Wealdstone 2 – 3 Harefield United
Wealdstone2R
2 - 3
Harefield UnitedSeven changes from Saturday’s line-up was too much to cope with for Wealdstone last night as they lost against Harefield United in the Middlesex Charity Cup, 2-3.
There was plenty of effort, but the side lacked the cohesion and the teamwork that had been shown in re ent games as a number of the ‘squad’ and players not included in recent games got 90 minutes under their belt – important for them and the club with forthcoming matches in mind.
Stones though did create the first opportunity of the evening as Turner got behind the visitors defence as early as the 8th minute, but he was fouled from behind on the edge of the penalty area – a free kick was given but there was no card for the defender much to the surprise of the fans in a sparse crowd.
The referee excelled himself some minutes later when awaiting a throw in, Jermaine Beckford was elbowed in the face – after treatment the referee chose to speak to both players involved and no more, but better was to come in the second half……
Harefield took the lead on 27 minutes when they broke forward, a cross was met by Windle and his effort was cleared off the line, only to fall to Jordan who scored from 4 yards. Early in the second half Harefield were awarded a penalty when Tucker was adjudged to have tripped an on-rushing forward and Jordan stepped up to make the score 2-0.
Substitutions, those of Ursell and White for Holland and Montgomery, and a reshuffle of the side gave Stones more heart on the hour, and within minutes one goal had been pulled back. White’s ball released Turner and as he ran into the penalty area he was brought down by the visiting keeper. A penalty was awarded, the only further penalty being the keeper sent to his goal line to prepare for it, though it was duly despatched by Beckford.
Stones were pressing forward at this point – though Harefield did break out on occasion, Woods and the Stones defence dealt well with the threat – Stones scored an equaliser on 83 minutes when Beckford again rose to head home Burrell’s corner for 2-2.
With the clock ticking down and everyone anticipating extra time on a cold night, the Referee again intervened, as Jordan broke forward for Harefield. Woods rushed out from his goal-line and took the opportunity to punch the ball away, his and the forward’s momentum then seeing the players collide. The Referee had produced a yellow card for the offence before he had even awarded the penalty so fast was he to react, yet there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Woods had taken the ball first. Questioned afterwards, the Referee commented that “It was the force at which he came out…..” while neither assistant agreed with the decision.
It stood on the night however and up stepped Jordan to complete his hat-trick and win the tie for Harefield to continue their successful season.
Wealdstone: Luke Woods, Lee Holland (s61 Ross White), Louis Lancaster, Robin Tucker, Andy Keepence (s74 Gary Burrell), Josh Cooper, Kenny Beaney, Graham Montgomery (s61 Rob Ursell), Jermaine Beckford, Phil Turner, Carl Ashton, Sub not Used: Luke Smith.