Bromley 1 – 1 Wealdstone
Bromley
1 - 1
WealdstoneWealdstone started with two new signings today, both Jamie Palmer and Graham Hall taking their places in defence and midfield respectively as Stones management looked to stem a run of recent defeats.
In a game that was played mainly in midfield for the first twenty minutes, both had contributed to a solid if not exciting Stones performance, though as the half progressed, Stones could also thank Bromley’s off target forwards for remaining in the game. Though Jackson did save well on the two occasions they looked to have found the target, he showed a little uncertainty with an excellent full length attempt to grasp a ball that was fully six feet wide of the goal!
Stones did create a couple of half chances in the dying minutes of the half forcing the home defence to resort to a long ball clearance and Walker to protect his goal, saving from Beckford but it was to remain 0-0 at half time.
The second half saw Stones press forward with greater belief and utilizing the wide men better, they had Bromley on the back foot and forced three or four early saves in the half from the home custodian, while again the Bromley defence held firm to protect their back line, their forwards restricted to breakaways and a desire to shoot from 30 yards, neither of which caused Stones any problems.
As the half wore on, Stones looked the more likely score as Beckford in particular caused the home defence problems, while Jolly and Beaney combined well to create a couple more chances.
Stones did open the scoring on 77 minutes when Walker did well to block a shot but he couldn’t prevent Beckford from slotting home the rebound from close range. From this point on, it looked more than likely that Stones would retain the lead and take all three points, but the curse of the Stones defence was to strike again on 90 minutes.
Bromley should really have scored through Gardner on 89 minutes when he shot across the face of an unprotected goal. A minute later, Stones lost the ball deep in the Bromley half and a long hopeful clearance was aimed towards McDonnell. He had to run onto the ball and it seemed that Tucker was well placed to get their first and clear but at the crucial moment he slipped, allowing the home forward a free run at goal, and he shot the equaliser past Jackson from 15 yards.
Stones did have one final chance as Beckford tried to deflect a Burrell shot goalward with the last kick of the game, but Walker saved comfortably to maintain a share of the points.
A strange surreal feeling though for Stones fans (after recent performances) to go home feeling gutted that they could only draw….
Wealdstone: Glen Jackson, (Brian) Jamie Palmer, Lee Chappell, Ross White (s90 Carl Ashton), Dave Ryan, Robin Tucker, Kenny Beaney, Graham Hall (s79 Graeme Montgomery), Jermaine Beckford, Richard Jolly, Gary Burrell, Subs not used: Luke Smith, Josh Cooper, Phil Turner.
Harrow Times Steve Spaull
AS a good wine is said to improve with age, so did this match. After an opening 20 minutes without a shot at goal from either side it could not have got any worse.
But the torpor stayed with Wealdstone for much longer. An hour had been played when, finally, Jermaine Beckford created an opening for a shot at the Bromley goal. The ball went out of play for a throw.
It was the sort of day where nobody in the ground seemed to want to be there.
To add to it all Wealdstone were robbed of victory when Robin Tucker slipped over in the second minute of added time presenting McDonnell a clear run at goal, which the Bromley forward used to maximum effort with a shot from the edge of the box that beat Glenn Jackson’s dive.
Jackson had his best game in Wealdstone colours, making a good save from Luckett and racing off his line to make Awuah fire over.
Two new faces were added to the extraordinary number of players that have worn the Wealdstone shirt this season. Jamie Palmer did well in place of injured Lee Holland at right back, Graham Hall less so in the centre of midfield where loanee Robert Ursell has returned to AFC Wimbledon.
Again Jackson saved smartly from Awuah early in the second half but it was not until Beckford’s wayward effort that the game finally creaked into life.
A Tucker header from a Gary Burrell corner was saved by home keeper Walker. Drewett and McDonnell both fired over Jackson’s goal and he made another good save to keep out a further McDonnell effort.
Beckford’s smart turn and shot brought a good save from Walker at the expense of a corner but following Dave Ryan’s mishit effort Walker spilled a regulation save and Beckford smashed the ball in from close range.
Luckett nearly gave Stones a second goal when his headed clearance just cleared his own bar and Jackson continued to defy McDonnell.
Then came Tucker’s unfortunate slip….