Stuart Wardley netted his seventh of the season as Saffron Walden beat Debenham LC at Catons Lane on Saturday.

TOP SCORER Stuart Wardley came to Saffron Walden’s rescue on Saturday with a late goal to seal all the points in a nervy game against Debenham.

The Bloods were the better side for 90 minutes and should have comfortably won the game but it took an 83rd minute winner from Wardley – his seventh of the season – to keep Walden’s promotion charge on track.

After the game, manager Colin Wallington admitted it was not it side’s best display of the season.

“We had some poor individual performances today from Chris Reid and James Crane but I couldn’t take them off too early because they could have turned round and scored,” he told the Reporter.

“Having said that Debenham were never in the game because our back four – especially Alex Riches and Dan Dea’th – were superb, as were Joe Rudkin and Matt Snelling in midfield, so we deserved all three points but we made it hard for ourselves.

“It was not the prettiest performance but we got the three points and that’s what counts.”

Starting with defender Chris Reid up front, it may not have been total football from Wallington’s side but Walden should have been out of sight by half time.

Snelling flashed a shot past the post before Walden’s best chance of the half: a swift counter attack from Rudkin and Reid found Crane in an advanced position but he was caught in two minds, allowing Debenham to recover.

Chances fell to Snelling and Dan Grindrod but neither could find the elusive first goal as the half ended scoreless.

As the second period began Wallington’s side pushed Debenham onto the back foot in search of a goal. Rudkin, Crane and Darren Bicknell all came close but fluffed their lines in front of goal.

As the game neared its conclusion Walden finally got the goal they deserved. Louis Harper’s corner found Wardley unmarked at the back post and the 37-year-old could not miss as Catons Lane let out an audible sigh of relief.

Walden continued to press but one goal was enough to earn all three points which pushes them up to third place in the Thurlow Nunn Division One.

The Bloods welcome bottom placed and winless Cornard to Catons Lane on Saturday, kickoff 3pm.