Sutton United 5 – 2 Wealdstone
Sutton United
5 - 2
WealdstoneThe inevitable teeth gnashing and wringing of hands over Wealdstone’s lamentable start to the season stepped up a few notches on Saturday as Stones were blown away on the home sides newly installed plastic pitch. Following last week’s narrow but encouragingly battling 1-2 defeat to highly flying Ebbsfleet United hopes were high that Wealdstone could pull off a result at Gander Green Lane.
But those hopes were soon dashed, in fact after only 4 minutes, during an awful first half when the defence appeared in explicably static, not helped by recently dual signed ‘Keeper Shane Gore having a difficult debut covering for the suspended Jon North. Stones now have a single point from six games but remarkably still remain third from bottom after Saturday’s Vanarama National League South programme.
And despite a very creditable rally in the second half and several excellent chances being created the damage had been done and the mountain was too steep to climb. Stones were 4-1 down at half time, their goal coming from an own goal after pressure from Jefferson Louis eventually forced the error. Bradley Hudson-Odoi obliged with a tap home early in the second half from a good Ryan Watts cross but despite plenty of pressure from the bludgeoned home side they couldn’t stage a recovery sufficient to worry a home side and their supporters that will no doubt now believe that they have arrived.
For the record, Jamie Collins for Sutton opened the scoring with further home strikes from Dan Fitchett, Micky Spillane, and man of the match Craig Dundas scored two.
Stones had five good chances in the second period and the failure to find the net is now probably Manager Gordon Bartlett’s biggest headache but certainly not his only conundrum following what was his most challenging of pre-seasons.
A further concern during a forgettable afternoon was the loss to injury of key centre half Tom Hamblin but Stones now pretty much have their full squad to choose from with only Tom Cadmore and Dale Binns still side-lined and two weeks from fitness, although Carl Martin’s lack of availability is also a concern and Stones undoubtedly miss the former Crewe Alexander man’s experience at the back.
Wealdstone need to dig deep and stop the rot quickly and put in a performance and result that will silence their dissenters and doom merchants – starting on Bank Holiday Monday when they face a Bishops Stortford side that beat Concord Rangers 3-2 on Saturday.
We are all hugely desirous of that.
Wealdstone: Starting Line Up: Gore, Urquhart, Watts, Parker, Hamblin, Davies, Ball, Corcoran, Louis, Wright, Hudson-Odoi. Subs: Calcutt, Lucien (used), Brown, Bevans (used), Hutchinson (used)
Steve Foster Match Pics HERE