Report – Wealdstone 1 – 0 Hampton & Richmond Borough
WealdstoneQF
1 - 0
Hampton & Richmond BoroughWealdstone progressed into the semi-finals of the Middlesex Senior Cup after Eddie Oshodi’s fine finish disposed of the holders Hampton & Richmond Borough.
Both National League South sides made a number of changes to their usual league squads with Bobby Wilkinson handing debuts to four players; Marcus Johnson-Schuster, Ashleigh Artwell, Iffy Allen and Ian Gayle all played their first Stones game with David Pratt the only other change from the side that beat Hereford 1-0 on the weekend.
Hampton lost Jack Cook to injury early in the first half and whilst they were readying a replacement the Stones almost capitalised on the man advantage. The ball was squared across the edge of the box to an unmarked Allen, but he blazed his shot just over the bar.
The Stones lead just before half time with a moment of skill. Danny Green lofted a long free-kick into the area onto the chest of Oshodi, he turned and on his weaker left foot struck a low shot off of the post and in.
Former Stones keeper Luke Sheldrick was then tested twice in first half stoppage time, firstly to tip wide Sam Cox’s strike from range and then held onto Artwell’s deflected effort.
Beavers youngster Dylan Randall proved a handful for the Stones defence, Jonathan North had to get down quickly to deny him early in the second half. Hampton then introduced first-team regulars Max Kretzschmar and Josh Casey as they chased an equaliser.
And Casey almost grabbed one within minutes of his introduction. He hit an unstoppable drive from the edge of the area that looked destined for the top corner, but somehow North got across quickly to tip it over with an acrobatic save.
The two Hampton subs combined late on with Kretzschmar narrowly flicking a header wide from Casey’s corner and Stones sub Mustafa Tiryaki also kept Sheldrick alert with a header that the Australian keeper tipped wide.
But the Stones held on comfortably and will host Staines Town in the semi-final at Grosvenor Vale after they beat Uxbridge on penalties this evening. Wealdstone also now know their FA Trophy 3rd Round opponents after Warrington Town shocked Ebbsfleet United with a 2-0 win in Cheshire.
WEALDSTONE: North, Johnson-Schuster, Okimo, Oshodi, Gayle, Cox, Artwell (Tiryaki 56), Wellard, Pratt, Green, Allen (Olomowewe 89). Subs not used: Goodger, Bonfield, Day.
By Chris Woods