Wealdstone 3 – 0 Tonbridge Angels
Wealdstone3R
3 - 0
Tonbridge AngelsJust to emphasize the up and down nature of the Stones at present, a side still missing, Matt Carvell, Brian Jones, Martin Carter, Nobby Michnowicz, Jermaine Beckford and Alvin Bubb from the 16 had a comfortable win in this cup match at home to Tonbridge Angels.
Stones playing some decent football from the off had five chances in the opening quarter from Fisher, Williams, Jolly, Alexander and Ryan without opening their account, possibly the best from a passing moves that in Manager Gordon Bartlett’s words “saw Stones pass more in that move than in the previous two games” the final ball across the box fell to Richard Jolly on 5 yards but he scooped the ball over the bar!
Tonbridge did come into the game a little after around 20 minutes but the Stones backline marshalled by Jason Shaw playing an unfamiliar role as sweeper stemmed every attack, often catching the visitors offside, while at the other end the chances dried up a little. Lee O’Leary was pushing on well from midfield and he opened Stones account on 41 minutes slotting home from close range to score his third goal in as many games since joining the club, and the score remained 1-0 at half time.
The first quarter of the second half saw the match resolve to a stalemate with some good football but little end product until on 71 minutes Burrell broke forward and was fouled on the edge of the box. Ryan’s free kick was hit well through the wall and Turner could only parry onto the bar, Ben Alexander reacting first to slot the ball home for Stones second.
This seemed to rattle the visitors who contrived to earn four booking in the remaining twenty minutes as Stones forced them back. On 82 minutes Alexander sealed the victory running onto a through ball and slotting the ball past the visiting keeper to earn Stones a 3-0 win.
Harrow Times – Steve Pauall
AFTER the embarrassment of Saturday’s game, Wealdstone began this cup-tie full of purpose and determination.
In the first 15 minutes, shots rained down on Tonbridge goalkeeper Turner. Unfortunately, such was the desire to shoot that composure was lacking, and almost all of them were off target.
Whereas the occasional Tonbridge efforts on Andy Carter’s goal were on target and had to be dealt with. One shot from Dolby took a freak bounce and what was a regulation save became a flying tip-over.
But the lively start did not last and the game turned into a dour slog, until the final five minutes of the half.
The Wealdstone defence, in a repetition of all its recent failings, was caught way out of position and Carter needed to save well from Piper’s effort.
Directly after, Wealdstone took the lead. James Fisher fed Richard Jolly on the right, Lee O’Leary met the cross at the far post,won a tackle, and coolly slotted the ball past Turner.
With the second half ten minutes old, Dave Ryan smashed a venomous edge-of-the-box free kick goalwards and Turner did well to keep it out, but when he repeated the strike with 20 minutes to go the keeper’s deflection saw the ball hit the bar and Ben Alexander reacted first to slot it home.
In between these incidents, Ryan was Wealdstone’s defensive saviour, clearing Sodje’s goalbound shot off his goal-line after Carter had been rounded.
Ten minutes from time Alexander made the game safe, applying a neat finish to Fisher’s threaded through ball.
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