Leatherhead 1 – 3 Wealdstone
Leatherhead
Pr1 - 3
WealdstoneThe following report in the main by Sudhir Rawal
From zero to hero, that is Rob Courtnage. The Leatherhead programme called him a fans favourite but most of our fans would not have anywhere the teamsheet, yet two goals from his left foot secured the win and put us through to the next round.
A first half that we just about shaded saw both teams hit the woodwork and create a few half chances. Williams hit the bar for Wealdstone and Morgan And Jolly both just failed to touch in crosses in the six yard box, while a Leatherhead free kick came back from a post.
The second half saw Leatherhead take control early on and they were rewarded when Billy Amartiefio was caught in possession and Tavares finished with real aplomb when he lofted the ball over the stranded Carter from twenty five yards.
For the next ten minutes Stones looked dead and buried until a nasty foul on Ryan saw the team and crowd come to life. Their keeper was flapping at corners and after a series of them, Williams swung one in from the left that sailed over the head of the keeper and into the net on 72 minutes.
Stones went ahead again after the keeper hashed up another corner, the ball fell at the feet of Amartiefio and his quick pass out of the box to Courtnage allowed him to strike a curling shot which sailed into the top corner, much to the delight of the Stones fans.
Rob Courtnage sealed the win with another corner, this time from the right which bypassed everyone in the box and just bobbled in off the far post.
A far happier day for everyone involved at Wealdstone, justifying the changes made in the line up. Hopefully the players will realise what they are capable of and bring some consistency to the remainder of the season!
Harrow Times
Wealdstone taste Trophy success By Steve Paull
Leatherhead 1 Wealdstone 3 A reorganised Wealdstone put in a much better performance on Saturday to progress in this season’s FA Trophy. But don’t read too much into the result, as two of the three goals came direct from corners, writes Steve Paull.
Billy Amarteifio returned into the defence after injury, with Martin Carter changing to sweeper. Jason Shaw came in at right back with Dave Ryan going into midfield. Matt Carvell was relegated to the subs bench.
This formation seemed to work as a much more composed side just about came out on top in a goalless first half.
In that half the woodwork was struck twice-once by each side. After 15 minutes Tommy Williams’s delightful chip from 25 yards bounced on the top of the Leatherhead bar and 20 minutes later Inglethorpe for the home side saw his free-kick strike a post and colleague Ruggles put the loose ball wide.
Wealdstone were generally on top however, with Marvin Morgan and Richard Jolly especially giving their best performances in recent games. Teasing balls into the box eluded both of these players by just a fraction.
In the second half the home side were much more lively. Inglethorpe had already had a shot deflected wide before Tavares gave them the lead, seizing on an error by Amarteifio to delightfully chip over the stranded Andy Carter from 30 yards.
As the game entered it’s final quarter it was starting to look as if Wealdstone would be going out of the competition until an inswinging corner from the left was missed by a flustered Gray in the home goal to cross the line at the far post.
Suddenly the whole mood of the game changed. Further dangerous corners were only just kept out, but from one of these Amarteifio laid the ball back and Rob Courtnage coolly struck it through a mass of bodies from 20 yards to put Wealdstone ahead.
Gray now rather fortunately got a deflecting touch to an effort from Morgan after the striker had ran clear of defenders from the half way line, and a lob by Jolly was inches wide of an empty goal.
The final goal was again from an inswinging corner, this time by Courtnage from the right hand side.
Gray again was nowhere and the ball even bounced before finding the net via a post. Cue mass celebrations from the Wealdstone faithful……
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