Wivenhoe Town 1 – 4 Wealdstone
Wivenhoe Town1 - 4
WealdstoneLast match of the season and as you’d expect, Wealdstone attempted to sum up their whole season in ninety minutes, at times playing some exhilarating football, then on occasions defending as though they were complete strangers. Even the effort and will seemed to come in phases, no doubt though, influenced by the score line.
Stones got of to a bright start and had already created chanes when Tilbury was fouled on the edge of the box on two minutes. Up stepped Dave Ryan who hit a curling free kick beyond Greening’s reach to give Wealdstone a 1-0 lead.
Continuing to press, Wealdstone were almost caught when a long ball out of defence found Bethell and he ran on as Andy Carter came out – his lob only inches wide, but still Stones played flowing football going forward and excellent work saw Jolly released out wide, he reached the byline with Mick Swaysland on 6 yards but he managed to cut the ball back to Marvin Morgan, unmarked by the penalty spot and he slotted in Stones second.
Stones third was a penalty from Mickie Swaysland on 21 minutes after a handball and still Stones were well on top of their game. Richard Jolly made an almost identical run to that which allowed Morgan to score, this time pulling the ball back for Swaysland but this only produced a corner, while at the other end, the pace of Bethell and perhaps the score allowed him to get through behind the defence on a couple of occasions when he really should have done better and brought the home side back into the game.
The second half was somewhat lower tempo. Wivenhoe did get a goal back on 61 when Tucker was adjudged to have fouled in the penalty box, but five minutes later Stones were further in front again as Dave Ryan struck a shot from fully thirty yards – it hit both posts before coming back into play, where Richard Jolly reacted first to slot home.
Much as the half was lower tempo with the match won, Stones did still create chances – Ryan again hit the crossbar with another thirty yarder and Danny tilbury should have scored from close in. The final cheer of the match was reserved for Marvin, substituted three minutes from time for Fred Cummings to make an appearance. He certainly made his presence felt as he clattered Martin Calver and then Danny Robert in quick succession, but it was probably a fitting end to a mish mash of a season.
Wealdstone: Andy Carter, Lee Gardener (s60 Mark Burgess), Matt Graves (b49), Robin Tucker, Matt Carvell, Martin Carter, Dave Ryan (2), Richard Jolly (65, s70 Rob Courtnage), Mickie Swaysland (p21), Marvin Morgan (13 s87 Fred Cummings), Danny Tilbury.