TOWN STAY UP THANKS TO RAMIAH

WITHAM TOWN 3 SAFFRON W 0

WITHAM TOWN beat Essex League runners-up Saffron Walden Town in a feisty encounter at Spa Road that confirmed they will remain in the Isthmian League North next season.

Boss Chris Taylor was very proud of the team. “I can’t give the team and all involved in the club high enough praise, we were superb from start to finish, and have been all season,” he said. “I can’t pick one man of the match.

“This club deserves to be in the Isthmian, the league doesn’t lie, but I think we’ve played better than the position indicates, today we have shown we are this level.”

In a frenetic first 45 minutes, played on a very dry and sandy pitch in summer sunshine, both sides gave no quarter. Both sides having chances in the first five minutes, Matt Harley for Saffron having a shot saved from close range. On 22 minutes the first yellow card arrived, when the hosts’ Liam Whipps slid into Kris Oti. On 37 minutes Adam Vyse had his header saved by James Young in the Saffron goal, the corner resulting in Rian McClean beating the keeper to head in the opening goal from four yards.

The second half continued in the same vain, but Witham pressing home their advantage with Ramiah Mills shooting over on 46 minutes. In the 55th minute Josh Osude made it two when he received a long pass on the left, cut in and smashed it passed James Young. The third came just past the hour when Jimmy Wallace headed in from close range from a corner, Young in the Walden goal seeming to drop it almost on his head.

On 73 minutes Archie Jamplin was given a second yellow for a rash tackle, however the Town were rarely troubled for the remaining 17 minutes plus eight minutes of injury time and thus keep their place in the Isthmian despite having one of the smallest budgets.

STAR MAN:

ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★