Report – Chelmsford City 0 – 3 Wealdstone
Chelmsford City
0 - 3
WealdstoneWealdstone keep their play-off hopes alive after a phenomenal performance at Melbourne Stadium earned a 3-0 victory against Chelmsford City in the National League South.
An amazing first half goal from Danny Green, accompanied by second half goal from Tarryn Allarakhia and an own goal from Adrian Cascaval earned the Stones a well-deserved three points.
Crawley Town loanee Allarakhia looked hungry from early on, his dangerous drive earned the Stones a corner inside eight minutes.
Wealdstone’s Simon Mensah tried to emulate his counterpart four minutes later and his good work resulted in a free-kick which was curled over by Green.
The home side then had the biggest chance of the game inside 20 minutes, a Chelmsford set-piece was lofted to Chris Whelpdale at the far-post and his header was parried by Jonathan North to Rhys Murphy whose effort forced another great stop by North.
After a great header to clear his lines two minutes later, North clashed heads with Clarets’ Lamar Reynolds and was cleared to continue after being assessed.
Chelmsford were easing themselves back into the game after a strong start from Wealdstone, Whelpdale again leaped highest from Chez Issac’s free-kick which was comfortably collected by North after 26 minutes.
Wealdstone came again with more questions for the home side to answer three minutes later, Godfrey Poku’s long-range effort made Nathan MacDonald struggle to save, the resulting corner from Green was headed inches wide by Jerome Okimo.
There was a response from the Essex-based Clarets when Whelpdale’s dangerous throw found Murphy whose acrobatic attempt did not trouble North.
The deadlock was finally broken after 33 minutes when Wealdstone full-back Freddie Grant’s backheel eventually bobbled to Green who beautifully fired a half-volley with the outside of his left boot which sailed over MacDonald into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Jordan Chedozie almost had the perfect opportunity to score the equaliser within two minutes of the half-time whistle, Whelpdale’s good work on the right laid the ball to Chedozie who could not release his attempt before Poku’s interception.
Bobby Wilkinson’s men went into the half-time interval with a one-goal advantage courtesy of Green’s spectacular goal.
The second half began with fantastic creativity from Allarakhia on the left-hand side and was unfortunate to see nobody connect to his low cross early-on.
Wealdstone doubled their lead five minutes into the second half when Allarakhia took control and blasted a left-footed deflected shot into the net from outside the area.
Incredibly the Stones grabbed their third goal six minutes later when good chasing by Green rewarded the midfielder with the ball, his low cross from the left went to Chelmsford’s Cascaval who unbelievably volleyed the ball into his own net.
Chelmsford looked like they lacked ideas at the hour-mark, a triple substitution did not provide an instant impact.
Another long-range attempt from Whelpdale was again easily grasped by North as the half-way stage of the second half grew closer.
All the attempts on-goal for Chelmsford were either from Whelpdale or Murphy, both had attempts with 20 minutes left but neither threats could find the target.
The atmosphere was non-existent with the home side three goals behind, while Wealdstone would surely have another eye on other results not going their way.
Yet again Allarakhia was behind on the left channel, Grant won the ball back and fed through Allarakhia and forced an unorthodox save from MacDonald.
Wealdstone saw the game out and move just two points behind the play-offs ahead of the final game on Saturday at home to Hemel Hempstead Town.
Wealdstone: North, Grant, Tyler, Stevens, Okimo, Poku, Allarakhia, Smith, Brown, Green, Mensah. Subs Pratt, Azeez (used), Clark, Paterson and Monakana (not used)
Report by Dec O’Reilly
Steve Foster pics HERE