Wealdstone 4 – 4 Northwood
Wealdstone4 - 4
NorthwoodThis was always going to be a match of incident and action with Northwood looking for a win to ensure promotion, and Stones keen to prove that their run of poor results was well behind them and so it proved!
A bright start saw both sides have tentative early efforts but it was Northwood that opened the scoring on 11 minutes when Stones defence failed to deal with a low cross and Chris Gell fired home from close range. Stones though were soon on top of their opponents and a free kick on 19 minutes from Williams was well met by Morgan who headed home the equaliser.
The remainder of the half was even, again with both sides performing well going forward and at times looking a little shaky in defence, but cruel luck saw Northwood take the first half honours, a long throw forced home by Chris Moore with the last kick of the half.
The second half again was end to end, both sides striking the woodwork early on before Stones broke from a Northwood corner on 55. Tommy Williams again fed an excellent through ball splitting the visiting defence and Richard Jolly ran on to beat the keeper one on one to level the scores.
Ten minutes later and Northwood took the lead for the third time when Andy Carter and Kieron Knight tangled as a cross came in. Knights touch was enough to restore the lead all be it off of Tommy Willima’s heels. It seemed that for all their endeavour, Stones were not to get a share of the spoils, until on 84 minutes, another Stones attack was partially cleared – the ball broke to Williams who shot low and hard and beat the keeper. Wayne Carter on the goal line attempted a clearance but the ball struck Bullivant on the back and rebounded into the net to level at 3 – 3.
On 88 minutes, Northwood were to celebrate again as good work down the right flank saw a cross met by substitute Steve Hale and his clinical finish seemed to have sealed the result, but again, Stones were not to be beaten.
On 90 minutes another Williams free kick was crossed to the back of the six yard box and seemed destined to go out of play – Marvin Morgan ran on and headed the ball back across the box from the byline to Martin Carter whose goal bound header was finally stabbed home by Stones sub, Mickie Swaysland to leave a final score of 4 – 4, Wealdstone coming from behind four times!
Wealdstone: Andy Carter, Billy Amarteifio (b75 s76 Dave Ryan), Matt Graves, Robin Tucker, Matt Carvell, Martin Carter, Tommy Williams, Richard Jolly (55), Jason Shaw (s76 Mickie Swaysland 90), Marvin Morgan (19), Danny Tilbury, Subs not used: James Fisher, Rob Courtnage, Mark Burgess
Harrow Times
Wealdstone 4 – 4 Northwood
By Steve Paull
Wealdstone and Northwood served up eight goals, with the woodwork struck three times as well, in a remarkable game of football at the White Lion Ground on Bank Holiday Monday, writes Steve Paull.
Four times Stones came from behind to level against the champions elect, with the final equaliser coming three minutes into added time.
The game had started very sedately with Wealdstone paying their visitors too much respect, and it was no surprise when Gell bundled in Knight’s low cross to give them the lead in the 12th minute. But this setback had the affect of waking Stones from their lethargy.
Four openings failed to seriously test the keeper and a close range effort from Richard Jolly hit the foot of a post before the equaliser did come on 20 minutes a textbook header by Marvin Morgan from a Williams free kick powered past the static Bullivant in the Northwood goal.
All this did was spur the visitors on again, but Wealdstone seemed to have weathered the storm until half-time. Northwood, however, scored after 47 minutes in somewhat controversial circumstances.
Referee Batchelor could be seen, whistle in mouth, waiting to let a throw in be taken before blowing for half time. Unfortunately he also let Moore control the thrown ball, swivel and fire past Andy Carter into the far corner, blowing the moment the kick-off was taken.
Roared on by the passionate crowd, Stones went after another equaliser straight from the restart and were rewarded when, after good work from Williams and Morgan, Jolly calmly side-footed the ball past Bullivant to level. Parity was to last just eight minutes, until Moore’s far post header caused confusion in the Wealdstone defence and, after some unfortunate deflections, Knight scored from close range.
Stones now made substitutions and played with three forwards, but this left gaps elsewhere. It was at this point that Northwood could have made
the game safe. Moore struck the bar with a fierce shot after a 40 yard unchallenged run, and fired over soon after, following a similar run from ex-Stones player Wayne Carter.
When Mick Swaysland hit the bar from 20 yards it began to look like Stones would emerge from this spellbinding game with nothing. Far from it.
Moments later following Dave Ryan’s square pass, dummied by Morgan, Williams side-footed the third equaliser on 83 minutes.
Still the scoring wasn’t over, one minute from the end of normal time Nolan put over a wicked cross, headed in by another ex-Stones player, Steve Hale, at the far post.
Surely that was it. Again no. Deep into stoppage time Williams put over yet another teasing free-kick, Morgan won it at the far post, Martin Carter headed on and from the mass of bodies on the line Ryan bundled it in to ensure honours even in a remarkable game.