goal only for the chance to be skied. The hosts get the opener when the forward squares the ball, allowing his team mate to score from close range. Chinnor almost gift Wallingford the second as the Chinnor defender does well to slice the ball over his own bar. Chinnor get the equaliser they deserve from a Wallingford attack that breaks down and the Chinnor forward finishes from just outside the area. Things then go down hill for Chinnor as firstly, Wallingford get behind the visiting defence which leads to a repeat of the first goal before a poor back pass plays Wallingford in and the forward rounds the keeper and rolls the ball in.

A Wallingford header goes close

You may think that is that but Chinnor come blazing in the second period. They have a couple of half chances before the Wallingford keeper spills a free kick allowing the Chinnor forward to get their second goal. They are then gifted the equaliser when another shot from distance isn't fully cleared allowing another close range finish to even things up. Quiet for most of the half, Wallingford finally spark up and get the fourth to retake the lead as the ball finds the forward who places the ball back across the goalie into the opposite corner. Chinnor push hard for the equaliser but Wallingford keep them out. A really great game where Chinnor really gave a decent account of themselves. 

Wallingford attack in the second period

Wallingford is pretty easy to reach from London. Firstly take a train to Reading from Paddington taking just over twenty minutes before taking the X40 from just outside the station into Wallingford with this section taking just over half an hour. If you get to Wallingford early enough there are the ruins of the castle to walk around as well as the excellent museum which is more than worth the five pound entry fee. Just across the road from the castle is The Keep which had a great selection of bottled beers including a couple of local ones. Then next to the river is The Town Arms which had a couple of local ales as well as the sports channels. The ground is then a fifteen minute walk from the town centre. The bar is part of the wider sports club and had the usual selection of drinks but the really good stuff is inside the ground. The sausage rolls and ginger cake from the tea hut were another level and completed what could have been the best afternoon of the season.

Massive playing area at The Hithercroft