Report: Wealdstone 2 – 1 Gosport Borough
Wealdstone
2 - 1
Gosport BoroughGoals from Ricky Wellard and Aryan Tajbakhsh were enough to cancel out Aaron Dawson’s early strike as Wealdstone saw off 10-man Gosport Borough at The Vale.
Borough started the game well and took the lead on seven minutes. Josh Carmichael had a shot blocked by Eddie Oshodi, he hit the rebound through Jonathan North’s legs and Dawson cleaned up on the goal line via Tom Hamblin.
The Stones took until the half hour mark to mount any real response when Tajbakhsh stung the palms of Nick Jordan.
They did level 30 seconds later when Ricky Wellard’s powerful strike took a slight deflection off Charlie Wassmer to loop over his team-mate in goal.
And a very shortly after, Tajbakhsh nicked a deserved goal when Joe White turned Wassmer wonderfully well and played his fellow loanee through on goal and the Crawley man dinked the easiest of finishes over Jordan.
White’s hold up play had been perfect all game and the striker almost got a deserved goal when he held the ball up, took on Joe Oastler and unleashed a shot toward goal only for Jordan to tip it round the post.
Gosport’s task was hugely increased when they were reduced to 10 men toward the end of the second half when Tom Bird brought down Tajbakhsh; the referee had no hesitation in showing a straight red for Bird’s rugby style challenge.
Wealdstone always looked like scoring throughout the half with Wellard spurning three similar chances to increase his tally.
Danny Green also missed two good opportunities. Wellard flicked a ball over the top which Green controlled expertly only to hit his shot over the bar, and another in stoppage time which he drilled wide from the edge of the area.
But with the score line as close as it was Gosport always had a chance to steal a precious point despite rarely looking like threatening North’s goal.
Ben Wright had their best chance deep into stoppage time when he flicked a desperate effort over the bar from a corner. A half chance if anything but it certainly had hearts in mouths for the home fans.
Wealdstone: North, Oshodi, Brown, Mavila, Hamblin, Godfrey, Green, Cox, White (Walker 86), Wellard, Tajbakhsh (Wright 83) Subs not used: Parker, Koroma, McGleish
By Chris Woods
William Hill MoM: Aryan Tajbakhsh
Listen to Gordon Bartlett’s post reaction HERE
Steve Foster Pictures HERE