Wealdstone 3 – 0 Watford (U23’s)
Wealdstone3 - 0
WatfordWealdstone continued their unbeaten run in pre-season and gained their first clean sheet in a 3-0 win over Premier League side Watford’s U23s at Grosvenor Vale on Tuesday evening.
First half goals from Craig Fasanmade and Trialist C, followed by a powerful second half strike from Dan Wishart secured the win over a youthful but exuberant Watford side.
Stones boss Stuart Maynard made four changes to the side that beat Dorking Wanderers on the weekend with Jack Cawley and Andrew Eleftheriou starting, plus more minutes given to both Trialist C and D who have featured since the beginning of pre-season.
It was a fast start for the Stones with the first goal coming just four minutes in. Fasanmade collected a loose ball in the Watford area before dispatching a low and accurate effort past Hornets keeper Myles Roberts and into the bottom corner.
The young Hornets responded well to going behind and almost equalised when Kane Crichlow and Trialist C combined, with the latter blazing his effort just over the bar after being played through on goal.
Those two Watford players combined again moments later to create a counter-attacking move for the visitors, eventually playing in Jake Andrews down the right but Wealdstone’s Trialist A in goal got down well to push it wide.
And in similar fashion to the weekend’s victory, Wealdstone proved their ruthlessness when needed. Fasanmade dispossessed Watford’s Trialist B in defence, playing in Wealdstone’s Trialist C who slotted past Roberts to double the Stones lead.
The second half was a more cagey affair with substitutions made by both teams at regular intervals, but Wealdstone introduced Danny Parish at the break giving the striker some more much needed minutes and he had two instantaneous chances to make it three.
His first chance came through an excellent Cawley through ball but Watford sub keeper Alfie Marriott did well to palm his effort over the bar. Parish then headed just wide of the goal from the resulting corner.
Marriott then pulled off a great double stop moments later when Cawley headed at goal before then seeing his volleyed rebound tipped wide.
The sub keeper was beaten though with 12 minutes remaining, as Watford tried to get a foothold in the game the Stones hit them on the break with Trialist C spraying it wide to Wishart on the left who then smashed an unbeatable effort into the far corner from 25 yards.
Wealdstone’s final pre-season game is this Saturday when National League South side Hungerford Town visit The Vale in a 3pm kick off.
WEALDSTONE: Trialist A, Tavares, Cook (c) (Okimo 45), Cawley, Eleftheriou (Lewis 62), Trialist C, Trialist E, Browne (Dyer 62), Wishart, Trialist D, Fasanmade (Parish 45). Subs not used: Trialist B (GK).
Report by Chris Woods
Matt SAunders Post Match Interview HERE
Adam Williams Match Pics HERE