Purflett 3 – 2 Wealdstone
2QR
3 - 2
WealdstoneIts just a Purfleet Day…….
For the second week in succession, Wealdstone slipped to defeat after taking a two goal lead.
Stones started the brighter and despite Purfleet having an early chance saved by Carter, it was Wealdstone that took the lead with the best move of the match, Jason Shaw collecting the ball just inside the Purfleet half. His cross field pass found McDonnagh and he laid the ball into Hammatt with his back to goal inside the penalty box. A stun pass from Hammatt laid the ball back to Tilbury who shot just inside the post from 20 yards to give Stones a 9th minute lead.
Purfleet had slightly the better of play for the next fifteen minutes or so without really threatening the Wealdstone goal, but it was Stones second real attack that saw them extend the lead, a deep cross from Tucker only partially cleared by the home defender, the ball falling to Hammatt out wide and his perfect volley into the far corner gave the home ‘keeper no chance.
Purfleet though would not give up and they continued to battle, forcing Wealdstone back into defence, and creating half chances that Stones coped with.
On 41 minutes an excellent cross found Linger at the back post and he made no mistake with his header, bringing the home side back into the game. A couple of head injuries meant that there was to be some time added on and in the fifth minute of added time, poor defending from a corner saw Southon unmarked again at the far post, his header beating Carter from close range to make the score 2-2 at half time.
the second half saw Purfleet step up a gear and Wealdstone were on the defensive, failing to create a chance in over half an hour, but not really being threatened either.
The game changed on 80 minutes when Simpson was sent off for an off the ball clash with McDonnagh, but this spurred the home side to greater effort, closing the midfield down and looking to break away when they could and they did. Unlucky substitute Shayne Chandler saw a pass intercepted and the ball was played forward where Martin outpaced Reeve on 83 minutes, beating Carter in a 1 on 1 to score Purfleet’s winner.
Stones pressed hard for the remaining minutes against ten men, their best effort from McDonnagh going just over the bar and Wealdstone’s FA Cup involvement ended for another season with the final whistle. Stones showed some excellent ability and skill in the first half, but couldn’t keep it going for the whole game, if they had there may well have been a different result.
Wealdstone: Andy Carter, Robin Tucker, Fergus Moore, Richard McDonnagh (b45), Danny Reeve (s85 Danny Gibbs), Billy Amarteifio (s 75 Shayne Chandler), Vinny Somers (s65 Ricky Pither), Jason Shaw, Dennis Greene, Bryan Hammatt (31), Danny Tilbury (9) Subs not used: Charlie Leary, Robert Connelly.