In a tight and well balanced game, the difference between these two teams was in their ability to convert the few clear chances that arose on the night. Ardley took their chances, each at crucial times in the match, to keep Wantage chasing the game for most of the 90 minutes. In the 8th minute, Ardley winger Danny Clarke was first to react to a pin point cross, Clarke directing the ball past Darryl Simms in the Wantage goal, at the second attempt. In the first twenty minutes, Ardley looked dangerous each time they broke, their long through balls bypassing the Wantage midfield, but as the half developed Wantage came back into the game, Ellis Langford, Liam McCullough and Andy Wallbridge becoming more influential in midfield. But chances were few, Wantage being restricted to a couple of Danny Keen long range efforts. The turning point came in the 41st minute when lively Wantage striker Richard Guy struck the Ardley post as Wantage penetrated more and more.
Early in the second half, in the 48th minute, Ardley reinforced their lead, when a free kick was well met by Danny Mason, his flicked header zipping past Simms to put Ardley 2 – 0 up. For the rest of the half Wantage pressed for some reward, and for periods bossed the midfield, but could not turn possession into chances. In the 55th minute, Danny Keen brought the best out of Gareth Tucker in the Ardley goal, as the keeper brilliantly saved Keen’s well struck free kick from the edge of the box.
There were a lot of positives to take from this game, particularly in strong individual performances throughout the Wantage team, but when luck is not on your side, and Premier League survival is threatening, collective battling resolve and effort is key. Many teams, good enough to stay up, have been relegated. For Wantage, strong performances against Reading Town (away on Saturday, 21st March) and Old Woodstock (home on Wednesday, 25th March) are not optional, they are essential.
Team :- Darryl Simms, Tom Rowe, Andy Wallbridge, Adam Learoyd, Gary Swann, Sam Belcher, Liam McCullough, Gavin Jones, Danny Keen, Richard Guy, Ellis Langford.
