East Thurock United 2 – 0 Wealdstone

East Thurrock United

2 - 0

Wealdstone

KO: 0:00 | Sat 21st Jan ’06

It really was the ‘other’ Wealdstone today. No doubt turning up and looking at a pitch in very poor condition, it was as though Stones had decided before the game that it was a surface they couldn’t play on, so in large parts, they didn’t.

A strong and effective East Thurrock side had Stones on the back foot and on the floor in the first few minutes as they pressed forward, als pressing home their strength advantage, and Stones never really got going. It seemed obvious that the potential transfer talk was affecting the front two as neither played much part in the early stages, and Stones failed to get the ball forward often enough to allow chances to be created.

The midfield without Kenny Beaney lacked a little industry though not the effort, but with youngsters Cooper and Montgomery alongside Burrell and White they were often out-muscled.

The defence too suffered against the speed of the home forwards, particularly debutant Batt signed from Dagenham & Redbridge, but it was not the efforts of the home side alone that secured the victory, as both goals were the result also of errors in the back line.

The first early on resulted from a corner. Batt had the opportunity for a free header and the Stones defender (Burrell?) on the line could only deflect the ball into his own net. In honesty, there was little else to write about from either side in the first period, and the second was little better.

ETU’s second goal on 57 minutes was the result of a good run from Batt, who seemed to skip past three challenges before a square pass allowed Turnbull to tap the ball home.

Stones did have their best spell of the game in the closing minutes and Beckford could in fact have scored twice in 30 seconds, the first as he closed down the goalkeeper from fully thirty yards away – perhaps had he only been 28 yards away he’d have got to the ball first, and the second effort saw him cut inside his defender and try and audacious flick which the home keeper did very well to push over the bar.

A week now for the management to change the mood and to ensure the real side turn up next week at home to Chelmsford.

Wealdstone: Glen Jackson, Robin Tucker, Jamie Palmer (s59 Phil Turner), Ross White (s70 Jason Shaw), Dave Ryan, Chris Zoricich, Graeme Montgomery (s63 Luke Smith), Josh Cooper, Jermaine Beckford, Richard Jolly, Gary Burrell. Subs not used: Lee Holland, Lee Chappell.