Wealdstone 0 – 4 Cheshunt
Wealdstone0 - 4
CheshuntWealdstone Manager Gordon Bartlett chose to keep his starting line-up the same after a strong performance last week, and his decision was questioned a little in the first ten minutes, as the visitors pushed Stones well on to the back foot, restricting their play, with Ross White controlling the play for the visitors.
As the half wore on Stones came more into the game – and it was a great match to watch. Archer probably should have scored on 20 minutes for the visitors, but his shot was well over the bar and this was the last real effort of the half as the Stones defence coped well with the strength and pace of their opponents, while at the other end, Tucker saw a header go just wide, Ryan saw one saved by the visiting keeper and Morgan and Jolly had half chances as the half wore on.
The last five minutes before half time were as it turned out, crucial. With Stones controlling the play, Morgan broke well from inside his own half and his strong run saw him in the Cheshunt box, only for a defender to block his final shot at goal with an excellent challenge.
Moments later, and Jason Shaw cut in from the right hand side and unleashed a shot from fully thirty yards that struck the post with the visiting keeper nowhere. Stones pressed on again and good interplay from Morgan and Duncan saw the ball fall to Dave Ryan on 18 yards and his powerful shot was not only saved by the visiting keeper, but he held on as Marvin Morgan rushed in. It was the final action in an exciting half that saw the score remain 0 – 0.
Stones continued in the same vein in the second half, forcing the visitors onto the back foot, Ryan and Jolly again seeing efforts saved, then on 59 minutes Cheshunt stole the ball inn midfield and a very quick break save Carter make a save although he could only palm the ball away and it eventually fell to Cox who gave the visitors the lead from close in.
Three minutes later and another break put Martin Carter under pressure – the forward played the ball past Carters challenge, but his trailing foot didn’t make it and up stepped Harris to increase the lead from the penalty spot.
Losing 2 – 0 in a game that Stones were playing well against strong and quick opponents, Gordon Bartlett changed the side, bringing off James Duncan for Ben Alexander as he tried to force Stones back into the game, but it wasn’t to be. As the final minutes drew nearer further changes saw Stones playing almost a 4 – 2 – 4, and two late goals, both when Cheshunt broke at speed gave the score line a somewhat one-sided look, as the better side on the day won, but by a score line that they will find flattering.
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