Report – Wealdstone 2 – 1 Bath City
Wealdstone
2 - 1
Bath CityA second-half comeback saw Wealdstone overcome a lively 10-man Bath City side who would have left Grosvenor Vale wondering how they didn’t get anything from the 2-1 defeat served up by their hosts.
The Romans led through Matt Richards’ first-half penalty before Jake Sheppard’s 70th minute equaliser. The game changed on 81 minutes when Antoine Semenyo was shown a second yellow card and Taofiq Olomowewe nodded in three minutes later to snatch the victory.
Stones boss Bobby Wilkinson made changes aplenty to the side that lost 3-2 to Eastbourne Borough last week, Olomowewe returned to the starting eleven after his loan spell at Enfield Town, Marcus Johnson-Schuster also returned after a lengthy spell out of the side with Reading loanee Sheppard moving into midfield at the expense of Danny Green.
It was the visitors that started strongest and Stones keeper Jonathan North had to be alert early on to deny Miles Welch-Hayes and Semenyo’s headers, which he tipped round his left post.
Dan Ball had to be alert to clear Jeffrey Monakana’s rebounded effort off the line in a surprise Wealdstone attack.
On 42 minutes, Bath were awarded a penalty when Jerome Okimo handled Opi Edwards’ cross. Richards stepped up to calmly dispatch to North’s right.
Eddie Oshodi and Dylan Kearney were introduced at half time as the Stones changed their shape, and they gradually improved as the half progressed.
Although this wasn’t before Bath had a flurry of chances in the space of four second half minutes.
North saved Tom Smith’s long-range effort and denied Semenyo and Edwards in quick succession, Andy Watkins did finally beat the keeper only to see his effort come off the post.
Sheppard grabbed his first Wealdstone goal on 70 minutes, finishing off a one-two move with Sam Cox by firing past Southwood.
The impetus of the game changed on 81 minutes when Semenyo was shown a second yellow card for persistent fouling.
Stones smelt blood and immediately went for the jugular with Kearney seeing his effort blocked by Welch-Hayes onto the post, and from Green’s resulting corner Olomowewe rose highest to head past Southwood and snatch a needed win.
Stones now travel to Hungerford Town on Monday night as they squeeze in eight more games before the seasons end in three weeks time.
WEALDSTONE: North, Johnson-Schuster (Oshodi 46), Okimo, Olomowewe, Wilson, Sheppard, Whichelow (Kearney 46), Cox, Pratt, Bubb, Monakana (Green 76). Subs not used: Sellers, Fitchett.
By Chris Woods
MOM – Tarfiq Olomowewe post match Interview HERE
Manager Bobby Wilkinson’s post match Interview HERE
Steve Foster pictures HERE