Maidenhed United 3 – 0 Wealdstone
Maidenhead United3 - 0
WealdstoneFootball can sometimes be very cruel as it kicks you when you are down, and tonight was one of those nights.
Maidenhead ruled the roost from the kick off, forcing Stones back for the first five minutes and some desperate defending was the best Stones could offer in those early exchanges, but from there on for fully 55 minutes Wealdstone were on top, almost camped in the home side’s half, chasing every ball and hustling the home side into errors, all the time building half chances for the front three.
Maidenhead to their credit defended in numbers with bodies blocking almost every opportunity and Ramos in the home goal equal to the shots that came his way as Stones piled on the pressure.
Half time came with the score still 0-0 and Stones the better side, so with the slope in the second half, hopes were raised.
Stones started the half in the same way, forcing saves from Ramos and again seeing a couple of shots just wide of the post, but a key save seemed to turn the game. Stones were awarded a free kick in a central position, and well struck by Donnelly, Ramos managed to change direction mid dive and pushed the ball wide for a corner. As the corner came in, Papali was fouled in the box but nothing was given, the appeals perhaps enough to give Maidenhead the advantage on the break.
As they outpaced Stones up the field, the ball was cut inside to Neville Roach who’s shot gave Smith no chance in the Stones goal on 61 minutes. This visibly shook Stones who had dominated for so long, and a poor kick off returned possession to Maidenhead, now full of confidence and they forced their way forward once more. This time, Stones conceded a free kick on the edge of the box and the quick delivery put O’Leary under pressure, his header backwards nestling in the corner of the net for Maidenhead’s second goal in as many minutes.
From then on the home side were on top as Stones struggled to rally, not a matter of ability or fitness, but any remnant of self confidence visibly drained from the side who had competed so strongly for the first hour, only to be set on the back foot so quickly.
There was little more action other than another goal from Romeo on 89 minutes, when ben Martin was dispossessed mid way inside the Stones half and a quick pass gave Romeo the opportunity for a snap shot, well struck past the helpless Smith in goal to give the home side a more than flattering 3-0 win.
Players and officials alike telling all around that playing like that Stones will have no worries were gratefully received, but at the end of the day its the points that matter and i for one will take an awful performance with the winning goal scored of Gordon Bartlett’s backside if it means 3 points on Saturday!
Wealdstone: Paul Smith, Lee Chappell s71 Josias Carbon, Fergus Moore, Ben Martin, Simon Martin, Scott Donnelly, John-Joe O’Toole, Chris O’Leary, Theo Robinson, Dean Papali s71 Graeme Montgomery, Scott Cousins, Subs not used: Dean Clark, Roderick Maveso-Mputu, Andre Dellissier