Leyton 1 – 0 Wealdstone

Leyton

Ryman League Division 1 North

1 - 0

Wealdstone

KO: 0:00 | Tue 2nd Dec ’03

This match was never going to be a classic from the early stages when a number of innocuous challenges saw free kicks awarded, and a few more were awarded to the mystery of both sides.

Stones were on the back foot in the early stages but the defence held strong, preventing the home side from having a shot, and as the half wore on, Stones pressed forward, the home defence too preventing any meaningful effort on goal.

Stones should have been awarded a penalty on twenty minutes when Williams was pushed in the penalty area, and six minutes later he was penalised when a through ball struck his arm – he questioned the decision and was immediately booked, yet some ten minutes later, and almost identical offence by a Leyton player went unpunished.

David Godfrey was injured on 31 minutes collecting a high cross, appearing to land awkwardly under a challenge and had to be replaced having damaged ankle ligaments, Dave Ryan taking over in goal.

he had little to do until just before half time, when Shaw was adjudged given away a corner when to most present a goal kick was the correct decision. Shaw questioned the decision and was booked for dissent, as was Martin Carter when he too asked why a corner had been given.

The corner was duly played into the box where Carter headed clear, though as both sides carried on, the Referee gave a penalty against Shaw for pulling on a forwards shirt. No-one other than the official appeared to have seen the incident, and Bajada stepped up to steer the penalty just out of Dave Ryan’s reach to give the home side a 1-0 lead at half time.

The second half was almost entirely Wealdstone attacking, the home side limited to very occasional breakaways, and after having had so little to do, Ryan must fancy playing in goal again, but despite long periods of possession and pressure, Stones could not find there way through a packed defence – Leyton had six behind the ball for most of the half – and the score remained at 1-0 to the home side.