Leighton Town 2 – 2 Wealdstone
Leighton Town
2QR2 - 2
WealdstoneFor the second week running Stones came from behind to draw – this week snatching a last minute equaliser, but again almost doing enough to steal the win.
Also like last week, it wasn’t a good performance as Stones struggled against lower division opposition and defensive errors gave away two goals.
Stones looked comfortable for the first fifteen minutes, though they failed to creat a a chance that the home keeper had to deal with, then almost from their first attack, Leighton’s Hassan won the ball in a 50 50 aerial challenge and beat Lee Carrol from the edge of the area while the rest of Stones defence looked on.
The rest of the half saw Stones looking nervous and creating nothing to the disdain of the travelling supporters, worsened when on 37 minutes the home side extended their lead as Stones failed to deal with a corner and Old’s shot was deflected into the top of the net.
If the comments from fans as the side left the field at half time were not enough to stir the sleepy Stones, the Management team’s half time talk should have been, but it took a bit of good fortune to bring Stonmes back into the game, Dave Lawrence seemingly (to the referee and very few others) brought down by the home ‘keeper, Dean Papali stepping up to score from the penalty on 51 minutes.
As the half progressed, it became more even, but that is not to say Stones improved to anything like the football they are capable of, merely that Leighton caused less problems going forward. A triple substitution on 67 minutes brought Gooderick and Rosboud into the fray, and they were to turn the game in Stones favour.
Immediately the game changed as Wealdstone pushed forward for the equaliser, but the home custodian and poor finishing preserved Leighton’s lead until the dying minutes when for the second week in succession, Rosboud made a telling run, struck an excellent cross and Papali again was on hand this time directing a header into the corner on 88 minutes for an equaliser.
Montgomery could have won the game a minute later but he snatched at his shot and it went across the face of the goal, ensuring a replay on Tuesday evening, which is probably fortunate for Wealdstone overall, but perhaps deserved as yet again they did continue to work when behind trying to get something from the tie….
Wealdstone: Lee Carroll, Jay Carbon, Lee Chappell, John Christian s67 Stanislav Rosboud, Kevin Swift s67 Gavin Bamford, Stuart Bamford 27, Dave Lawrence s67 Matt Gooderick, Chris O’Leary, Dean Papali 51p, 88 Wayne Cort, Graeme Montgomery, Subs Not Used: Fergus Moore,