Report – Wealdstone 0 – 2 Brentford ‘B’
WealdstoneQF
0 - 2
Brentford
Brentford ‘B’ knock Wealdstone out of the Middlesex Senior Cup at The Vale.
The Bees proved too much in terms of quality for the Stones to handle in the quarter-final.
The big team news was that 17-year-old Wealdstone forward Femi Azeez was made captain for the evening by manager Bobby Wilkinson.
Brentford started the game brightly and scored in three minutes courtesy of top goalscorer Joe Hardy.
Hardy latched onto Icelandic winger Kolbeinn Finnsson’s low cross to tuck it passed young goalkeeper Sonny Wheeler.
Bees midfielder Ali Coote was forced off after pulling up inside ten minutes, a blow for a player rattled by injuries.
Brentford made their presence known in the first quarter, with multiple fouls on Azeez and Stones winger Reece Mitchell – a foul on the latter by Henrik Johansson resulted in a yellow card.
An early substitution was forced by Wilkinson when full-back Glenn Yala-Bolasie picked up an impact injury. He was replaced by Colchester United loanee Eoin McKeown with James Clark moving to right back.
In the 33rd minute Brentford could easily have scored their second of the game. Hardy turned provider when his flick-on sent Nikolaj Kirk through one-on-one with Wheeler before his shot struck the bar; the follow-up was met by Theo Archibald whose awkward header went off target.
Two minutes before half-time Hardy’s dangerous low cross from the right rolled across goal without a touch from Finnsson for a goal kick.
Wealdstone had a half chance before the interval when Clark fired over from an Anton Rodgers free kick.
But Brentford were in firm control going into the half-time interval with a 1-0 advantage over the Stones.
The second half began and initially the home side were much brighter than they were in the first.
The 52nd minute saw Stones midfielder Anton Rodgers fizz a corner across the goal mouth looking for McKeown but the striker couldn’t direct the ball on target.
Wilkinson elected to bring on Pawal Kowalkowski on the hour-mark, meaning the National League South outfit had four forwards on the pitch for the final 30 minutes.
However, it was Brentford who would capitalise on Wealdstone’s attacking numbers to score in the 70th minute.
Archibald stole the ball from Azeez in midfield; the winger then steamed past two Stones players, followed by Wheeler, to tuck the ball home into an empty net.
Only three minutes later there was controversy. Right back David Titov charged down the channel to cross near post to Hardy and the ball was in the back of the net.
Wealdstone made strong protests for handball, led by defenders Yado Mambo and Glenn Wilson, before referee Neil Morrison eventually reversed the call. It remained 2-0 to the away side.
In the 83rd minute Titov played another daring cross from the right, this time far post towards former Chelsea fullback Cole DaSilva who drilled his shot across goal and wide.
Two minutes later Mitchell’s cross from the left was deflected back post towards McKeown who attempted a volley but was scuffed into the side netting.
The game was petering out to a close and was increasingly unlikely to see any late drama reminiscent of Saturday against Dartford.
Wealdstone put in a good shift in terms of effort however, it terms of quality it was lacking from a side that made nine changes.
Wealdstone: Wheeler, Yala Bolasie, Medford-Smith, Wilson, Mambo,Smith, Clark, Rogers,Bridgeman Michell, Azizz. Subs Mckeown, Kowalkowski (used), Sheppard (unused)
Report by Dec O’Reilly