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Photos: Adam Green and TK Rohit
Second half goals from Andrea Marcheggiano and Simir Abdoulaye handed Wentworth 2nds a vital win over Halifax 4ths. The result means Wentworth are now in an excellent position to secure a position in the Plate.
The opening stages of the match saw Halifax 4ths take an early initiative as Alec Rieck and Ryan Doherty both tested ‘keeper Jon Cooke with close-range efforts.
Wentworth’s main weapon was Rich Rhodes’ long throw, but Halifax dealt with the threat well.
A comical moment then occurred after 20 minutes when Rob Stead, who thought Ryan Doherty was offside, caught the ball and subsequently gave away a dangerous free-kick.
But the effort was wasted as Nick Townson blasted the ball into the wall, as the half’s best chance went begging.
The second half simply could not be as dire as the first, and so it proved after just three minutes from the restart.
Marcheggiano collected possession 30 yards out and marauded forward unopposed, before lashing home a fierce drive which flew over the head of Connor Tait and into the net.
Minutes later, Wentworth doubled their advantage as Marcheggiano’s deliciously floated cross into the middle was headed home by Abdoulaye, who managed to steal in front of the defender and give Tait no chance.
Wentworth nearly added a third when Marcheggiano teed himself up and slammed a volley against the post, while Halifax were limited to speculative long-range efforts.
A moment of controversy then arose as Rhodes hacked down Doherty on the edge of the area, but the midfielder escaped any extra punishment and Halifax wasted the freekick.
Afterwards, Wentworth stand-in manager Dan Horsfall said: “We were outstanding. Halifax are a decent side but everyone could see we were the better team today.”
Meanwhile, Halifax’s Elliot Taylor-Wheeler admitted: “We weren’t good enough and didn’t work as a team.”