Whitehawk 0 – 0 Wealdstone
Whitehawk
0 - 0
WealdstoneAlthough it’s probably true to say that this Vanarama National League South failed to live up to expectations with this rather uninspiring nil all draw, Wealdstone can nonetheless be satisfied with another point on the road that maintains their solid start to the campaign.
After Saturday’s matches Stones, along with title favourites Ebbsfleet United, now remain the only unbeaten sides in the division
With appalling weather conditions of near gale force winds and driving rain, both sides did their best to play football, but it was the visitors that had by far the best chances to take all the points on offer, with a combination of Elliot Benyon having a rare off day in front of goal and some game saving stops from Hawks Catalan goalkeeper Adri Munoz .
Wealdstone’s 150 travelling fans vociferously urged on their favourites as best they could in the rather eccentric surroundings of the Enclosed Ground that was rendered a more challenging and non-weather proofed environment than usual by an enforced crowd segregation.
Wealdstone started the strongest and a good early cross from Danny Green found Elliot Benyon who shot wide. And with further decent possession from the visitors Benyon again had a good chance to open the scoring when he broke free but Munoz advanced quickly to push the shot wide.
Stones continued to find space in the midfield with Green and Ricky Wellard dominating the midfield. Eddie Oshodi then put in a raking cross that delivered up a corner kick which was well defended.
The home side tried to move the ball around in the increasingly difficult conditions but more often than not poor delivery and stout defending from Stones blunted their attack.
Whitehawk’s striker Danny Mills got up to a good cross on 37 minutes but his header went well over. The half ended with another good save from Whitehawk’s Spanish keeper.
Early doors, in the second period , was very untidy from both sides but the Hawks did manage to put in a good cross that ended up in North’s side netting.
The pivotal moment in the match came in the 55th minute when Benyon’s admirable persistence meant that he broke free and would should have been an almost certain goal was frustratingly well saved by Munoz with Benyon appearing to place his shot too near to the ever alert gloveman
The home keeper again excelled a minute later when he somehow clawed away a goal bound header from a prone Benyon.
With those spurned chances from Stones it was clear that the game could go either way and with Whitehawk now pushing up with their substitutes on, they looked more likely to snatch the win.
Johnny Wright made a welcome return from injury for Stones in the final 12 minutes but couldn’t assist with a breakthrough.
Despite heavy pressure from the home side in the final minutes of added time Stones held on comfortably enough to gain another valuable point.
Wealdstone: North, Oshodi, Urquhart, Cadmore, Hamblin, Wellard, Whichelow, Green, Benyon, Koroma, Williams. Subs used: Wright, Kabba. Not used: Hutchinson, McGleish, Smith.
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