Match Report – Wealdstone 2 – 1 Maidenhead Utd
Wealdstone
3QR Replay2 - 1
Maidenhead UnitedA hardy 254 fans braved freezing weather conditions to see a resurgent Stones overcome league leaders 2-1 Maidenhead United in their FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round Replay.
Second half goals from Matty Whichelow and Accrington Stanley loanee Liam Goulding were enough to see off a late Dave Tarpey goal to set up a nervy finale.
Gordon Bartlett named an unchanged eleven from the original tie with Sam Cox’s return from injury only warranting a place on the bench.
The Stones started positively against the league’s best defence and had several early chances. Two from Elliot Benyon, one from Jonny Wright and another from Whichelow were all straight at keeper Carl Pentney.
Maidenhead then showed their quality and James Mulley almost put them ahead after being played through on goal, but a last ditch block from Josh McLeod-Urquhart forced Jonathan North into a smart save.
But Wealdstone moved into the ascendency in the second half. Ciaron Brown played a great through ball to Whichelow and he cut inside before releasing an excellent finish past Pentney on 59 minutes.
Surprise substitute Scott McGleish almost extended their lead, Whichelow’s deep cross was put back across the box by Ryheem Sheckleford only for McGleish to swing an air shot past the ball and in behind him for Maidenhead to clear.
Tarpey had a good chance to add to his season’s impressive tally but North got down low to deny him. From that chance the Stones broke and Benyon almost doubled the lead with an effort that Pentney tipped wide.
That lead was doubled from the resulting corner. David Hunt swung in a corner, Pentney came out and got a punch on it but Goulding hit a volley any defender would be proud of which looped over the keeper who was trapped in no man’s land.
Stones were largely untroubled at this point but McLeod-Urquhart slipped allowing Tarpey to go through on goal and in the form he’s been in this season, it was a simple finish past North.
Deep in injury time North produced a fantastic last gasp save to deny Jordan Cox to put the Stones in the next round and give the freezing fans the opportunity to go home on time – and happy.
WEALDSTONE: North, McLeod-Urquhart, Brown (Cox 74), Goulding, Oshodi, Hunt, Sheckleford, Godfrey, Benyon, Wright (McGleish 45), Whichelow nused subs: Kabba, Koroma, Green
MoM: Ryheem Sheckleford
By Chris Woods
Steve Foster Pictures HERE