Hemel Hempstead Town 3-1 Wealdstone
Hemel Hempstead Town3 - 1
WealdstoneWealdstone Manager Gordon Bartlett was pleased with the performance at Vauxhall Road on Wednesday night as he grapples this summer with the permutations within a squad of enviable numbers and ability.
In a full bloodied match that at times became over physical, both sides will have drawn positives; but with Stones fielding nine substitutes in the second half we are reminded that these warm up games are predominately for players and managers, not for spectators.
Still there was plenty to ponder – pick of the performances on the night were were young Louis Lavers who had a fine match on the left wing and the starting central defensive pairing of Wes Parker and 6′ 1″ ex Neath and Principality Welsh Premiership player Sean Cronin, 24.
The first half was mainly a midfield battle with Stones newly signed Kurtney Brooks glueing the jig saw together in the middle, with the main goal threat coming from hard working match skipper Peter Dean, although Lavers came closest with an audacious shot that was only just clawed
away.
After a goal-less first period Wealdstone upped the anti and Scott Fitgerald demonstrated his class with a peach of a finish and for a long period the away side dominated and should have grabbed a couple more. Then came the inevitable string of substitutions and this affected the rhythm and tempo,crucially in midfield, and the Tudors eventually equalised from a free kick and then went on to grab two
more from good finishes giving substitute keeper Sam Beagle no chance.
Interesting times ahead as the remainder of the pre-season matches come thick and fast. Next up is Slough Town this Saturday at The Vale, Kick off 3pm
Wealdstone: McWeeney, Steer, Lavers, Parker, Cronin, Brooks, Dean, O’Leary, Burnell, Fitzgerald, E’Beyer. Subs (all used): Ashe, Chappell, Logie, Massey, Locke, Ngoyi, Sekora, Douglas, Beagle