Heybridge Swifts 1 – 1 Wealdstone
Heybridge Swifts
1 - 1
WealdstoneIn the first few minutes of this match, Stones carried on where they had left off against Grays, pushing their opponents back and Michnowicz, Burrell and Morgan all created half chances that tested the home defence.
At the other end, Heybridge sent in a warning as a free header at the far post sailed wide, before, on 6 minutes, an other quick cross resulted in Artun giving the home side the lead from close in. On reflection, a chance that should have been closed down before he scored.
From then on Stones looked a little shaky, as mass defending whenever Stones had the ball seemed to be the order of the day, and in the first half Stones failed to make anything of it.
in the second half, the enigma that is Wealdstone totally dominated the possession, but again created little early on as the home defence and midfield got goalside while Stones pondered another pass.
Their best effort came from Morgan who ran fully fifty yards across the defence, beating three challenges, only to see his shot deflected wide by the inside of the goalkeepers thigh.
Substitutions on 62 minutes made the difference though, as Brian Jones, returning to the Stones midfield made the best use of the space available, twice threading the ball through for Morgan to run on to – on both occasions the keeper did well to save at his feet, while a cross cum shot found Jolly who headed over and it seemed most of Wealdstone’s forward play was now going through him.
It was the mercurial Jones that scored the equaliser when fully twenty yards out past the angle of the penalty area, he was looking for a pass, looked up and saw the goalkeeper near the front post and sent a superb chip into the inside netting of the far post for Stones equaliser.
It was the last real chance of the game, but Jones’ impact was not unnoticed and on this form should bode well for the future.
Harrow Times Steve Paull
Heybridge Swifts 1 Wealdstone 1
WEALDSTONE pinched a point in the first of two tricky away games inside a week.
Super-sub Brian Jones struck for the visitors seven minutes from time to earn his side a draw at Heybridge on Saturday.
Heybridge enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and will feel aggrieved that all three points eluded them. However, a late surge by a suddenly enlivened Wealdstone would deny them.
In truth the Swifts should have won this match by half-time, carving out a glut of gilt-edged chances. When Ergun Artun headed home after just six minutes, one feared that Stones could be on the wrong end of a cricket score. But for the heroics of Andy Carter, they would have been.
The keeper made a string of good stops including a fine save from James Rowe just before half-time.
The only real threat to Heybridge came from Marvin Morgan, who looked dangerous all afternoon.
The second half continued in a similar vein. Heybridge’s John Pollard rattled the Wealdstone crossbar and killer second goal seemed inevitable.
However, the longer it remained only 1-0, the more confident Wealdstone became. After a timid attacking performance for much of the match, the away side were galvanised in the final quarter.
Home keeper Darren Placid fielded efforts from Morgan and Richard Jolly before substitute Jones stepped off the bench to fire home the equaliser.
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