Redbridge 2 – 3 Wealdstone
Redbridge
2 - 3
WealdstoneThe first away game of the season saw Stones run out winners by 3-2 though the result was more comfortable than the score line suggests, Stones 3-0 up after an hour in East London.
Stones lined up with only one change tonight, enforced as Gary Burrell was delayed by traffic, Marvin Walker coming into the side, but it made little difference as Stones took the match to their young opponents from the off, creating a number of chances with almost all the possession leading to the opening goal.
That came on 14 minutes when Beckford chased down a through ball only to be brought down by the goalkeeper on the edge of the box. The penalty was awarded and slotted home by Beckford, but no action was taken against the home keeper. The half continued in the same vein as Stones created chances and increased their lead in the 23rd minute when Adolphe collected the ball on 15 yards, dummied and side stepped his man, and then coolly curled the ball home.
Stones continued to press on and Beckford, Jolly, Adolphe and Burton all had chances to extend the lead but it remained 2-0 at half time, Russell Ling’s input to the first half collecting a few crosses and a long shot or two.
The second half started in similar vein and on 53 minutes stones scored a third as Jolly ran on to a long ball from Burton, beating the defence and drawing the keeper before slotting the ball underneath him. Five minutes later and Beckford almost scored a fourth from fully 30 yards with a snap shot, this time well saved by Masters in the home goal.
stones though took the foot off the gas a little as the half wore on and allowed Redbridge back into the game, goals on 62 and 85 minutes from a penalty set to make the last few minutes interesting, but the momentum was shattered by a challenge on Andy Keepence that saw him take no further part and Graham Butler sent off for a second bookable offence, both sides finishing with ten men as Stones had already used three subs.
Wealdstone: Russell Ling, Dean Harding, Carl Ashton, Ryan Harris, Liam Baptsite, Andy Keepence, Paul Adolphe, Paul Burton, Jermaine Beckford, Richard Jolly, Marvin Walker Subs used: Dave Norman, Gary Burrell, Phil Turner, Subs not used: Josh Cooper, Lee Chappell.