Wealdstone 2 – 2 Oxford City
Wealdstone2 - 2
Oxford CityA couple of chances and a couple of new faces, but still the same Wealdstone as a match that in the first half hour they looked likely to win comfortably, they then contrived to allow Oxford to equalise and then lead. Then with the last couple of minutes remaining, Stones got back into the match with an equaliser and nearly won the match right at the death.
For a change, here’s how Megaphone Mick saw it:
Weird game. We actually played very well for 35 minutes in the first half, as we played a high tempo game that had Oxford City in trouble every time we attacked. We opened the scoring after around 17 minutes when a low right wing cross from Richard Jolly was driven into his own goal by Ballard. At that stage it really did seem a case of how many Stones get. Suddenly though we switched off for the last ten minutes of the half and conceded a sloppy goal as Oxford broke away, Carter parried but Lewis was on hand to score. The second half saw us start brightly but this flicker of hope was soon extinguished after about ten minutes of the half when we let the visitors start to dominate proceedings as we aimed hopeful balls up to Jolly and Morgan with little or no support whatsoever from the midfield.
It came as no surprise when another Oxford attack, after the midfield were caught square giving the ball away, saw them take the lad on 77 minutes when Champflower was on hand and unmarked to finish the move.
If nothing else, this should have given Wealdstone a big kick up the rear, but no. I wouldn’t say we lacked effort in particular, but it was like watching a rudderless ship veering hopelessly out of control while the crew jumped overboard, as Stones struggled to get their momentum back and get back into the match. Thankfully cometh the hour, cometh the men, in the shape of substitute Ben Alexander and that man Jolly again, as we salvaged a point in the last minute when Ben burst into the area, had his heels clipped but stayed on his feet. He didn’t panic and shoot but instead laid on a perfect pass back to Richard Jolly who picked his spot from ten yards.
A minute later and the local Police sirens wailing, Stones nearly gained an undeserved victory as after pressure from a corner, Dave Ryan, another substitute, fired at goal through a crowd of players only for the keeper to pull off a good save. The last gasp equaliser probably spared the players from a few choice words from the sparse crowd, but thankful though I am for the goal, I am sorry to say it merely papers over the cracks. The majority of the second half was very poor indeed, and the problems stemmed from midfield. Oxford did dive and roll around a lot to waste time, but we should have the personnel to beat poor teams like this.
Harrow Times
Wealdstone 2 – 2 Oxford City
Stones’ dreams of league upgrade dented by Oxford….
AN injury time equaliser from Richard Jolly saved Wealdstone’s blushes on Tuesday night, but two dropped points against an ordinary Oxford side further dented the club’s hopes of upgrading in the non-league restructuring at the end of the season.
After a largely encouraging first half, Wealdstone deteriorated badly and were very poor in the second, the lack of a controlling, influential, midfield player evident once again.
Debuts were given to two loan players, Brett Freeman and Marc Cumberbatch, both from Barnet and both defenders, obviously signed because of the injuries and suspensions of Matt Carvell, Robin Tucker and Billy Amarteifio.
Lack of understanding in yet another new defensive combination led to Oxford often looking dangerous on the break, even when Wealdstone were playing their best football in the opening half-hour. In the second minute, Lewis burst through a static back line but shot straight at Andy Carter.
Stones took the lead after 19 minutes when Richard Jolly’s low cross into the box was spectacularly put past his own keeper by the outstretched leg of Ballard.
Marvin Morgan brought out the first of several excellent saves by Oxford keeper Benbow on the half hour, but soon after James Fisher’s headed backpass fell short and Carter again had to save, this time Wise was thwarted.
A few minutes later, the Wealdstone keeper could only parry a stinging shot from Simpson but Lewis was in the right place to net the rebound and level.
Early in the second half, the keeper rode his luck when an attempt at a tip over to a long-range Morgan shot saw the ball bounce on the top of the bar and over.
After this, Wealdstone completely lost direction and it was no real surprise when Oxford took the lead 15 minutes from the end. Substitute Smillie burst into the box from the left and squared the ball for an unmarked Champlovier at the far post to score with ease.
Three minutes into injury time, Alexander intercepted Cruse’s pass and burst into the box, laying the ball back for Jolly to smack in a fortunate equaliser. Wealdstone could have won but for another superb save from Benbow, hanging on to Dave Ryan’s ferocious 20 yard shot with almost every other outfield player in front of him.
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