Ciencester Town 0 – 3 Wealdstone
Cirencester Town0 - 3
WealdstoneStones put in their best performance of the season today eventually running out comfortable 3-0 winners, though it could have been 6!
After a dismal showing at Barking on Tuesday, Stones were pleased to see the return of Graham Montgomery, Ben Martin and Wayne Cort from injury, and also welcomed Scott Donnelly to make his debut in midfield, having signed from QPR.
Stones were bright from the start and thoroughly dominated the early stages, Papali and Montgomery both seeing early efforts saved before the first goal on nine minutes. Good work from Donnelly released Montgomery and he cut inside and passed to O’ Leary who broke into the box only to be brought down for a penalty which Papali duly stepped up and scored to give Wealdstone an early lead.
As the half went on, Stones seemed a little cautions perhaps awaiting the inevitable come back from Cirencester, bit the home side’s efforts lead to nothing, Lee Carroll having his quietest half for a long time, as Stones defence coped early with anything the home side offered.
Never safe on one goal, Stones pressed forward as the half progressed and Hall was unlucky not to extend the lead when his well struck effort was deflected wide and Cort saw a back header cleared off the line, but a sweet move down the left flank saw a ball laid back to Graham Hall, and his pinpoint pass found Jay Carbon on the edge of the home box. He cooly collected the ball and took on the home keeper, slotting home a low shot to give stones a 2-0 half time lead.
The second half followed a similar vein, Cort’s hight causing problems at set pieces and speed and movement of the midfield and wide players forcing the Cirens defence into rash clearances, not letting them build play at all.
On 67 minutes, Carbon broke down the right, played in Josh Cooper who found Dean Papali. His effort was deflected across the goal where Carbon had continued his run and he scored his second from two yards.
As the game progressed, Montgomery was unlucky not to get on the score sheet, as was sub matt Gooderick – first from an excellent diving header – unfortunately met by an equally excellent save from the home custodian, and in the doing moments, released again by a ball from Hall, Gooderick took on the keeper only to see his shot cannon back off of the bar………
Stones were well worthy of their win and this was emphasized by the fact that Carroll didn’t have to make one save all afternoon! here’s hoping that it starts a run of similar performances from the side who on days like this show they can compete with anyone at this level.
Wealdstone: Lee Carroll, Josias Carbon 42,67, Fergus Moore, Carl Martin, Ben Martin, Graham Hall, Chris O’Leary, Scott Donnelly s65 Josh Cooper, Wayne Cort s72 Matt Gooderick, Dean Papali 9, Graeme Montgomery s87 Lee Chappell, Subs Not Used: John Henry-Hayden, Kevin Swift
Harrow Times
Cirencester Town 0 – 3 Wealdstone
Steve Paull
Classy victory for Stones….
FROM the despair of the previous week’s capitulation to Maidenhead comes a classy performance that showed Wealdstone at their best.
On Saturday in the west country they had the upper hand from start to finish against a Cirencester side that on the day showed very little.
As a team this was the best Wealdstone performance of this season, the defence coped admirably with whatever threat Cirencester posed, the forward players performed well throughout the entire 90 minutes – not just for short periods – and the midfield were able to win the ball with regularity and move it up to the strike force.
Another new face was introduced into the Stones line-up – midfielder Scott Donnelley was playing for QPR and getting an occasional first team game until recently being released. Another youngster, he looks a little overweight but also looked very composed on the ball and showed some nice touches until having to depart the field just after the hour mark when getting an injury following a heavy tackle.
Graeme Montgomery and Wayne Cort, both returning to the side following spells on the sidelines through injury, were off target with efforts before Stones took an eighth minute lead from the penalty spot. Chris O’Leary was brought down by Haisley and Dean Papali fired home.
None of the expected retaliation came from the home side, who only had one header from Molyneaux that cleared the bar and a few long-range, off-target efforts to show for their labours. Wealdstone, however, looked as if they could score a second goal whenever they got in range of goal.
Smith cleared a 20-yard effort from Graham Hall off his line then Jackson did the same a minute later following a corner headed goalwards by Fergus Moore.
Finally, to end this spell of intense Wealdstone pressure, Hall threaded the ball through a packed goalmouth to Josias Carbon, just onside, who rolled it past keeper Sawyer for 2-0 and his first Wealdstone goal.
Before the half-time whistle blew, Sawyer kept out a stinging effort from Papali.
Wealdstone had been playing down the slope in the first half and might have been expecting to be under a lot of pressure in the second but it never really came and Lee Carroll was largely unemployed. With the game three-quarters over Wealdstone scored again.
Carbon played the ball up to Montgomery who fed Papali for a shot that Swayer saved well. However Carbon had carried on with his run and smashed the loose ball home from a couple of yards.
Now Wealdstone completely took charge. A handball on the line following O’Leary bundling his way forward towards goal was not given and Sawyer, with a splendid double save, kept out a Matt Gooderick header and 20-yarder from Montgomery that followed moments later.
Even in added time, Gooderick’s effort smacked against the bar and a Papali shot was cleared off the line.