Wealdstone 2 – 4 Wingate & Finchley
Wealdstone
2 - 4
Wingate & FinchleyWealdstone’s winless start to the season continued as a dire performance saw them comprehensively beaten by 10 man Wingate & Finchley.
After the match an angry Gordon Bartlett kept the players locked in the dressing for 30 minutes and described the performance as: ‘Humiliating and embarrassing’ and added ‘there was a distinct lack of communication and leadership out there today, but I back these players to respond to their critics’
After taking an early lead, Wingate then had a man sent off on 16 minutes but still eased into a 4 goal lead by the 50 minute mark. Whilst late goals from Richard Jolly and Kurtney Brooks made the score line more respectable, there is no denying
that things must improve dramatically if Wealdstone are to get back to winning ways and start gaining serious points.
Wealdstone got off to the worst possible start on 6 minutes when Leon Smith played a neat one two with David Laird which lead to the former finding himself one on one. Jonathan North did well to block Smith’s first shot, however the striker was
able to bundle the rebound over the line.
Poor defending from Stones nearly gifted Wingate a second three minutes later when Marc Weatherstone was give time and
space to get a shot away from the corner of the box which North parried away for a corner.
They then came even closer one minute after when Mark Henry’s raking pass found Lewis Jones who hit a powerful 20 yard effort just wide, as Stones looked unable to cope with the visitor’s early pressure.
After the bright start for the visitors, they then found themselves down to ten men on 16 minutes when Mark Henry was shown a straight red for a dangerous challenge on Richard Jolly, one which the Wealdstone striker was lucky to escape serious
injury.
This didn’t seem to affect Wingate though and incredibly they doubled their lead two minutes later when Leon Smith was able to rise unchallenged from a corner and head home his second of the afternoon.
Stones looked to respond and Kurtney Brooks fired a free kick just over the bar from an acute angle after Peter Dean had been chopped down when closing in on goal, before Jolly had an effort blocked following good work from Jake Parsons and
Alex Dyer.
Wingate goalkeeper Bobby Smith then came to the home side’s rescue again five minutes before the break, saving at full stretch from Peter Dean’s header following a pinpoint cross from Parsons.
The unthinkable then happened on the stroke of half time as Wingate ensured that they would take a three goal lead into the break. Some dismal defending from the Stones backline saw David Laird ride two challenges with ease before slotting past North.
Things got even worse six minutes into the second half when schoolboy defending saw Weatherstone bundle the ball over the line after Danny Nielsen had headed on a corner to give his side a four goal cushion.
There was then a treble substitution for the home side on 52 minutes with Jake Parsons, Peter Dean and Danny Spendlove coming off to be replaced by Alan Massey, David Hicks and Kieran Knight. The substitutes however had little effect as Wingate were now sitting very deep, content to ride out the rest of the game with a four goal lead.
There was some consolation in the 70th minute when Wes Parker was pushed when challenging an ariel ball, resulting in a penalty for Stones. Jolly stepped up to take the penalty, firing it straight down the middle where Smith was able to
save with his feet, however Jolly was alert enough to tuck home the rebound.
The deficit was then closed further four minutes later when Kurtney Brooks cut inside his marker 25 yards from goal and then unleashed a superb left footed effort into the top corner.
Stones looked to find more goals in the remaining 15 minutes, however Wingate were able to stand firm and get men behind the ball, capping off a hugely frustrating day for Stones players and fans alike.
Wealdstone will be looking to make amends in their next league encounter on Saturday when Bury Town are the visitors to The Vale. This game is part of the National Non-League day which allows season ticket holders of football league clubs can
gain half-price entry to the match.
Wealdstone: North, McCubbin, Chappell (c), Cronin, Parker, Dyer, Parsons (Massey 52), Brooks, Dean (Knight 52), Spendlove (Hicks 52)
Attendance: 431
MoM: Scott McCubbin
By Stuart Warren
Steve Foster Match Pics HERE