Match Preview – Wealdstone vs Hendon @ The Vale 22 Feb KO 3.00pm

Wealdstone welcome Hendon to The Vale on Saturday afternoon, where they’ll be aiming to record their third consecutive league victory. After the slightest of post-Christmas blips, The Stones have returned to form with a bang in the New Year, notching up seven wins in their last ten Ryman Premier outings.  

Gordon Bartlett’s side have, though, had to endure a frustrating lack of fixtures recently, but with four games in hand over the league leaders, and only two points off the pace, the weather could be improving at just the perfect time for the West Londoners to mount their assault. The Stones sealed a precious 2-0 victory in their last league fixture on Saturday, with Scott McGleish and Tom Pett netting in either half against promotion rivals AFC Hornchurch.  

Hendon do however represent another stern test for Wealdstone. The Greens sit comfortably in ninth, but with five wins and a draw in their last eight in the league, they are a team who will travel to Ruislip high on confidence. Last time out, Gary McCann’s side recorded an impressive 4-1 victory away to high-flying Kingstonian, thanks to goals from Jack Bennett, Leon Smith and a brace from Anthony Thomas.  

Although this is the first meeting of the season between the two teams in this competition, they did meet back in October in the Ryman League Cup. Stones defender James Hammond provided the game’s only goal that night, powering home a blistering long-range effort. As expected at this stage of the season, Wealdstone have a few players carrying knocks, but Gordon Bartlett is hopeful of having a fully fit squad to choose from come the weekend, ahead of another important match in this fascinating chase for promotion.  

Stones added to their squad this week with the signing of former AFC Wimbledon and Wingate & Finchley wide player Dean Mason. 
Match Preview by Matt Desai

Admission is £10 (Adults), £5 (Concession) & £2 (Under16’s), if you hold a Season Ticket for another club (except our opponents of course) entry to The Vale is just £5.

 If you are planning to using the tube this weekend to get to the game both the Met & Piccadilly Line services to Ruislip/Ruislip Manor are not operating due to planned engineering work. The Central Line to Ruislip Gardens will be operating a normal service (out of the station, then a 12 minute walk along West End Road until you reach Grosvenor Vale – or cross the road from the station and jump on the E7 bus to Grosvenor Vale).

Don’t forget to arrive early and get into the ground at least 10 minutes before kick-off!