Wealdstone 4 – 2 Windsor & Eton
Wealdstone
4 - 2
Windsor & EtonA changed line up and a second half of simple and sometimes slick football gave Stones the win over Windsor tonight, with Darrel Cox grabbing a hattrick and Jolly with the goal of the night.
The starting line-up selected by Andy Leese and Gordon Bartlett to stem the flow of defeats saw Wealdstone field four ‘forwards’ though Turner and Cox played in midfield, Jason Shaw making his first start of the season coming in as sweeper, and Lee Holland brought in to replace the injured Andy Keepence. however in the early stages of the match it seemed to do little to inmprove the side as Wealdstone allowed Windsor most of the possession.
Both sides though did have early chances – Windsor more than Wealdstone, yet it wasn’t until an error on 21 minutes that they opened the scoring. Jason Shaw missread a long clearance and the ball bounced over him into the path of Adam Wallace who gave Woods in the Stones goal no chance.
As the half continued, Stones began to find their feet a little and in the ten minutes up to half time showed some of what they are capable of with an increase in tempo and some slick first time passing, though to no avail as the visitors held on until the break.
The second half saw Wealdstone bring on Ryan Spencer for the injured Ross White and his simple distribution made a noticeable difference as Stones got on top of the match. The equaliser came on 49 minutes when Wealdstone were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. Spencer’s quick ball in behind the Windsor defence was met by Jolly and he unselfishly pulled the ball back across the six yard box for Cox to slot home.
More Stones pressure brought another free kick a little further out on 65 minutes, this time Ashton’s kick found Ryan challenging a defender – the ball again fell to Cox who scored from ten yards.
Beckford and Jolly had also caused problems for the Windsor defence most of the night – three fouls on Beckford brought yellow cards to the visitors, while Jolly worked across the whole field lifiting Stones and bringing the ball forward into the last third. He was unlucky when turning his man on 75 minutes not to score when a clever chip sailed just over the bar, but he was rewarded ten minutes later when he cut back from the bye-line, turned and shot across the goal into the far corner to give Stones a 3 – 1 lead.
Continuing to press, Stones got a fourth when Cox who had only opened his account for the club on the night scored his hattrick with a shot from 18 yards in the 89th minute, but a lapse in concentration saw Windsor score again within 30 seconds. It was too little too late for the visitors, and we hope, a platform on which Wealdstone can build.
Wealdstone: Luke Woods, Jason Shaw, Carl Ashton, Ross White (s45 Ryan Spencer), Dave Ryan, Lee Holland (s67 Josh Cooper), Robin Tucker, Darrell Cox, Jermaine Beckford, Richard Jolly, Phil Turner, Subs not used: Lee Chappell, Gary Burrell, Neil McDonald.