Wealdstone 4 – 2 Great Wakering Rovers
Wealdstone4 - 2
Great Wakering RoversA bright start saw Stones almost open the scoring in the first minute as only a combination of Hudson and Heffer denied Swaysland and Morgan.
As the half progressed, Stones were well on top of the game, but it wasn’t until the 23rd minute when Hudson was next called into action to save from Ryan. His shot was followed by efforts from Swaysland, Morgan and Shaw before Dave Ryan opened the scoring on 35 minutes. A sweet move saw him play a 1 – 2 with Swaysland before curling a shot round Hudson from 15 yards.
Two minutes later, Mickie Swaysland increased the lead. A Stones corner was cleared all the way to Andy Carter. In turn his long clearance found Robin Tucker well into the visitors half and his magic headband allowed him to direct a header into Swaysland’s path. From 18 yards on the volley, he made the score 2 – 0.
Despite a number of other chances, the score remained 2-0 at half time, but it was the visitors who started the second half brighter, calling Carter into action for the first time. At the other end, Beckford, on for the injured Swaysland caused more problems for the visitors and he was involved in the move that brought the third Stones goal.
A move started by Shaw, involving Beckford, Morgan and Fisher saw Martin Carter break down the right hand side, he beat his man and hit an excellent cross that was well met six yards out by Dave Ryan who scored his second on 61 minutes.
Five minutes later, Carter repeated the cross from the left, this time Jermaine Beckford rose to powerfully head home and give Stones a four goal cushion.
Two minutes later, Courtnage failed to close down his man and a low cross was met by Ewers who scored for the visitors and on 80 minutes they got a second when indecision between Tucker and Carter allowed Wilson to steal in at the front post and score a second.
Stones had taken their foot off the gas and conceded two goals, but they were never really threatened, and Beckford almost scored a fifth from a cross in the dying minutes.
Wealdstone: Andy Carter, James Fisher, Rob Courtnage, Billy Amarteifio, Dave Ryan (35,61 s75 Charlie Mapes), Matt Carvell, Robin Tucker, Martin Carter, Jason Shaw, Mick Swaysland (37, s45 Jermaine Beckford 66), Marvin Morgan, Sub not used: Danny Tilbury
Harrow Times Steve Paull.
Wealdstone 4 Great Wakering Rovers 2
Four classic goals gave Wealdstone yet another home win on Saturday. Eight out of nine games at the White Lion Ground have now been won, which is already more than in the last campaign, writes Steve Paull.
Yet despite Wakering’s early frantic defending, a few decent saves from their keeper and some near misses thrown in, Wealdstone’s breakthrough in a one sided first half took 35 minutes to come.
Dave Ryan broke through two half hearted tackles, played a one-two with Mick Swaysland and slotted the ball past former Stones keeper Dave Hudson.
Very quickly it was 2-0. When a Stones attack was broken up, the ball was sent back to Andy Carter. The keeper’s huge clearance was met by Robin Tucker, still returning from the attack.
The defender’s deft header found Swaysland with the time and space to compose himself before lashing the ball past Hudson.
After the break Wealdstone sat back a little and Trenkel should at least have put his free header, and the visitors first chance, on target.
But Wealdstone seemed to be able to breakthrough the Wakering defence at will.
Martin Carter was having his best game since his return to the club, and he had a hand in both the Wealdstone goals around the hour mark. Marvin Morgan’s astute pass found Carter on the right with time and space to provide the perfect cross for Ryan to volley in at the far post, then, five minutes later, Jason Shaw’s pass on the other wing led to Carter crossing and Jermaine Beckford scoring with a textbook far post header.
Four goals ahead, Stones relaxed further, and a little of the shine of the victory was taken off when Ewers with a hooked volley and Wilson seizing on defensive hesitation with a tap in, reduced the deficit.
For a few moments it looked like Wakering just might get a draw, but Wealdstone are made of sterner stuff this season.