Oldham Athletic 1 – 2 Wealdstone

Oldham Athletic

National League

1 - 2

Wealdstone

KO: 19:45 | Tue 16th Aug ’22

Wealdstone picked up a memorable 2-1 win at Boundary Park in their first ever meeting with Oldham Athletic. A scintillating first half performance brought goals from Rhys Browne and Tarryn Allarakhia before an own goal from Sam Howes early in the second half finished the scoring.

A tale of two halves saw the Stones play some beautiful football which was then matched by some resolute defending in the second phase.

Stones boss Stuart Maynard made two changes to the side that lost at Eastleigh on the weekend with Browne in for the injured Olufela Olomola and Sam Habergham making his full debut.

The hosts came out the blocks the quickest and Howes had to be alert to palm away Hallam Hope’s effort inside a minute.

But the Stones rallied and played some beautiful football and their labours bore fruit ten minutes in when Habergham played a ball into Jack Cook who headed across goal to Browne for the easiest of tap ins.

Seven minutes later a wonderful passage of play saw Browne play the ball out wide to Max Kretzschmar and he threaded a brilliant cross to Allarakhia who poked it in at the near post.

It was almost three moments later when Cook saw his header hit Browne on the line before the Oldham defence scrambled clear.

And Allarakhia nearly doubled his tally for the evening on the half hour mark, but his low effort deflected fractions wide of the far post.

The hosts did rally in the second half and halved the deficit immediately when Ben Tollitt’s effort crashed off the crossbar only to hit the undercarriage of unfortunate Howes and roll back into the net.

Howes did atone for the own goal and pulled off a great stop to deny Jack Stobbs midway through the half.

Charlton Athletic loanee Deji Elerewe was alert on 80 minutes to produce a great block that denied Latics sub Luke Burgess.

The hosts enjoyed a lot of territory in the second half but Wealdstone’s defence remained resolute. Sub Mike Fondop put a header wide in the fifth of six added minutes and the Stones picked up a famous win at a former Premier League club.

That three points pushed the Stones up to  fourth place at this early stage in the season and return to The Vale on Saturday when FC Halifax Town visit.

WEALDSTONE: Howes, Barrett, Cook (c), Elerewe, Habergham, Charles, Ferguson, Kretzschmar, Allarakhia (Mundle-Smith 82), Browne, Hutchinson (Sesay 82).  Subs not used: Dyer, Napa, Mongoy.

Report by Chris Woods

Matt Saunders post Match Interview HERE

John Taffel Match Pics HERE

The 2nd Goal Video – HERE

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