Stamford 2 – 2 Wealdstone
Stamford2 - 2
WealdstoneProbably the worst start of the season saw Stones give away two early goals to fall 2-0 behind on 11 minutes at Stamford, the first when a free kick was needlessly conceded on the edge of the box – from the resulting cross on 8 minutes a free header allowed Jones to open the scoring, then a couple of minutes later Gavin Bamford was caught in possession inside the box losing the ball. A simple chip and header allowed Turner to double the home side’s lead.
A minute later though and Stones had scored with their first real attack as the home keeper only partially cleared a long ball under pressure from Cort, Dean Clark on hand to strike a sweet finish into the back of the net to make the score 2-1 on 12 minutes.
For the next hour, in honesty, little happened. Stamford, who had seemed rampant at the start seemed to lose their way, while Stones struggled to find any real rhythm or threat when they were on the attack.
The last twenty minutes saw Stones pushing on more and more and forcing the home side back, but it looked as though they would struggle to share the points after the home keeper made a couple of good saves late on, but on 82 minutes Gavin Bamford laid a ball forward to Dean Clark in the centre circle. He trapped and moved on a couple of paces, looking up he saw the keeper on the edge of the penalty box and he drilled the ball high and hard over the back pedaling keeper from fully 45 yards to equalise to the delight of the team and fans.
The last few minutes saw both sides have further attempts on goal but nether was able to score, leaving Stones with a point and the 283 fans plus players, officials and management all to enjoy the memory of the goal of the season.
Wealdstone: Lee Carroll, Josias Carbon s86 Stanislav Rosboud, Fergus Moore, Carl Martin, Stuart Bamford25, Gavin Bamford, Dean Clark 12,82, Michael Currie 48, Wayne Cort s86 John Christian, Dean Papali s86 Matt Gooderick, Graeme Montgomery, Subs Not Used: Lee Chappell, Kevin Swift
AFTER almost the worst start imaginable, two Dean Clark goals – one the most remarkable piece of skill seen in many years – saw Wealdstone recover to earn a creditable draw and were perhaps a little unlucky not to leave Stamford with a victory.
For 45 minutes Wealdstone were as poor as Stamford were good.
The tigerish tackling of suspended captain Chris O’Leary was definitely missed as Stones were overrun in midfield. Only when Gavin Bamford took over in that area from the returning-from-injury Carl Martin did the game slowly swing in Wealdstone’s favour.
Harrow Times – Stephen Paull
Stones were two goals down inside the first 11 minutes.
From a free kick on the left, centre half Jones rose unmarked to head the first, then, when Gavin Bamford foolishly tried to dribble his way out of trouble in his own box and lost possession, Turner headed the second from the ensuing cross.
Remarkably, Wealdstone pulled one back almost immediately.
A cross from the right saw Stamford keeper Kearney punch poorly when challenged by Wayne Cort and Dean Clark fired home a dipping volley from the edge of the box.
But this was just an isolated incident as Stamford could reach the Wealdstone penalty area almost at will.
Three top class saves from Lee Carroll, twice from Musgrove and once from Childs, plus another dive at the feet of Turner, kept out the rampaging Stamford forwards, with only occasional off-target long range efforts in reply.
In the league that Wealdstone find themselves in it is very unusual to find a side that can keep up the same level of intensity for 90 minutes and so it was with Stamford.
The second half was a very even contest, certainly dull in comparison to what had gone before.
Clark forced Kearney into an acrobatic tip onto the bar, but that was an isolated highlight until, with seven minutes to go, the same player scored the sort of goal usually associated with footballers at the very highest level.
He picked up the ball in the centre circle and, spotting Kearney off his line, chipped the back-pedalling keeper from 45 yards for the most amazing of goals.
After this incredible score Wealdstone piled forward in search of a winner, but the closest they came to it was a ferocious free kick, from Clark again, that whistled past an upright with Kearney beaten.