Wealdstone 1 – 2 Folkestone Invicta
Wealdstone
1 - 2
Folkestone InvictaStones stumbled and stuttered to another home defeat last night against Folkestone despite having the better of the match for long spells.
Wealdstone certainly started brightly enough with some good movement and moving the ball well, taking the lead on 11 minutes when a clever ball from Rob Ursell released Jermaine Beckford and he shot home from 12 yards. For the next ten minutes or so Stones looked comfortable, but then started to look too comfortable as Folkestone came into the match, their first real chance almost an equaliser as Jackson just got a hand to Dryden’s effort and watched the ball come back off the crossbar before it was cleared.
Folkestone took control at this stage and despite a change in formation, Stones could do nothing to force their way forward, the visitors forcing Stones into some desperate defending which held out until the 40th minute when yet again a series of errors allowed the opposition to score.
Andy Keepence could only glance a header under pressure and with the ball bobbling around Dave Ryan missed an opportunity to get the ball away as did Lee Holland and the ball eventually fell to Dryden who shot home from close range.
The second half saw Tucker replace Keepence who had a recurrence of a hamstring injury and for the first twenty five minutes of the half it also saw a resurgent Wealdstone, as they made the running and kept the visitors defence penned in. few chances were created however as the final ball into the box was not good enough with a number of crosses going straight out of play and on a couple of occasions Stones players wanting to walk the ball into the net rather than pass pr shoot – indeed, Jermaine Beckford spent much of the spell outside the box trying to get the ball to feet such was the frustration of another series of wasted passes…
On 77 minutes Folkestone took the lead when , having broken forward they had the Styones defence under pressure for a spell and Jackson in the Stones goal went to clear, his clearance was blocked and the ball slotted inside to Dryden again who slotted home from 12 yards.
Both sides tried to create from then on but were limited to half chances with neither keeper called into action and Folkestone took away a very valuable three points leaving Stones with an ever growing challenge in front of them.
Wealdstone: Glen Jackson, Lee Holland (s80 Josh Cooper), Lee Chappell, Ross White, Dave Ryan, Andy Keepence (s45 Robin Tucker), Kenny Beaney, Rob Ursell (s73 Graeme Montgomery), Jermaine Beckford, Phil Turner, Gary Burrell, Subs not used: Louis Lancaster, Carl Ashton
Harrow Times – Steve Paull
INVICTA served notice in the first five minutes that they could be dangerous on the break, but for the majority of the first half an hour Stones set the pace in a open and entertaining game.
Wealdstone took the lead in the 12th minute after great work on the left wing by on-loan Robert Ursell. He bamboozled Kevin Watson, took the ball into the box, and cut back a cross which Jermaine Beckford glanced in across the face of the goal with a deft side foot.
Dave Ryan and Gary Burrell brought out good saves from Tony Kessell in the next ten minutes as the Stones enjoyed long spells of possession. Ryan picked up the games only booking for a clumsy challenge on Martin Chandler.
However as the half progressed Folkestone came on strong and created several good chances James Dryden turned sharply in the 39th minute and equalised with a well struck a volley which Glenn Jackson could only palm into the net. Dryden and Chandler had chances to put Invicta ahead before half time but neither were taken.
An injury to Wealdstone’s Andy Keepence forced defensive changes, with Robin Tucker coming off the bench and Lee Chappell taking over as sweeper. These changes seemed to solidify the Stones back line, indeed it was Wealdstone who had a series of opportunities over the next 25 minutes. Ursell’s close control was causing Invicta problems with both Burrell, twice, and Beckford from 25 yards, both fractionally off target.
Individual defensive mistakes have littered Wealdstone’s home form season and unfortunately Jackson, Stones sixth keeper in this period, had a moment to forget as in the 77th minute he mis-kicked an easy clearance to a Folkestone forward who slid it sideways giving Dryden the simplest of chances to notch his second and the winner.