Wealdstone 4 – 5 Kingstonian
Wealdstone
4 - 5
KingstonianChristmas Presents.
5 bloody Christmas presents.
An awful performance generally from the Stones with the defence singled out for a completely disjointed effort, scoring two of Kingstonians’ goals, (plus one of our own) and along with the midfield, gifting the other three!
On twenty minutes, with neither side having really put a decent move together, Kingstonian’s Dave Timothy collected the ball wide in his own half – dont be deceived by the 11 on his back, he played in defence for the whole game – he seemed to glide past the Stones midfield and defence shrugging off challenges as he made his way to the by-line. (Just to complete the picture and with no disrespect meant – he stands fully 5’5″ and must weigh about 10 stone wet!!). His cross field ball eventually found it’s way to Ruggles, on his own in the six yard box to open the scoring for the visitors.
Three minutes later and Stones were level as Brian Jones saw a 25 yard effort cannon back off of the post and McKeown slotted home from 12 yards. Five minutes later and Stones took the lead. Beckford was fouled and got up to take the free kick striking the ball low and hard through the wall for the visiting keeper to palm the ball into the net. On 36 minutes a suspect off side decision saw Stones appealing while the K’s played on and Ruggles shot was deflected in by Dave Ryan scrambling back to try and clear.
Right on half time with probably the best move of a poor game, Stones again took the lead as Beckford beat his man and hit an unstoppable volley from 18 yards to give Wealdstone a 3-2 half time lead.
The second half was barely two minutes old when Ryan and Wolf failed to clear allowing Ojukwa to steal the ball just outside the box and he ran on to beat Carter from close in to equalise again. Another goal from Dave Ryan, this time at the right end saw Stones back in front on 55 as his free kick was driven low and hard into the corner of the visitors net, but with increasing endeavour if not ability, K’s came back again, this time Cahill was the Stones defender that beat his own keeper with a touch to a shot.
A crass moment of frustration then saw Collyer sent off – booked for a foul in the first half, he blasted the ball at the Stones supporters when a free kick was awarded against him for his second booking, but from this point on Wealdstone weren’t in the game.
A foul out wide left on 76 minutes saw Stones complain that Ryan had got the ball, but to no avail as with three players confronting the Referee, K’s took the kick, the ball knocked across the area to Alunmi who fired home from 15 yards for what turned out to be the winner.
Despite some strange decisions, it was not down to the officials or the opposition as the reason Wealdstone lost as it was almost entirely of their own making in a poor performance. With an eight day break before the next match, there will be plenty of time for reflection…
Harrow Times Steve Paull
Wealdstone 4 Kingstonian 5
NO misprint in the scoreline, Wealdstone’s topsy-turvy season carried on with this enthralling defeat to bottom of the table Kingstonian.
At times it was comical, at times just like a pre-season friendly. Three times Wealdstone were ahead but plucky Kingstonian refused to give up and got their reward in the end.
The visitors were the most lively straight from the start and went close several times before sweeper Timothy’s incredible run and shot which Andy Carter could only parry was swept in from close range by Ruggles.
Stones defender Matt Carvell had pulled a hamstring in the first minute leading to defensive reorganisation, but the Wealdstone defence was being exposed by it’s lack of pace time and time again.
The goal served as a much needed wake up call and within ten minutes Wealdstone had taken the lead for the first time.
A Brian Jones cross shot smacked against the far post but Gary McKeown was on hand to knock the rebound home. Soon after a free kick from Jermaine Beckford was spilled over the line by keeper Hughes.
For the first time Stones supporters must have thought that their side would go on to win comfortably now but no, Alimi found himself in acres of space on the left to run on and shoot past Carter- Dave Ryans frantic lunge being unable to keep the ball out.
The half finished with Wealdstone again re-taking the lead with the goal of the game through Beckford who, despite the attention of two defenders, brought down a wickedly bouncing through ball and smashed it past Hughes from 15 yards.
Once again any Wealdstone hopes of winning comfortably were thwarted as Kingstonian levelled within a minute of the restart. Ryan and Danny Wolf both dithered over a simple clearance allowing Ojukwa to steal the ball, run through, and score.
Next it was Ryan’s turn to score via a central free kick ten minutes later but once again, while Wealdstone were arguing with the referee about a free-kick it was taken quickly and Taylor scored from 20 yards although the ball may have taken a deflection off of the unfortunate Chris Cahill.
The dismissal of Collyer soon after might have led to Kingstonian being content with a point but the comedy of errors had one more joke to play.
After a corner was cleared and the ball sent back into the Wealdstone half, defenders seemed to have disappeared once again and Alimi scoring what turned out to be the winning goal, forcing the ball over the line in a scramble at the far post from a right wing cross.
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