Windsor & Eton 0 – 0 Wealdstone
Windsor & Eton
0 - 0
WealdstoneIn the early stages, Stones seemed content to soak up a little pressure from the home forwards and to try and counter, which they did on a number of occasions, Beckford twice going close and forcing saves from the home keeper, while Carter in the Stones goal had little to do.
There were one or two hairy challenges going in on a greasy surface, and Gary McKeown was caught by two of these in a matter of seconds. After the second however he reacted and was sent off for a headbutt. Jolly dropped into the midfield role and Beckford became the lone man up front as Stones gamep lan changed to concentrate a little more on defence.
The remainder of the half and indeed the game followed a similar pattern with Stones defending quite deeply but competently enough to limit Windsor to an occasional shot from distance and a through ball ‘over the top’ in most part all capably dealt with by Andy Carter and on the odd forays forward, it was Stones that actually looked more dangerous as Beckford again, Jolly, Wolf, Ryan and Jones all forced saves from the home keeper.
It wasn’t the prettiest performance by far but in the circumstances it was extremely effective as it earnt Stones a valuable point.
Harrow Times Alex Melvin
Windsor & Eton 0 Wealdstone 0
DESPITE playing three-quarters of Tuesday night’s game with ten men, Wealdstone managed to salvage a point from this ill-tempered clash.
On a rain-soaked surface, the tackles came flying in, although not all of them were fairly executed. Gary McKeown was scythed down in two particularly unsavoury incidents. However, instead of keeping his head, he thrust it into the face of an opponent.
They say it’s a man’s game, but the female official did not see it that way, ordering McKeown off in just the 22nd minute.
After this, Wealdstone were forced to revert to a more defensive game plan. They did this well, containing the home side with surprising ease until the interval. With only Danny Wolf picking up a booking, Stones were also more composed.
Buoyed by an assured, if unspectacular, first-half display Wealdstone became more adventurous in the second period. Jermaine Beckford twice, Richard Jolly, Wolf and Dave Ryan all peppered the Windsor goal but were unable to break the dead-lock.
Substitute Brian Jones saw yellow, but the rest of the team kept their discipline and shape.
Although there wasn’t much for the purists to savour, Wealdstone will be pleased to have ground out an away point. Considering their perilous early season form, it was very much a point gained, rather than two dropped.
Wealdstone are back at the White Lion on Saturday for an FA Cup clash with Boreham Wood. If they show similar spirit and a touch more guile, they should win.
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