Report – Wealdstone 2 – 1 Whitehawk
Wealdstone
2 - 1
WhitehawkAbobaker Eisa’s dramatic late winner gave Wealdstone a textbook smash-and-grab victory over bottom of the table Whitehawk at Grosvenor Vale on Saturday in front of a boisterous Non-League Day crowd of 953.
The Stones had to come from behind after Kyjuon Marsh-Brown had opened the scoring for the Hawks in the first half but Wealdstone equalised through a Danny Green penalty and won it in the 88th minute when sub Eisa shot past keeper Simon Jorgensen.
Bobby Wilkinson rung the changes following Stones shock 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Burgess Hill Town last week, making seven altogether. The most notable was centre half Glenn Wilson making his debut as a makeshift right-back with Sam Cox away on international duty with Guyana. Fellow new signing Harry Goodger made the bench.
A revitalised Whitehawk, with a new Manager and full of new signings, could have gone ahead twice before Marsh-Brown’s opener, with Jonathan North denying Pape Gueye and Enoch Andoh from close range.
Marsh-Brown then gave the Hawks a deserved lead when he beat Glenn Wilson and sent a curling, low effort past North on 28 minutes.
The forced first half introduction of Eisa brought more energy to the Stones attack and he had a chance just before half time when trying to lob the giant 6ft 10” frame of Jorgensen in goal, which the keeper just about held.
Stones pressed much harder after the turnaround and a breakthrough looked inevitable as the attacks mounted.
The equaliser arrived when Rose brought down Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick and Referee Aji Ajibola immediately awarded a disputed penalty. Green sent Jorgensen the wrong way with panache.
Hawks debutant Kodi Lyons-Foster was next to draw a save from the ever alert North when his header was tipped wide.
But late on the Stones dramatically grabbed the victory to reverse the fortunes of the previous week’s debacle. A goal kick from Jorgensen was powerfully headed to Eisa by Jerome Okimo, he beat his man with tremendous pace and rounded the keeper to slot into an empty net, allowing the home fans a chance to celebrate another vital home win and three points, although they were holding their breath deep into added time when sub Dominic Vose pulled a last-gasp save out of the excellent Jonathan North with a shot from the edge of the area.
The Stones are in action next Saturday away to Chippenham Town in the league.
WEALDSTONE: North, Wilson (Brown 81), Sellers, Hill, Day, Williams, Hippolyte-Patrick, Okimo, Fitchett (Goodger 55), Green, O’Brien (Eisa 36). Subs not used: Wellard, Ngamvoulou.
By Chris Woods
Steve Foster pictures HERE
MoM Ryan Sellars – Picture Ash Holdling
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