Wealdstone 1 – 1 Whyteleafe
Wealdstone1 - 1
WhyteleafeA difficult match for a Wealdstone side showing a number of changes, but Stones started brightly, although lacking a cutting edge in the final third. As the match progressed, the strength of Whyteleafe started to show through, and Stones became a little ragged losing their shape and it was this that saw the visitors take the lead on 38 minutes.
Tucker controlled but lost the ball on the edge of the box and a swift cross beat Fergus Moore, for Lock to score from ten yards. This seemed to be the way of the half, with Whyteleafe dominant, but they were limited to long shots and failed to capitalise further for their pressure in the remainder of the half.
The second half started in similar vein, the visitors strength showing through, but as the half progressed, it was Wealdstone’s turn to get on top, Bamgbola, Hammatt and Tilbury all going close before on 73 minutes Nwanze was sent off for a second bookable offence. This gave Wealdstone further impetus, but they struggled to break down a solid midfield and defence, until on 82 minutes Hammatt headed the ball wide to Tilbury who beat his man and drove a low cross into the box where the limping Walker equalised from close range.
Stones were by now well on top, and could have gone further ahead through Shaw and Hammatt but the referee was to have the final say. In a half that saw five substitutions, a number of minor injuries and a ‘handbags’ flare up that resulted in Hammatt being booked, he lost control on the field and blew the final whistle fully two minutes early evidenced on a number of watches around the ground, leaving the score at 1 – 1.
Wealdstone: Andy Carter, Robin Tucker, Fergus Moore, Lee Walker (82, s83 Billy Amarteifio), Danny Reeve (s60 Robert Connelley), Paul Lamb, Danny Gibbs (s30 Okatunji Bamgbola), Jason Shaw, Richard McDonnagh, Bryan Hammatt (b84), Danny Tilbury.