Merthyr T 2 – 1 Wealdstone

Merthyr Tydfil

3QR

2 - 1

Wealdstone

KO: 0:00 | Sat 25th Nov ’06

Stones travelled to Merthyr for this FA Trophy tie and Manager Gordon Bartlett made a couple of changes to try and reverse the result of last weekend. His plans though were thrown further into disarray when Lee Carroll pulled out on the morning of the match with a recurrence of his eye problem.

Stones went a goal behind on 23 minutes – a long punt upfield from the home side saw their striker react quickest and he broke free to shoot past Swain.

With the wind behind them Merthyr pressured Stones throughout the half but the score remained 1-0 at half time.

Stones played with the wind to their backs in the second half, but shortly into the half a 15 man scuffle saw both sides were reduced to ten men, though we’re not really sure why, Stuart Bamford off for Wealdstone.

Stones did equalise when Gavin Bamford headed home a free kick in stones best spell of the match, Graeme Montgomery also seeing a shot come back off the bar, but to complete the scoring, Stones saw a penalty awarded against them with 13 to go, and this was duly converted to leave a bleak journey home the only reward.

Wealdstone: Mitch Swain, Josias Carbon, Fergus Moore, Kevin Swift s Lee Chappell, Stuart Bamford, Gavin Bamford 47, John Christian s Michael Currie, Chris O’Leary , Matt Gooderick s Wayne Cort, Dean Papali, Graeme Montgomery, Subs Not Used: Stanislav Rosboud, Stuart Goodall

Harrow Times – Steve Spaull

THE Stones lost to Merthyr for the second successive Saturday, by the same score and at the same time their fifth consecutive defeat.

The Stones have now been knocked out of three cup competitions in the space of 11 days but played a lot better than they did in last week’s defeat at Merthyr in the league.

Mitch Swain replaced Lee Currell in the Stones goal due to a recurrent eye problem.

This was only Mitch Swain’s second first team match of the season and he had to pick the ball out of the net in the 21st minute when Craig Steins raced on to a ball over the top of the Stones defence before slotting the ball into the net.

An almighty brawl on the half-way line just before half-time ended with the dismissal of Merthyr’s Kris Dimond and Stones’ Stuart Bamford. It also appeared that Chris O’Leary, who was sent off last week, was lucky not to have received his marching orders once again.

In the second half, on 66 minutes, the Stones equalised when Gavin Bamford headed home Graeme Montgomery’s cross and soon after could have taken the lead when Montgomery hit the bar.

Then, on 76 minutes, the Stones gave away a penalty when Merthyr substitute striker Craig Moses was tripped in the penalty area and Garry Shephard scored what proved to be the winning goal.

The Stones are now left in only two cup competitions, the London Senior Cup and the Middlesex Charity Cup where they play Yeading in December.