Wealdstone 0 – 2 East Thurrock Utd
Wealdstone
0 - 2
East Thurrock UnitedWith a couple of new faces in the starting line up and one more on the bench Stones fans expected a decent performance and result against mid table allies East Thurrock, but it wasn’t to be.
It took Stones a little while to find their feet but the two new signings that started – Meddie Nsubuga and Darryl Cox gave Stones their first chance with Cox shooting just wide.
The half was fairly even with Thurrock perhaps having a little more possession while Wealdstone created three or four chances – though none fell to Richard Jolly – but on 40 minutes a misjudgment gave East Thurrock the lead.
A long clearance from Hardingham in the ETU goal was falling towards Dave Ryan who let it bounce over him for Ling to collect but he was too far out and as the keeper ran out to try and collect, Tony Boot nipped in behind Ryan and cooly chipped Ling from the edge of the box.
The second half started in similar vein to the first, but another mistake after 51 minutes allowed the visitors to double the lead when Norman under hit a back pass. This time West was on hand to beat the keeper to the ball and slot home.
As Thurrock began to dominate, Stones brought on new signing White and Beckford for Norman and Adolphe and stemmed the flow. Stones then began to create better chances and Jolly had three in quick succession – a through ball from Keepence resulted in a snap shot high over the bar, a cross from Burrell in a shot that cannoned of the crossbar and the third effort saved by Hardingham.
Stones changed the shape and continued to press but without success while at the other end, Lee Burns (who had an excellent game throughout) broke away and saw his shot beat Ling only to hit the inside of the post and rebound across the goal.
On 74 minutes, West was dismissed for a challenge on Harding who was stretchered off with a foot injury and it is hoped that it’s not too serious. Stones continued to press on but were unable to claw back the goals, and the match ended with a 2-0 win for East Thurrock United.
Wealdstone: Russell Ling, Dean Harding (s74 Lee Holland) , Meddie Nsubuga, Dave Norman (65 Ross White), Dave Ryan, Andy Keepence, Lee Chappell. Paul Adolphe (s65 Jermaine Beckford), Darryl Cox, Richard Jolly, Gary Burrell. Subs not used: Carl Ashton, Liam Baptiste.
Harrow Times
Wealdstone 0 – 2 East Thurrock United
WEALDSTONE fielded three new signings for this clash with free-spending East Thurrock but none was able to swing the game in the home team’s favour as two pieces of poor defending and some indifferent finishing resulted in a disappointing defeat.
A defeat did not seem on the cards early on as Stones took the game to the visitors. After just two minutes Richard Jolly’s header was well saved by Mark Hardingham.
Jolly just failed to connect with Meli Nsubuga’s flick on and had a shot well saved by Hardingham shortly after. On six minutes Stones claimed a penalty when a cross by Darryl Cox appeared to strike a defender’s hand but it was adjudged accidental.
Jolly and Gary Burrell both failed to score when well placed before East Thurrock’s Tony Boot had a flick cleared off the Stones’ line by Dean Harding.
The Rocks influential Lee Burns cut in from the right and had his shot turned round by Ling for a corner.
At the other end, an excellent move involving Andy Keepence and Paul Adolphe ended with Cox just failing to connect from six yards.
Harding shaved the bar following a Jolly cross.
There was little goalmouth action until The Rocks took the lead just on half time.
A long Hardingham clearance bounced over a static home defence and as Ling left his line Boot lobbed expertly into an unguarded net.
The second half was barely five minutes old when the away side doubled their lead. Steve West chased down a half hit Dave Norman back-pass and superbly struck it past the advancing Ling.
On 62 minutes Wealdstone made a double substitution with Norman and Adolphe replaced by Jermaine Beckford and Ross White.
A minute later Boot was put through but Ling pulled off an excellent save. The ball rebounded to the forward but his second effort was cleared off the line by Dave Ryan.
Wealdstone almost pulled a goal back when Beckford crossed and a Jolly shot smacked the bar.
On 75 minutes a clumsy challenge by West on Harding saw the Rock’s forward sent off and the home defender carried off.
Wealdstone battled hard to retrieve the position but The Rocks defended resolutely. Cox fired over the bar before half-hitting a 15-yarder after a pass from Beckford. The last word went to the away side when Burns thumped a wonderful shot against the post following a terrific solo run.