Wealdstone 5 – 0East Thurrock United

Wealdstone

1R

5 - 0

East Thurrock United

KO: 0:00 | Sat 1st Nov ’03

Wealdstone continued very much from where they left off on Tuesday evening, taking the game to East Thurrock from the kick off as Manager Gordon Bartlett made it plain that he expected more than had been shown in a couple of recent league fixtures.

With James Duncan starting in midfield and five other changes from the team that won 8 – 0 at Kingsbury, Stones looked sharper and brighter throughout the side that the visitors who perhaps suffered a reaction to their defeat at Woking.

James Duncan was involved early on, winning the battle of strength against the visiting midfield and early chances were created for Morgan and Jolly, while Courtnage and Williams also saw efforts go close.

On 12 minutes A ball through from Williams released Jolly who slipped the ball past the oncoming keeper to open the scoring, and Stones continued to pressure the visitors as the half went on, Marvin Morgan particularly causing their defence problems as he left the flat footed, despite being marked by three opponents for most of the half.

It wasn’t until the 42nd minute though that Stones extended their lead, when Morgan was fouled in the penalty box – Dave Ryan scoring from the resulting penalty, giving Stones a 2 – 0 cushion at half time. The visitors only effort in the first half a chip from Cobb, well gathered by Andy Carter.

East Thurrock started better in the second half, but Stones were soon back in their stride. On 59 minutes Morgan won the ball in a challenge with the visiting keeper and his shot was parried only for Richard Jolly to slide in at the far post to make the score 3 – 0. Two minutes later and he had scored again, running on to a great pass, again beating the keeper one on one.

Marvin Morgan too was unlucky as he hooked a shot across the face of the goal and saw another effort gathered by the keeper, but Stones continued to press on. As the tireless Morgan left the field with cramp on 82 minutes, Stones playing with ten as they had used all three subs, good work from Danny Julienne saw him run at the retreating defence and he slid the ball into the path of the unmarked Ryan who chipped the keeper to make the final score 5 – 0, cementing their place in the draw for the next round on Monday.