Report – Chelmsford City 3 – 0 Wealdstone
Chelmsford City
3 - 0
WealdstoneChelmsford City kept their slim title hopes alive after comfortably beating Wealdstone 3-0 at the Melbourne Stadium on Monday night. Bagasan Graham opened the scoring on 14 minutes before a Chris Dickson brace secured the victory.
Stones boss Bobby Wilkinson made three changes to the side that lost at Poole Town at the weekend. Ricky Wellard, Dan Fitchett and Bradley Bubb came in for Matty Whichelow and Jeffrey Monakana who dropped to the bench and Danny Green, missing with a knee injury.
The hosts dominated the opening stages and took a 14th minute lead after a series of Chelmsford backheels in the Stones area eventually found their way to Graham, he beat Eddie Oshodi and smashed an effort into the roof of the net from close range.
He should’ve doubled his tally four minutes later when Jonny Giles cut inside and delivered a perfect cross onto his head but he nodded it straight at Jonathan North.
The Clarets doubled their lead on 28 minutes after Ryan Sellers headed clearance went straight to the in-form Scott Fenwick who played in his strike partner Dickson who then rifled an effort past North.
Wealdstone then enjoyed their best spell of the match and Glenn Wilson would’ve left wondering how he didn’t score after he powered a diving header goalbound only for Sam Beasant to tip it onto the crossbar with a quick-fire reaction save.
Wilson did beat Beasant just minutes into the second half. Monakana’s free kick round the defender’s head again but this time Josh Wallen was there to clear off the line.
Despite having a much quieter second half it was the hosts who scored the next goal. Dickson collected the ball out on the left, cut inside and unleashed a wonderful 25-yard swerving effort into the far top corner that gave North no chance and sealed the three points.
The Stones did pose a threat from set pieces and went close again late on. Monakana’s delivery from a corner found Oshodi this time, he headed into the ground and the ball bounced just over the crossbar.
The games come thick and fast for the Stones as they make the short trip to Hemel Hempstead Town on Thursday night. 19:45 kick off at Vauxhall Road for the segregated clash.
WEALDSTONE: North, Oshodi, Sellers (Whichelow 45), Wilson, Okimo, Sheppard, Wellard, Cox, Pratt, Bubb, Fitchett (Monakana 45). Subs not used: O’Brien, Olomowewe, Johnson-Schuster.
By Chris Woods
Listen to Manager Bobby Wilkinson’s post match reaction HERE