Walpole boss: 'We'll win the league'
Manager Harry Griffin said his side will win Cambridgeshire County League Kershaw 1B after they beat a Gamlingay United Reserves team fielding several first team players.
League leaders Walpole had to be at their best at bottom-of-the-table United, who were boosted by the appearance of some Kershaw Premier Division regulars.
Griffin said: “We’ve gone over and played a very good side who had some first team help and come away with a good win, even though we’ve not been at our best.
“But the spirit and work rate, matched with the quality in the team, is why we will win the league.”
“We were the only team trying to play football on Saturday and when the opportunities came our way, Robbie took them.
“He has shown both sides of his game, with his desire to get on the end of a lost cause ball and bury that chance, then a superb bit of skill to score the second goal.”
It was the home side who started the game well with a sustained spell of pressure, but the Honey Badgers’ back line stood up to the challenge and goalkeeper Aaron Watson was left untroubled. The best move of the first half saw Ash Payne lash the ball over the bar after good work from Jake Hopkisson.
After starting with a 4-3-3, Robbie Knight replaced Lenny Ketteringham after 40 minutes, allowing the visitors to see more of the ball and assert pressure on the Gamlingay back line.
It was goalless at half time but, after the break, Walpole seized control of the game with a high press which saw Gamlingay lose the their threat going forward.
After 70 minutes the deadlock was broken after a flick-on by Joe Reed was charged down by Knight who beat the goalkeeper to the ball and slotted it into the bottom left corner of a deserted goal.
As the home team pushed for an equaliser, gaps appeared and Reed hit the bar and saw another effort go just over after great balls by Brad Kennedy and Knight respectively.
But Knight wrapped up the win with five minutes left, taking the ball past two defenders and smashing home with his weaker left foot in the top left corner.
AFC WALPOLE (4-3-3): Watson; Miller, Dennis, Ogden, Ablett; Whyatt, Payne, Elsey (Leicester 86 mins); Hopkisson (Kennedy 65), Reed (Matos 86), Ketteringham (Knight 40).
