Hemel Hempstead Town 5 – 2 Wealdstone
Hemel Hempstead Town5 - 2
WealdstoneStones gave themselves a near perfect start at Hemel, Dean Papali capitalizing on a missed punch by the home goalkeeper after just two minutes to put them ahead, and in the early stages they looked to build on the opening, Papali, Robinson, O’Toole and O’Leary having efforts on goal, though each was either a little too high or a little too wide or comfortably dealt with by Bowden-Hasse and Yeboah, both of whom Stones tried to sign this season!
The match was fairly even for the first half hour, stones holding onto the lead, but as Stones had scored from a long throw earlier, Hemel equalised when Wild outjumped his marker at the near post to head in an equaliser on 31 minutes.
Again the half continued to ebb and flow, until Stones lost possession attacking the Hemel goal. A quick break saw the ball played forward and then across the Stones back line to the unmarked Sippetts (who Stones tried to sign earlier this season) who gave the home side the lead on 44.
The second half started disastrously, the back line gifting Hemel a third goal within a minute of the restart, when a long ball from Brennan (who Stones tried to sign earlier this season) was allowed through the defence and a cross and miss-hit shot also should have been comfortably dealt with, the latter leaving Mitch Swain flat-footed in goal as it crept in at the corner.
From then on, the confidence drained from the Stones and the heavy legs took their toll after four games in eight days (with another to come on Monday) and Stones were on the back foot. Changes made, Stones lifted themselves and battled well to get back onto even terms and on 74 minutes, a good move from Stones gave Robinson an opportunity at the far post and he scored from close range to give Wealdstone some hope.
Six minutes later and another error cost Stones their chance, as they pushed forward for an equaliser, Hemel won the ball in defence and Carl Martin returning from injury could only offer a back-header towards his own goal from the long through ball and Edgeworth stole in behind him to beat the unlucky Swain to the ball and score the home side’s 4th goal.
Pushing on again, to try and recover anything from the game, it was no surprise when Thomas stole in in the 94th minute to score Hemel’s fifth to leave Stones in deep trouble at the foot of the table.
Wealdstone: Mitch Swain, Lee Chappell s58 Carl Martin, Fergus Moore, Ben Martin, Graham Hall, Dean Clarke s58 Graeme Montgomery, John-Joe O’Toole, Chris O’Leary, Theo Robinson 75, Dean Papali2, Scott Donnelly s68 Simon Martin Subs not used: Andre Dellissier, Josias Carbon
You must be logged in to post a comment.