Wealdstone 3 – 4 Heybridge Swifts
Wealdstone
3 - 4
Heybridge SwiftsEntertaining it may be for the neutrals, but it’s becoming a habit for Wealdstone as yet again a lead is lost only for Stones to lose by the odd goal in a high scoring game.
The first half though of this match is best forgotten as Heybridge had the better of a dour 45 minutes, enlightened only by their opening goal on 11 minutes when a excellent strike from 30 yards was pushed onto the cross bar by Ling, rebounding across his goal and Akurang ran in to score from close range as no Stones defender reacted fast enough to clear.
Akurang was also involved in the next incident of the half when on 22 minutes he brought down Burrell in a two footed challenge from behind to escape with a talking too from the Referee and no more, which was to have telling consequences later on.
Stones though managed to get back on level terms almost on half time when Artun was adjudged to have brought down Cox in the penalty area – again receiving only a warning from the Referee – and Beckford stepped up to slot home from the spot.
The second half saw a far better start from Stones as they came out and took the game to the visitors, two minutes into the half taking the lead when a quick pass from Cox released jolly and his ball forward was met by Beckford who slotted home his second of the night but the lead was only to last five minutes as Artun broke forward, cut into the penalty box and then cut the ball back for Akurang to score his second and equalise.
Both sides seemed determined not to settle for the draw and play was both fast and furious though neither side really caused a threat in the last third, though another challenge from Akurang this time brought a booking on the hour and then a few minutes later, Ryan, who seemed to win the ball cleanly was booked for what the Referee saw as a foul.
On 77 minutes Stones restored their lead when a ball played at pace through the defence by Cox caught the visitors napping but as Jolly ran on and played the ball past Nichols in the visitors goal, he was brought down and a further penalty given. This time paired with a booking when in line with the six yard box a sending off surely should have ensued, but again up stepped Beckford to score his third.
From the kick off play immediately switched to the other end and a miscued cross by Akurang seemed to throw the Stones defence off balance as Ling failed to collect and Baptiste and Harris were unable to prevent Kris Lee from heading home to make the score 3 – 3.
There was more to come though as in a period of play on the edge of the Stones box Dave Ryan swung a leg through a long clearance. As play continued with the Referee no more than five yards away, the Assistant some 40 yards away started to flag violently – the Referee eventually stopped the game around the half way line and on discussion with the Assistant then gave Dave Ryan a second booking for what was seen as a kick ‘off the ball’ yet no player from either side had seen it…..
Stones continued to battle with ten men and were unlucky when a Cox effort flashed just wide, but as the half continued into the fifth minute of injury time Akurang broke away. Stones defenders on an apparent suicide mission dived in to challenge without success and as he lost the last man inside the box he shot home to complete his hat-trick and to condemn Stones to defeat.
Wealdstone: Russell Ling, Liam Baptiste, Carl Ashton, Ryan Harris, Dave Ryan, Andy Keepence, Paul Adolphe, Darrell Cox, Jermaine Beckford, Richard Jolly, Gary Burrell, Subs not used: Lee Holland, Dave Norman, Lee Chappel, Josh Cooper, Phil Turner.