Willington Quay Saints vs Wallington FC
2 - 1
02 April 2022 · Bill Gardner Cup
Home cup match played on 02 April 2022.
Kicked off at 2:00 PM
2-1
vs Wallington FC
Home cup match
Another giantkilling win for the Saints after a tremendous last half hour saw them come from 1-0 down to win 2-1 against premier division side Wallington FC.
The visitors were formed 145 years ago and are a club steeped in immense history and they made 8 changes for our tie as they look to create more history in the coming week as they play 2 cup finals (monday and friday) against Killingworth and Alnwick Town.
We had 4 changes in our line up with Kingy, Olly, Kane and Hoody returning to the starting 11. Jay and Renwick made welcome returns to the squad whilst coach Lee Crammond was also on the bench.
Wallington 7th in the premier division looked a cut above in the early stages and there was a scary moment early on when a Wallington forward knocked the ball past Dodga and was brought down but for the second week in a row the ref issued just a yellow card.
It was no surprise when classy midfielder Shay Richardson put the away side ahead on fifteen minutes after swapping one twos with one of the forwards he glided through to slot home left footed.
Richardson then put over one of the best crosses ive seen this season a sumptous left footed ball in that evaded everyone until it was smashed high over the bar at the back post
The Saints goal was living a charmed life and only the determination of centre half Stephen Oliver kept the score 1-0 at half time as he raced back towards goal before sliding to clear the ball off the line after Dodge had been lobbed in a 1 on 1.
The Saints went close with an Alex Foreman free kick that grazed the bar and a Ben McDermott effort that was a routine save for visitors keeper Parr, the Quay lost captain McCabe and McDermott to injury in the first half with Rippin and Renwick replacing them.
Wallington brought on one of their main talisman Jordan Nellis at half time as they looked to kill the tie and he almost did ten minutes after the break but his powerful effort rattled back oof the post with Dodge beaten.
Jay Brown made a welcome comeback to Saints action replacing Kingy before Crammond was forced to postpone his retirement to replace Hoody who wasnt feeling well.
With fifteen minutes to go the Saints fired in an equaliser, Luke Taylor went on a fantastic mazy run at right back before sending in a deep cross that landed in the path of left back Stephen Oliver who calmly lobbed the Wallington goalie with a great finish.
With all the talk on the sidelines on whether the game would go straight to pens or extra time the Quay took a dramatic lead. Alex Foreman who had been well marshalled by the away defence found some space to unleash a powerful shot across goal that was palmed out by the keeper and Ryan Ferrier was first on the scene to tap home the winning goal his 40th for the club.
The reward for the win is a home quarter final draw against Ponteland United Reserves on the 16th of April.