Wealdstone 6 – 1 Redbridge
Wealdstone
6 - 1
A Wealdstone side inspired by the front two of Beckford and Jolly, as well as the midfield efforts of White, Beaney and Cooper in particular tore into the Redbridge side from the start this afternoon forcing the visitors back from the start of this crucial fixture as Stones strive to break away from the bottom of the table.
Both Jolly and Beckford broke away from their markers in the early exchanges to create chances that were dealt with by the visiting defence, but the game was only 4 minutes old when Wealdstone took the lead, Dave Ryan heading home a Ross White free kick from 8 yards.
Movement off the ball was they key this afternoon as Jolly, Beckford and man of the match Cooper all made space for themselves leaving their markers with ease, and the industry of Turner, Burrell and Beaney in midfield created space for the passing of Ross white, and Redbridge could do no more than chase the game, as Wealdstone created chance on chance, Wakefield in the visitors goal making a couple of crucial saves as Stones continued to attack.
It wasn’t until the 36th minute however that Stones scored their second, Gary Burrell making a powerful run into the box, riding a couple of challenges before shooting home from 12 yards and some six minutes later stones went further ahead when Beckford again collected the ball with his back to goal and in one movement controlled, turned and shot powerfully into the corner of the net, Stones happy with a three goal lead that without stoic defending may have been five or six.
The shortest half time talk and two changes from the Redbridge manager did see an improved performance from the visitors as the second half started and they forced early corners as well as creating a couple of chances – substitute Luck becoming the pick of their side and he was unlucky not to get on the score sheet picking up on an error but shooting just wide on 55 minutes. This sparked Stones back into life and Beckford increased the lead on 62 minutes, his run taking him into the box past three defenders, and his shot through the legs of Wakefield in the visitors goal.
In an afternoon of excellent finishes, Stones fifth goal was perhaps the pick of the bunch when Josh Cooper, who worked tirelessly throughout the afternoon, collected the ball to the right of the penalty box, he cut inside one heavy challenge, regained his balance, turned outside then inside his defender and from 20 yards curled a left foot shot past the goalkeeper and just inside the post stranding the visiting defence and ‘keeper as even the fans behind the goal though until the last second that the shot would go wide.
Stones sixth on 72 minutes was deserved reward for Richard Jolly who had in the first half hit the crossbar, and it the second seen a shot come back off a post. He broke into the box to collect Cooper’s pass and calmly slotted the ball home to emphasize Stones comfortable win.
The score line could have been greater as Beckford too saw a shot cannon back from the post, Cooper, Burrell and Beaney also saw efforts well saved, but Redbridge did score a consolation on 80 minutes when Luck was brought down and he duly got up to convert the penalty, the final score a 6-1 win for Wealdstone and their biggest home victory for some time.
Wealdstone: Glenn Jackson, Robin Tucker, Phil Turner (s67 Luke Smith), Ross White (s80 Lee Holland), Dave Ryan, Chris Zoricich, Kenny beaney, Josh Cooper, Jermaine Beckford, Richard Jolly, Gary Burrell (s77 Carl Ashton), Subs not used: Jason Shaw, Lee Chappell.