Slough Town 1 – 1 Wealdstone
Slough Town1 - 1
WealdstoneJust about everything that was lacking from the match on Saturday was present in the match with Slough Town, as both sides played a very fast 90 minutes and created enough chances that on another day would have seen four or five goals apiece. As it was the points were shared in a 1-1 draw.
Stones started well and were on top of Slough forcing them back in the early part of the game. It was on 7 minutes that they opened the scoring when a foul on Mickie Swaysland brought a free kick just outside the box. Rob Courtnage’s shot was parried onto the post, and Marvin Morgan reacted first to slot the ball home.
Stones continued to play football and created chances for Mapes, Morgan and Swaysland before a very quick Slough side really found their feet.
As the half progressed the home side came more into the game as the play switched from end to end, both teams creating chances and both defences coping well, Dean Palmer responsible for much of Slough’s play.
At half time it remained 1 – 0 to the Stones, but the second half saw Slough take up the reins, forcing Stones to defend in numbers. Andy Carter responsible for a couple of good saves early in the half before Stones again found their feet and forced chances of their own. Slough brought on Sammy Winston after an hour and this seemed to inject a yard of pace throughout their side and they forced Stones to defend deep in their own half.
The young Stones defence coped well until Jason Shaw was robbed out wide and a good cross found Tony Boot who headed home the equaliser from 8 yards on 68 minutes.
The remainder of the match was both quick and skillful as both sides sought a winner, but in the end the honours and points were shared in an entertaining match.
Wealdstone: Andy Carter, Gulad Adan (s83 Matt Perry), Rob Courtnage (s75 Carl Hunt), Joe O’Reagan, Matt Carvell, Martin Carter, Dave Ryan, Jason Shaw, Mickie Swaysland, Marvin Morgan (7), Charlie Mapes (s74 Danny Tilbury), Subs not used: David Godfrey, Jermaine Beckford.
Harrow Times Steve Paull
Slough Town 1 Wealdstone 1
An honorable draw in a game between two evenly matched sides, yet with a touch more of the break of the ball in the penalty area Stones could easily have won this battle betweenteams in the running for promotion, writes Steve Paull.
Wealdstone, with three first choice defenders out through injury had to dip into the reserves, giving a first Ryman League start of the season to Guled Adan.
Wealdstone took the lead after seven minutes when Rob Courtnage’s indirect free-kick was fumbled onto the post by keeper McCann to where Marvin Morgan was on hand to put the ball over the line.
But Slough were no slouches and what followed was an closely balanced contest with few goalscoring opportunities. Yes the home side had more of the pressure, but Stones were more incisive and looked more likely to be the next team to score.
Dave Ryan’s effort on 40 minutes had to be saved on the goal line and twice early in the second half McCann saved headers from Morgan and Mapes, the first of these saves out of the top drawer.
Mick Swaysland too could have scored after some sterling battling on the wing by Morgan but his header from the ensuing cross was wide.