Wealdstone 1 – 1 Oxford City
Wealdstone
1 - 1
Oxford CityDEBUT goals from Josh Walker and Kaiman Anderson were enough for Wealdstone and Oxford City to share the spoils on a freezing afternoon at Grosvenor Vale.
Gordon Bartlett handed debuts to Walker and fellow loanee Joe White up front and also made three changes to the back four with Nathan Mavila, Tom Hamblin and David Hunt all starting.
The Stones took an early lead when Walker was alert to Eddie Oshodi’s deflected shot to place an easy but clinical finish past City’s new number one Craig Hill.
The sub-zero temperatures brought a sub-zero performance from both sides as either keeper was rarely called into action.
Danny Green also brought a decent save out of the stopper early in the first-half which denied the Stones a quick fire double.
The Stones were earned an indirect free-kick after Hill had picked up a back pass from former Wealdstone-man Scott Davies. Sam Cox rolled the ball to Hunt who exquisitely chipped the ball over a mass of onrushing players only to see his effort clip the top of the crossbar and go out of play.
Anderson did bring a save out of Jonathan North in the Wealdstone goal when the keeper got down low to tip his effort wide.
Oxford rallied at the start of the second half and were level six minutes in. Fellow debutant Wilson Carvalho crossed in for Jefferson Louis, his shot was parried by North and Anderson slotted in the rebound.
North then denied Louis again from close range but thankfully for the hosts he held onto the ball second time round.
Substitute Jonny Wright had two golden opportunities for the home side having an effort cleared off the line by Jordy N’Gathe and having a header hit the post right at the death.
Green also forced a spectacular save from Hill in injury time when he saw his long-range strike spectacularly tipped over the bar when it looked destined for the top corner.
WEALDSTONE: North, Oshodi, Mavila, Hunt, Hamblin, Godfrey, Green, Cox, White, Wellard (Koroma 82), Walker (Wright 65). Subs not used: Goulding, McLeod-Urquhart, Brown
By Chris Woods
Gordon Bartlett’s post reaction HERE
Alan Palmer pictures HERE
WFC Instagram pictures HERE