Wealdstone 6 – 1 Kings Langley
Wealdstone1QR
6 - 1
Kings LangleyWealdstone steamrollered past Spartan South Midland Division One side Kings Langley and will now enter the draw for the second qualifying round at Wembley Stadium on Monday.
Stones starting line up was affected by injury and illness with Glen Little not in the squad following a knock taken in the midweek draw at AFC Hornchurch, Tom Pett rested although on the bench and with the influential Stefan Bailey taken unwell this disrupted the shape and fluidity of their attacking play in the early stages. Jerome Okimo still needs time to cover from a persistent knee injury sustained three weeks ago but better news was that skipper Wes Parker was fit to start the tie.
The initial signs from Stones were of finding their feet and they looked sluggish as Kings Langley appeared the livelier team and prepared to give, what was for them a massive task, a decent go and looked confident enough. Wealdstone gradually worked themselves into the tie playing up the slope and soon forced the Kings into errors and some tetchiness with their quicker passing moves.
But with 18 minutes on the clock Stones took the lead from big Sean Cronin who powered home a header from a Jey Siva corner. Within a minute it was two nil when Siva floated in another teasing set piece for fellow centre half Wes Parker to glance home past stranded Kings ‘keeper Ant Ladyman.
Stones chances and dominance started to dramatically increase as Chris Moore’s curling shot drifted just wide. Kings hit back briefly and Richie Hanlon went close as home keeper Jonathan North was dispossessed in the area and could have been embarrassed but he recovered well.
The lively Siva, revelling in the relative luxury of time and space, should have increased the home side’s lead before the break but his long range strike smashed against the cross bar.
The game opened up considerably in the second half as Wealdstone now ran riot down the incline. Surprise substitute Kurtney Brooks replaced the below par Adam Martin steadying the midfield and the goal opportunities flowed. Parker swept home his second from an excellent Brooks cross and then veteran Scott McGleish whose work rate was again admirable finished expertly from substitute Peter Dean’s great low ball into the area. To their credit Kings Langley hit back and North had to be alert to stop Adam Hallissey’s attempt to reduce the arrears.
Against the run of play Kings grabbed a deserved consolation from Shaun Owens when North couldn’t hold the ball but within a minute cheeky substitute Reece Grant touched in from yet another superb Siva cross. Dean went close with a nice header but the scoring was wrapped up when youngster Jack Hutchison curled in a beauty past the beleaguered but stoic Ladyman.
There was still time for the ebullient Grant to produce a piece of exquisite skill when he flicked on to fellow teenager Hutchinson but his strike smashed off the woodwork. The only sour note on a good afternoon for Stones was a serious looking foot injury to midfielder Scott McCubbin that meant they played out the last few minutes with 10 men.
Wealdstone: North, Hammond, Siva, Parker, Cronin, Godfrey, Martin, McCubbin, McGleish, Moore, Hutchinson. Subs used: Brooks, Dean, Grant. N/u: Pett, Bailey.
William Hill MoM: Jey Siva
By Nick DuGard
Steve Foster Match Pics HERE