Wealdstone 1- 0 Enfield Town
Wealdstone1 - 0
Enfield TownWealdstone completed their pre season programme with a 1-0 win over Enfield Town on Monday evening. It was substitute striker Greg N’Goyi who notched a late winner for Wealdstone,taking his pre season tally to seven. Whilst manager Gordon Bartlett must surely have his starting XI in mind for Saturdays League opener, one position that still seems uncertain is who will start in goal for Stones. Regular goalkeeper Sean Thomas was originally set to make his comeback, however he was withdrawn a few minutes before kick off with an injury, with former Watford stopper Jonathan North stepping in. North will have done his chances of a starting berth no harm with a solid display between the sticks.
The first half was a scrappy affair, with neither side really able to create any clear cut chances. Wealdstone had a couple of efforts from distance early on, the best of these being a powerful free kick from Scott Fitzgerald which went just the wrong side of the post. It was Enfield who went closest to breaking the deadlock though, with ex Wealdstone player Richard Morton firing a volley across goal which flew just wide of the far post. The second half ended with some great work down the right flank by Danny Spendlove, however when he pulled the ball back across goal there was nobody to meet it.
Wealdstone started the second half on the front foot, with Chris O’leary heading just wide, and then Fitzgerald volleying over. Fitzgerald then came even closer to breaking the deadlock a few minutes later when the Enfield keeper dropped a Spendlove cross into his path, however he couldn’t quite get enough on the loose ball to turn it home. Enfield had their first chance of the half on 60 minutes, when substitute Paul Campbell waltzed through the Wealdstone defence, but he ended up firing well over.
Stones introduced a triallist for the last 15 minutes, with former Scottish League player Dan Gerrard coming on at right back for Lee Chappell. Stones eventually grabbed the winner they had been pushing for, when substitute Greg N’Goyi smashed the ball home, after the keeper had blocked his original effort.
Stones begin their Ryman Premier season with a tough looking trip to Hastings United on Saturday, followed by a home game with Tooting and Mitcham United on Monday 23rd August, KO 7.45pm.
Wealdstone: North, Chappell, Lavers, Locke, Cronin, Smith, Ashe, O’Leary,Burnell, Fitzgerald, Spendlove. Subs used: Forbes, N’Goyi, Massey, Gerrard
By Stuart Warren
Steve Foster Match Pics HERE