On a cold, wet and windy afternoon at the Goldstar Ground, the conditions were difficult enough without a referee who raised his yellow card nine times in a game that was never a rough and tough tumble.
In the end the home side just about deserved to take all three points, perhaps indicated by the visitors awarding their man-of-the-match to their goalkeeper Lee Pacey.
In saying that Danny Crump in the home goal had to be on top form, making two outstanding saves that denied the visitors a goal they felt they deserved.
It was Seasiders’ new boy Nick Ingram with the match-winning strike, and he might have had a couple more in an early second half spell when the Seasiders were on top, his second in as many games since signing from Ryman League Bury Town earlier in the week.
The opening 15 minutes saw the best of the action, although centre back Dan Davis, up for a corner, needed extended attention after colliding with a post.
Walden’s Graeme Taylor attempted a looping shot from distance that had Crump beaten but was fractionally high, landing on the roof of the net and the same player won a corner that player manager Stuart Wardley, unmarked, headed wide with a clear sight of Crump’s goal.
Chris Williams saw his fierce effort blocked from a Stuart Ainsley corner and his follow up effort saved by Pacey.
As the game settled, the home side began to control the play without creating too many openings and when they did, Williams was denied by a top class save from Pacey.
Craig Jennings replaced youngster Kyron Andrews at the break but it was Ingram who made the breakthrough in the 51st as he raced into the box and lifted the ball over Pacey – the ‘keeper got a hand to it but not enough to deny the striker his match winning moment.
Crump produced a stunning save with 20 minutes left, palming away substitute Joe Murphy’s goal bound volley, and Turner following up drilled the loose ball into the side netting.
It was the closest either side came to changing the scoreline, as the yellow card count rose in a keenly contested final 20 minutes with the rain lashing down.
At the end, the visitors felt they deserved at least a share of the points, but it was the hosts who took all three with a solid defensive display and a quality finish from Ingram.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here