Report – Wealdstone 1-1 Maidenhead United

Wealdstone

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Maidenhead United

KO: 19:45 | Tue 18th Jul ’17

Wealdstone played out a tough 1-1 draw with National League South champions Maidenhead United at Grosvenor Vale on Tuesday evening as torrential rain and thunderstorms struck during the second half.

Danny Green scored the Stones only goal midway through the second half against his former club after Jake Hyde opened the scoring five minutes in. Elliot Benyon also had a first-half penalty saved by Carl Pentney.

As expected, the Magpies offered a sterner physical test and the tempo and competitiveness matched what will be encountered in the upcoming National League South season.

A defensive mix-up just five minutes in between Josh Hill and David Hunt allowed Hyde to latch onto a long ball, before rounding Jonathan North and slotting into an open goal.

Stones had a chance in the 23rd minute to atone for the error. Abobaker Eisa hooked onto a loose ball a split second before Jake Goodman and was brought down by the defender in the box. Benyon stepped up to take the penalty but it was a tame effort straight at Pentney.

Maidenhead almost doubled their lead a minute after the penalty save. Last year’s golden boot winner Dave Tarpey put a low cross in for Hyde but it was well stopped by North.

Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick and Ricky Wellard were introduced in the 62nd minute and it was the latter who instantly made a goal. A free-kick was squared across the edge of the area to Green and he swerved a lovely low shot past Pentney.

Josh Hill then had a goal disallowed ten minutes later from a Wellard corner. He beat Sean Marks in the air, looping a header into the corner but was deemed to have fouled the Maidenhead forward.

Reading now send their U23 side to The Vale on Saturday for Wealdstone’s final home pre-season friendly.

WEALDSTONE: North (Constable 45), Oshodi, Okimo, Hunt (Wellard 62), Hill, Harwood, Green, Cox (Hippolyte-Patrick 62), Benyon (Kearney 73), Godfrey, Eisa. Unused sub: McGleish

By Chris Woods

Pictures Credit:  freddiepatmore.com