Wealdstone 3 – 1 Grays Athletic

Wealdstone

2QR

3 - 1

Grays Athletic

KO: 0:00 | Sun 3rd Oct ’04

Great character from the Stones today in front of disappointingly, but unsurprisingly low crowd. Held our own very well throughout, for the first twenty or so minutes one got the feeling it was going to be another of those days – plenty of good possession with no final result, and the expectation that the visitors would score with their first meaningful attack.

Marvin was mugged early on, a terrible tackle from behind which left him floored, bruised, and ultimately unable to return to the field after half time. No booking though, an absolute disgrace, although bizarrely he went on to book 4 or or 5 of theirs, maybe more, and 3 of ours I think – Norbert for a foul, Burrell for putting the ball in the corner quadrant as requested by the incompetent lino, and Ben for chipping the ball in milliseconds after the ref had blown for a handball. Bizzarely however, 3 more bad Grays tackles from behind all went unpunished.

Grays scored on the half hour, a good finish although the forward was given far too much time and space. We feared the worst, we were defending deep, they were beginning to boss midfield and had 2 lively strikers. Jolly had a great chance to level, but his shot from the right was well saved by the keeper, just not enough power in the shot, but at least on target. Marvin it was though who broke through, rounding the keeper before taking an eternity to slot home with the scuff wide the expected outcome, 1-1 it was and game on. A few nervous moments before the break, but the referee did well to blow for half time with us under pressure.

After the break, with Ben on for Marv, Grays never really came out, and their play at the back started getting very sloppy. For our part, the defence was strong, Ryan immense, Cahill better than usual, and Valdez from Barnet looking strong and composed, a bit too composed at times. Carter back in the team also made a big difference alongside McKeown, and Norbert and Burrell on the left worked well together. Shaw on the right had an excellent game throughout, and after a few bad touches in the first half, Jolly started looking stronger and regaining his touch, getting through an immense amount of work.

Jolly had another excellent chance to put us ahead with a header which glanced wide, but money was looking good on a replay or Grays snatching something which they didn’t deserve. However, with just over 20 mins to go, everything changed for the good. A brainless foul on Ben midway inside their half gave us a freekick which Nobby played quickly through to Jolly, catching the defence completely unaware – Jolly rounded the keeper and slotted home to put us ahead. I was one of the few behind the goal braving the rain, those down the line suggest a strong suspicion of offside, but who cares.

Minutes later, a ball played out to the left, Jolly raced and beat the keeper to the ball and was brought down inches inside the box – penalty. Mckeown’s kick beat the keeper to his left, and we were 3-1 up against a money driven full-time team.

By our standards, we controlled things very well from thereon in, no real anxious moments like we normally suffer in these situations. A fantastic all round effort, the team showing exactly what they are capable of. Valdez is only temporary unfortunately, but the rest of the team are more than capable of lifting us up the division, as I said after last week. Maybe its not time to kick the manager, board, supporters club committee out just yet you doubters.

Up the Stones – great afternoon…..

Report from Jon Taffel