Report – Hampton & Richmond Boro 2 – 1 Wealdstone
Hampton & Richmond Borough
2 - 1
WealdstoneWealdstone suffered defeat at the hands of Hampton & Richmond Borough in the National League South on Saturday afternoon at Beveree Stadium.
Goals from Hampton striker Ruel Sotiriou either side of half-time were too much for the Stones, who scored a consolation goal courtesy of Christian Smith in the second half.
The game began quickly when both sides tried to break the deadlock in the early stages.
Beavers midfielder Casey Maclaren attempted to test Stones ‘keeper Jonathan North when his shot trickled into North’s palms inside three minutes.
Wealdstone took the ascendency seconds later when a dangerous ball from the right-hand side by Rhys Tyler was headed wide by Stefan Brown.
The game settled down after ten minutes, good skill and turn from Stones’ Danny Green eventually fell to Brown who shot wide of the far post from the edge of the box.
A flurry of strikes from Green and Tarryn Allarakhia were blocked half way into the first half before Simon Mensah was fouled on the edge of the box.
Hampton countered from the Stones corner and Ryan Hill was able to cross to the far-post towards Sotiriou whose deflected volley bounced past North after 24 minutes.
The Stones would have been disappointed to concede against the run of play, Hampton almost doubled their lead two minutes later when a fierce left-footed strike from full-back Oliver Sprague dragged over the bar.
Half-time drew closer with a lack of clear-cut opportunities for each side which did not benefit the Stones.
Bobby Wilkinson’s men went into the break a goal behind looking for a big turnaround in the second half.
The second half began with a long-range shot from Sotiriou two minutes in but drifted high and wide of the Stones net.
Pressure began to mount on the home side, Rhys Tyler had his shot blocked in the box five minutes after the break.
It did not take long for Sotiriou to double his tally, the striker done so after 54 minutes when he capitalised on an error from Stones skipper Jerome Okimo.
There was life in the Stones when substitute David Pratt was fouled in the box and makeshift centre-half Smith converted from the spot with 25 minutes left.
The home side came again searching for a third, Tyrell Miller-Rodney almost found it in the 73rd minute when his strike from outside the box fizzed wide.
Wealdstone lofted a free-kick into the penalty box three minutes later which was headed down by Okimo for Brown and was just beaten to the ball by Beavers goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer.
Another chance for the Stones was headed away by Hampton after Green’s cross. The resulting corner was headed down again by Okimo but could not find a Stone at the far post.
The Stones were searching for an equaliser when Monakana had his free-kick blocked by Miller-Rodney with less than 10 minutes to go.
The resulting corner almost found Freddie Grant who leaped highest at the far post before it was deflected wide for another corner.
Wealdstone youngster Femi Azeez almost found the away side’s second goal seconds later when the Stones corner found the winger on the edge of the box but the finish could not beat Maynard-Brewer.
Hampton & Richmond held firm in the latter stages to hold off plenty of second half Wealdstone pressure.
Wealdstone: North, Tyler, Grant, Smith, Okimo (C), Poku, Allarakhia (Azeez, 54), Brown (Clark, 79), Monakana, Green, Mensah (Pratt, 54).
Report by Dec O’Reilly
Adam Williams pics HERE