Report – Wealdstone 1 – 0 Hereford
Wealdstone
2R1 - 0
HerefordWealdstone ended Hereford’s sublime 52-match record of games without a defeat on the road with Ricky Wellard’s 26th minute header proving the decisive moment in a match that also saw Hereford’s Dara O’Shea red carded.
Bobby Wilkinson made four changes to the side that lost 3-0 to Hampton & Richmond Borough on New Year’s Day, and also revealed the side was selected with last week’s postponement at Havant & Waterlooville in mind.
Matt Day and Ryan Sellers dropped to the bench, David Pratt was cup tied and Stephane Ngamvoulou had joined Burgess Hill Town on a month’s loan, in their place came Glenn Wilson, Wellard, Matty Whichelow and Dan Fitchett. Jerome Okimo also slotted back into his usual position of left-back.
The Bulls started brightest of the two sides, buoyed by their impressive form throughout this season, Jamie Bird fired shots over the bar twice in the opening ten minutes.
But on 14 minutes the game took a turn. Whichelow looked favourite to latch onto a long ball and go one-on-one with the keeper but was clipped by O’Shea, the referee initially missed the contact but the eagle-eyed linesman persuaded the imposition of the foul and a straight red for a professional foul.
This sent the Stones into the ascendancy and they led shortly after. Danny Green swung in a corner and Wellard met it with a fine flicked header at the front post, across the face of goal and into the far corner.
Fitchett then had a great chance to double the lead eight minutes later when he was played in on goal but he was denied by a smart stop from Martin Horsell’s leg.
In the second period Horsell denied Whichelow, Abo Eisa and sub Mustafa Tiryaki’s efforts as Hereford failed to test Jonathan North with any attempts at goal as Stones stubborn back line impressively played out the rest of the game.
Just like the previous season at Southport, Wellard’s winner sent Stones into the FA Trophy 3rd Round with the draw being made live on talkSPORT 2 on Monday at 13:00
WEALDSTONE: North, Olomowewe, Okimo, Wilson (Day 16), Oshodi, Cox, Whichelow (O’Brien 71), Wellard, Fitchett (Tiryaki 71), Green, Eisa. Subs not used: Goodger, Sellers.
Bobby Wilkinson post match Interview on WFCTV HERE
Ricky Wellard post match Interview on WFC TV HERE
Steve Foster Pictures HERE
Bulls News Pictures – First Half + Second Half
Bulls News Match Report HERE
Eddie Oshodi picks up the MoM from Chairman Peter Marsden (Pic Nick DuGard)
You must be logged in to post a comment.