Wealdstone 2 – 0 Whitham Town
Wealdstone
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Witham TownA relatively comfortable win today for the Stones against the potential banana skin of Witham Town. Stones started well, though the first attempt on goal was from the visitors, a header from a free kick in the first minute safely gathered by Armand in the Stones goal, and this was the only time he was called into action in the first half, as Stones kept their lower division visitors penned for the most part, into their own half.
It became a sequence of chances for Stones, as Matt Gooderick hit the post after six first time passes interchanged to create the opportunity, while Papali, Montgomery, Bamford, Christian and O’Leary were all inches wide with efforts on goal.
For all their possession in the fits half, Stones contrived to miss the target by inches or to see shots blocked, giving the visiting keeper little to save directly – far more of his first half was spent clearing back-passes and the occasional stray through ball.
The second half followed a similar pattern, stones driving forward with some neat football from the start, but it was left to a more direct input into the match to final open the scoring. Stones attacked, and the clearance fell to Graeme Montgomery midway inside the visitors half in a central position. He touched the ball forward, took two steps and drilled a venomous shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net from thirty yards to give Stones the lead on the hour.
Stones continued to press on as they looked for a second goal, this half at least forcing the visiting ‘keeper into a number of saves, many orthodox and at least one with his chin on the goal-line, O’Leary. Gooderick, Christian, Bamford, Chappell, Carbon and Papali all involved at times, before on 75 minutes Papali scored with a scissors kick from just inside the penalty area, albeit aided by a deflection that looped the ball into the air.
With the clock running down, Stones did become a little lax at the back allowing the Witham team a couple of late chances, but despite one scare the score remained a comfortable 2-0 win for the home side who now await Monday’s draw for the next round.
Wealdstone: John Armand, Jay Carbon s69 Stuart Goodall, Lee Chappell, John Christian s77 Sam Sharples, Kevin Swift, Stuart Bamford, Gavin Bamford, Matt Gooderick s69 Dave Lawrence, Chris O’Leary, Dean Papali 75 , Graeme Montgomery, 60 Subs Not Used: Fergus Moore, Stanic Rosboud
Harrow Times – Steve Paull
Wealdstone 2 Witham Town 0.
FA Trophy First Qualifying Round.
THIS incredibly one-sided cup-tie got the right result in the end, but with a little more composure and a better final pass Wealdstone could have had a score in double figures.
Chances for Stones to score came regularly and, at times, the Witham goalmouth was like a pinball machine as Wealdstone did everything but put the ball in the net.
Equally. though, it has to be said that Crimpen in the Witham goal did not have a difficult save to make in the opening 45 minutes as the target was something that a Wealdstone player could not hit.
The closest to a Wealdstone goal came when Matt Gooderick hit a post when a far post chip has headed back across, but how Gavin Bamford missed the target when a string of precision first time passes opened up the Witham defence, is a complete mystery.
Stones keeper John Armand was almost a complete spectator for 45 minutes, only having a couple of crosses to catch and some backpasses or overhit Witham passes to deal with in the entire half.
The game was to continue in the same vein after the turnaround, but at least now Crumpen was having worthwhile attempts to save. Witham did also have their first attempt at goal three minutes in. A good opening it was too, but Hornsley’s precise pass to create an opening for Rowell was wasted when the chance was only toepoked – and badly at that.
Dean Papali had a “score” ruled out for offside, then twice in a matter of moments Crumpen saved from Lee Chappell headers.
The goal finally came on the hour and somewhat out of the blue, such was its simplicity. Graeme Montgomery picked up the ball in space in the centre of midfield, ran a few unopposed yards then drove a low, skimmimg 25 yard shot that beat Crumpen to his left. That’s six goals this season for the wide midfield player.
Still the assault on the Witham goal continued, Dave Lawrence had a volley well saved and Chris O’Leary had an effort luckily saved as Crimpen slipped while diving. Papali’s deflected shot finally made the game safe 15 minutes from time and it was only now, as Wealdstone relaxed, that Witham made any real progress towards the Stones goal.
Humphreys shot just wide from distance and Rowell again made a hash of an attempted shot when well placed, but any reward for Witham on a day like this would have been unjust and Stones are now four games unbeaten.