Wealdstone 1 – 2 Staines Town
Wealdstone
1 - 2
Staines TownVery much a game of two halves today, Staines running out winners by 2-1, though Stones had taken the lead and perhaps deserved to get something out of the game for effort alone.
For 45 minutes from the start, Staines forced Wealdstone to play almost entirely in their own half and often in their own penalty area, and new goalkeeper Gelnn Jackson made a couple of crucial saves to ensure that the scores remained level.
Stones were limited to occasional breakaways, but did at least manage to create chances from these as Beckford and Jolly both saw shots saved, while Ursell dwelled a little too long before shooting, having the ball taken off his toe midway through the half.
The second half saw a change around, as Stones attacked from the break and took the lead on 48 minutes when Jermaine Beckford back-headed a Lee Chappell long throw into the far corner of the net. Stones continued to push forward and had chances to extend their lead through Beckford and Jolly, but on both occasions Allaway saved well.
Ross White set Rob Ursell free but Rob tried to beat one man too many before getting his shot away and like ion the first half was robbed before on 78 minutes an excellent drive from some 20 yards by King saw Staines equalise.
From that point on, they forced Stones further and further back, and though stones back line coped well, the pressure never abated. Stones young side put in a tremendous amount of effort and defended in numbers while still trying to create going forward, but it was misfortune that gave Staines the winning goal as a Stones defender cleared from his goal line, but only to Jamie Guy who shot home from12 yards in the 88th minute.
For the second game in a week Stones suffered in the last few minutes despite their best efforts, but the telling quote was a comment made by a Staines Official after the game – the second goal had cost him £1500 in win bonuses – more than the whole Wealdstone budget….
Wealdstone: Glen Jackson, Lee Holland, Lee Chappell, Ross White, Dave Ryan, Andy Keepence, Kenny Beaney, Rob Ursell (s78 Phil Turner), Jermaine Beckford, Richard Jolly, Gary Burrell, Subs not used: Louis Lancaster, Carl Ashton, Josh Cooper, Luke Woods.
Harrow Times – Steve Paull
WEALDSTONE’S return to Chestnut Avenue showed a surprising decline in the quality of their performance.
From the upturn in form and relative highs of two wins and an honourable defeat in three successive away games, Stones reverted to their bad ways to record their fifth defeat in eight league games at their new resting place.
Staines dominated the first half with much of the game was played in Wealdstone’s half.
A pair of free kicks on the edge of the box, both wasted, and a full stretch toe poke from Richard Jolly, saved by keeper Allaway, were all Wealdstone had to show for their endeavour.
The half that ended with the latest Stones’ keeper, Glenn Jackson, a signing from Harlow, tipping over Currie’s looping header before making a superb double save in the melee that followed the ensuing corner.
Jackson had earlier blocked Currie’s attempted shot when Ross White’s back pass lacked pace, and both King and Currie were just off target.
It was a much improved Wealdstone who made the second period an even contest.
Stones even took the lead three minutes into the second half when Beckford’s header from Lee Chappell’s throw looped over Allaway and into the far corner.
For a long time the game was an end to end affair but gradually Staines reasserted themselves.
Currie headed wide and Dave Ryan cleared off his goal-line before King’s cross-shot levelled the scores with 15 minutes to go.
There was a certain element of cruelty and a big slice of luck about the Staines winner, which came in the last minute of standard time.
Chappell must have thought he had dealt with the danger when he booted the ball away for what should have been a corner, but it hit Ley, who was running wide, and wickedly deflected across goal into the far corner.
In the final moments, Jolly tested Allaway and was just wide with another effort but there was to be no way back.