Wealdstone 0 – 2 Hendon
Wealdstone
0 - 2
Hendon
Two goals in a minute saw Wealdstone slip to an agonising defeat against near neighbours Hendon on Monday night.
Following Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Hornchurch, Manager Gordon Bartlett opted to stick with a 4-5-1 formation, with the only change in personnel being Alex Dyer returning to the starting line up in place of Kurtney Brooks.
After a slow start, Wealdstone saw the first opening of the game on the ten minute mark when a long kick from Jonathan North was flicked on by Chris O’Leary into the path of Alex Dyer whose left footed effort stung the palms of Sean Thomas in the Hendon goal.
Hearts were in mouths at the other end 5 minutes later when a mix up between Jonathan North and Sean Cronin after a long punt forward saw the latter miskick the ball, however the former Watford ‘keeper redeemed himself by saving well from Elliot Godfrey’s follow up.
Stones felt they had a decent shout for a penalty when Scott Cousins had pushed Scott McCubbin in the back whilst challenging for an arial ball, however Wealdstone protests were in vein as the referee, who had a challenging game all evening, waved play on.
Hendon striker Elliot Charles then had his sides first effort on target of the evening, firing in a low drive from 20 yards which
North palmed away before gathering at the second attempt, despite a strong looking challenge from Jamie Busby. Carl McLusky then came within inches of giving Hendon the lead five minutes before half time, when David Hicks had gifted him possession
in the middle of the park, the midfielder strode forward before unleashing a 25 yard effort that flew just over the bar.
The second half began with Wealdstone having the first chance, when Alan Massey’s goal bound header was kept out by a uperb one handed save by former Stones ‘keeper Sean Thomas. Thomas excelled again just after the hour mark, showing great reflexes to palm away Richard Jolly’s header after a clever cross from Scott McCubbin.
The game then showed an ugly side five minutes later, when after Lee Chappell seemingly pulled out of a challenge with Jamie Busby, the referee booked Chappell for allegedly a high challenge. Whilst Busby was receiving treatment, there was an off the ball incident between Chappell and Casey Maclaren which went unnoticed by the officials despite the protests of Chappell.
Stones then made their first two changes of the night with Kurtney Brooks and Eddie Adjei replacing Jake Parsons and Chris O’Leary. Adjei was in the thick of the actions straight away, cutting in from the right and sending over a cross which was headed just wide by David Hicks.
Hendon then took the lead hugely against the run of play with ten minutes left. Elliot Godfrey hit a powerful effort from a corner which North did well to block, however the ball ended up with Busby who was able to put the ball back in to Elliot Charles who stabbed the ball home from close range.
Matters then got even worse when a minute later when Hendon doubled their advantage straight from kick off. A short back pass from Cronin was intercepted by Greg Ngoyi who proceeded to round North before slotting into an empty net.
The two goals had knocked the stuffing out of Wealdstone, and they were unable to mount a comeback in the remaining ten minutes, slipping to a disappointing defeat in a game they will feel they did enough to take a point at the very least for their effort and work rate. The lack of a cutting edge up front when dominating the game had cost them dear though.
Next up for Stones is an away trip to Lewes, Saturday 1st October 3pm kick off.
Wealdstone: North, Hammond, Chappell (c), Cronin, Massey, Dyer, McCubbin, O’Leary (Adjei), Parsons (Brooks 69), Jolly, Hicks. Subs not used: Beagle, Locke, Jordan
MoM: Chris O’Leary
By Stuart Warren
Steve Foster Match Pics HERE