Wealdstone 2 – 5 Stamford
Wealdstone2 - 5
StamfordOuch just about sums it up, as in a fairly even game with both sides missing a number of first half chances, a risk to get something out of the game eventually backfired for Wealdstone.
Stones took the lead on four minutes when Robinson received the ball out wide, jinking past his marker, his pace then took him clear and allowed him to hit a low cross, well met by Papali on 8 yards who made no mistake. Stones joy though was short lived, as they were soon out-muscled in midfield and Wormall, who was probably the pick of the Stamford side, got on the end of a header across goal to equalise from a couple of yards two minutes later.
Two minutes more and they were in the lead as Stones lost the ball again and an inch perfect pass was met by Wilson, who too shot home from close range.
For the next half hour, Stones were the better side as Donnelly Robinson and Papali continually combined to cause the visitors problems. Robinson saw his next effort punched round the post and then two excellent through balls from Donnelly released him to shot – only to see the first effort hit the bar and the second to glide just over it.
Papali was jot to be outdone and he too collected the ball out wide, cut inside and turned his defender before glancing a shot with the outside of his boot just past the post, shortly afterwards hitting the post with a similar effort.
Donnelly almost got his name on the scoresheet as well with a blistering free kick that was only a couple of inches wide, before Stones did equalise on 39 minutes, this time Robinson on the end of a Hall free kick at the back post to shot home across the visiting keeper.
Again though, Stamford scored after just two more minutes, a low shot beating Carroll at his near post to give the visitors a 3-2 half time lead, after an excellent half of football.
The second half started with both sides cancelling each other out for long spells and certainly lacking the excitement of the first, though Stamford had the better of possession as their quick movement and passing restricted Stones to occasional foray’s forward.
Still 3-2 down, Manager Gordon Bartlett made three changes in the space of 12 minutes as he looked to change the formation and disrupt Stamford to get Stones back into the game, but his plans were soon undone as only five minutes later, Wormall again broke forward to score the visitors fourth goal, and with Stones now chasing the game, five minutes more and Stamford broke again to score a fifth.
The final score line was harsh on the hosts, as sometimes these chances come off, but today wasn’t the day, though Stones can be pleased that they competed on equal terms for an hour against a good side, even with one or two players playing slightly below par.
Wealdstone: Lee Carroll, Josias Carbon s55 Graeme Montgomery, Fergus Moore, Carl Martin, Ben Martin, Scott Donnelly, Graham Hall s55,Dean Clark, Chris O’Leary, Theo Robinson 39, Dean Papali 4, Lee Chappell s88 Wayne Cort, Subs Not Used: Josh Cooper, Matt Gooderick
Harrow Times
Wealdstone 2 – 5 Stamford
By Steve Paull
Stones sink after early lead….
WITH third top playing third bottom this was the expected result, but Wealdstone made a major contribution to an entertaining game, especially in the opening 45 minutes which was the best seen at Chestnut Avenue this season.
In an incredible end-to-end spectacle it was as if neither side had any midfield or defensive players to slow things down.
Wealdstone debutant, loan signing Theo Robinson, a Watford junior, took just five minutes to make a significant contribution when his low cross from the left was turned in by Dean Papali.
Within a minute Stamford were level. After Harris cushion-headed a right wing cross into the path of the unmarked Wormall it was the simplest of tasks to score.
Another two minutes and Wealdstone were now behind when a pass inside the full back was slotted home by right winger Wilson. There was barely time for reflection at what had already occurred.
Wealdstone, through Robinson, saw his lob over keeper Sanna smack against the bar and the same player had two further superb opportunities to level, including a one on one with Sanna which was agonisingly scooped over the bar.
As Wealdstone roared forward, Papali cut in and shot just wide then Robinson, at the far post, scored with a low shot across Sanna after a free kick from the left had eluded all central players.
Lee Chappell then fired wide before Wilson, getting so much space on the right, scored his second with a cross-shot that Lee Carroll partially stopped and will feel angry that he didn’t keep out.
There was still time before the break for Scott Donnelly to curl a free kick just past the upright with Sanna scrambling helplessly across his goal.
With both sides reorganising at half time to introduce some stability to proceedings the second half was a pale shadow of the first. Fergus Moore’s back header narrowly wide being the only chance of note in half an hour as the Stones front pair were starved of service.
Manager Gordon Bartlett made changes in an attempt to get something from the game, but the further reorganisation did not improve things at all – in fact it made things worse and a frustrated Wealdstone conceded two late goals which made the final score a poor reflection of what the match was like.
First Wormall cut in from the left and curled a shot high into the far corner then Wilson, on the opposite wing, got his hat-trick when firing across Carroll low into the opposite far corner.