Match Report – Wealdstone 5 – 2 Spelthorne Sports
Wealdstone1R
5 - 2
Spelthorne Sports
Wealdstone disposed of Combined Counties League’s Spelthorne Sports in the First Round of the Middlesex Senior Cup following a 5-2 victory at The Vale.
Goals from Scott McGleish and Sahr Kabba put the Stones into an early two goal lead, before being pegged back by Sam Rees and Jake Flatman goals. Ciaron Brown restored the hosts lead with his first competitive Stones goal just before half time. Kabba and Matty Whichelow made the tie safe with two late goals.
Gordon Bartlett named a strong side with only Paschalis Xanthos making his full debut, deputising for the injured Jonathan North.
And it was the perfect start for the Stones with the 42-year old assistant manager McGleish reminding us why he’s still registered as a player.
Jonny Wright took a short free-kick to Ricky Wellard who whipped in a cross to the far post allowing McGleish to roll back the years with a smart finish.
It was then 2-0 just 13 minutes later. Omar Koroma dribbled into the box only to be tackled, but fortunately the ball rolled to Kabba who smashed it past Dane Buss in goal.
But Spelthorne’s reply was instant. The ball was played in from the right and Rees put away from the cross. Xanthos got a palm to it but it wasn’t enough to stop the ball trickling over the line.
The Stones lead was then cancelled out on 36 minutes. The ball was lost in the middle allowing the Sports to plat a quick through ball to Jake Flatman catching the defence off-guard and slotting past Xanthos in a one-on-one situation.
Just before half time and against his old club, Brown put the Stones back in front. He whipped in a cross from the left which was met by nobody, but somehow managed to creep into the bottom corner.
The second half failed to be as lively as the first until the 75th minute when Xanthos pulled off a smart reaction save with 15 minutes remaining, denying Lewis Flatman, Josh McLeod-Urquhart also slid in to deny the striker the rebound.
From that the Stones put the tie to bed with Kabba shrugging off Frankie Law before dribbling into the box to slot past Buss.
Whichelow then got amongst the goals when Koroma darted into the box before laying it to the sub on the edge of the area, where the ex-Watford man rifled an effort into the roof of the net giving the keeper no chance.
Throughout the tie Spelthorne gave a good account of themselves and nearly grabbed a consolation but Lewis Flatman blasted wide of Xanthos’ goal.
WEALDSTONE: Xanthos, McLeod-Urquhart (Green 87), Brown, Parker (c) (Hunt 73), Oshodi, Godfrey, Wright (Whichelow 83), Wellard, McGleish, Kabba, Koroma Unused subs: Benyon, Cox
Goals: McGleish (4), Kabba (17, 76), Brown (44), Whichelow (90)
By Chris Woods
Listen to Gordon Bartlett’s post match Interview HERE
Alan Palmer pictures HERE