Bromley 1 – 2 Wealdstone
Bromley1 - 2
WealdstoneJingle Bells Jingle Bells…
Jingle all the way. A Wealdstone win after ten matches brought smiles to some faces but it wasn’t the best of performances. Stone missing four players through suspension and injury started brightly and had early chances through Morgan and Pither before opening the scoring on 19 minutes when Fergus Moore, recently criticized, won the ball at a corner to head home from ten yards.
Two minutes later at Stones were defending a corner when home player Watts appeared to back into Moore unintentionally. The Referee called him over and he was given a Red card, apparently for a head butt – even Moore telling the referee that they had just bumped into each other could not change the Referee’s mind, and Bromley were reduced to ten men.
They battled well, tightening up the defence and they stifled the majority of Stones attacks, while still causing Walker to clear and Carter to save from attacks of their own. From one of these on 40 minutes, Horner injured his back, being replaced by Bamgbola as Stones reverted to three at the back against the ten.
On 42 minutes, excellent work from Morgan, Tilbury, Pither and Shaw saw a low cross driven in and Chamberlin was on hand to open his Wealdstone account, giving Stones a 2 – 0 lead.
Nine and a half minutes injury time was played at the end of the half and during this period Stones conceded a free kick just outside the penalty box. Up stepped Harris and his sweet curling shot around the wall brought the home side back into the game at 2 – 1, Bromley finishing the half far stronger but good work from Perry, Walker and Carter prevented Stones from letting in another goal.
The second half was an even contest despite Bromley’s reduced numbers and they should consider themselves unfortunate not to gain a share of the spoils, as Wealdstone failed to make their advantage count despite Tilbury, Shaw and Bamgbola having chances. Bromley’s physical presence kept them very much in the game and again it was the Wealdstone defence that preserved the much needed victory despite a willingness throughout the team to give the ball away.
Wealdstone: Andy Carter, Matt Perry, Fergus Moore (19), Lee Walker (b55), Richard Horner (s40 Olatunji Bamgbola), Ricky Pither (s80 Vinny Somers), John Deadman (b45), Jason Shaw, Terry Chamberlin (42, b68), Marvin Morgan, Danny Tilbury. Sub not used Danny Reeve