Wealdstone 1 – 2 Carshalton Athletic
Wealdstone1 - 2
Carshalton AthleticNo Luck for Stones
A far better performance all round from Stones who at the least deserved a share of the spoils, but it wasn’t to be.
Stones were sharper and brighter from the start, having a number of early chances against a square visiting defence before Carl Hunt opened the scoring on 11 minutes from close in, beating his marker to shoot home. Stones continued to have the better chances, Swaysland unlucky from a sweet Morgan cross, Marvin wearing the captains armband on his 19th birthday, and Martin Carter too created chances for Morgan and Swaysland, bringing saves from the home keeper.
A harsh free kick on 43 minutes gave Carshalton their equaliser when a powerful dipping shot beat Carter, sending the sides in at half time even. Stones lost Ramsay at half time and Perry two minutes into the second half, both with injuries before on 61 minutes another decision was to turn the game. Bowen shielded the ball back to Carter who slid down to collect, Carshalton’s Johnson nipped in and touched the ball out of his grasp and was tripped by the body of Carter. The penalty may have been justified, but the sending off seemed an unfair decision in the circumstances. Lee Walker, on for Perry went in goal and save d the kick, but Stones had lost three centre halves in a matter of fifteen minutes!.
Reshuffling saw Morgan plough a lone furrow in attack and he caused problems for the visitors, getting to the byline and cutting inside, once only an excellent save by Borg saving the visitors, but as the match progressed, Carshalton continued to stretch the ten man Stones, only for Brooker to score the winner in the 87th minute, his swerving shot giving substitute Walker little chance.
Stones go away heartened by the performance but disappointed with the result and the decisions which changed the game.
Wealdstone: Andy Carter (s/o 61), Kevin Ramsay (s45 Jason Shaw), Matt Perry (b43, s46 Lee Walker), Fergus Moore, Justin Bowen, Joel Marie-Saint (s83 Dennis Fennimore), Carl Hunt (12), Martin Carter (b89), Mick Swaysland, Marvin Morgan, Danny Tilbury