Charlie Cole opened the scoring for Stow, but a stunning Harry Norman free-kick followed by a poked finish from Hoddesdon forward Ethan Rookard had the Stow chasing the game in the late stages.
A bullet header by Yemi Adelani from Tommy Spillane’s free-kick rescued a point for the E17 outfit, who remain top of the league.
Stow Come Out Flying
Walthamstow dominated the early proceedings, and they almost used the conditions to their advantage after just seven minutes. A long ball forward held up nicely in the wind, but the bounce of the ball just evaded the ever dangerous Adelani with the keeper stuck in no-man’s land.
The first real half chance of the game fell Stow’s way just three minutes later. An excellent cross from left-back Spillane found Connor Scully arriving at the far post but his volley went high and wide.
Hoddesdon were unable to get out of their own half and should have been behind after 12 minutes. Charlie Cole latched onto a good through ball by Scully but his attempt to slide the ball under Hoddesdon keeper Liam Nugent was well-saved and his rebound cleared away.
Plucked
Walthamstow weren’t to be denied much longer though. Cole, played in this time by Samir Bihmoutine, plucked the ball out of the air excellently before rolling the ball past the onrushing Nugent.
Stow midfielder Michael Osei then missed a glorious chance to double Stow’s advantage. Adelani and Scully combined excellently on the right flank to release the latter, who fired the ball low across the box but Osei somehow contrived to divert the ball over the bar.
Hoddesdon punished Stow for their profligacy. Norman’s first effort went over the bar, but the referee pulled it back to be retaken, which angered the Stow players who couldn’t understand why. Stow centre-back Jason Beck was then sin-binned for his protestations – a curiously harsh punishment – before Norman sent his second attempt into the top corner.
Stunned, and down to 10 men for 10 minutes, Stow were still in control. Adelani had a goal ruled out for offside before Tommy Fletcher was denied from a corner by a superb save from Nugent. The sides went in level at the break despite Stow’s dominance.
Struggles In Front Of Goal
Despite their dominance in the first half however, it was Hoddesdon who took the lead early in the second. An excellent cross by Hoddesdon winger Blue Gallagher found the onrushing Rookard whose poke slithered underneath Stow keeper Amarildo Cekrezi and into the net.
Stow should’ve been level immediately when Adelani, with the wind behind him, rounded the keeper and looked destined to score, but his finish came back off the near post and Hoddesdon were again able to clear.
Stow were becoming desperate and that was in clearest evidence when Adelani had another effort denied by Norman, before an almighty scramble saw a number of shots blocked.
Cole almost bagged his second of the game after a delicious ball in from the right-flank by substitute Callum Ibe but his header was straight down Norman’s throat.
Rescue
With time running out, it was beginning to look like Walthamstow were going to succumb to just their third league defeat of the season, but Adelani came to the rescue.
Tommy Spillane’s free kick from the left found the in-form forward and his bullet header made it five goals in his last three appearances for Adelani.
A game of attrition, the match fell into a cagey pattern of misplaced passes after that before the referee finally called time on a freezing evening in E17.
Walthamstow are at home again next Saturday, and entry will be free of charge to the game against Enfield at Wadham Lodge.
