Wealdstone 0 – 0 Billercay Town

Wealdstone

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Billericay Town

KO: 19:45 | Tue 18th Jul ’23

Wealdstone and Billericay Town played out a 0-0 draw at Grosvenor Vale on Tuesday evening, with a large contingent of trialists performing positively for the Stones.

Giovanni McGregor came the closest to scoring in the game, when he saw his 20-yard free kick tipped onto the post by Billericay keeper Dan Wilks.

Stones boss Stuart Maynard didn’t change much to the side that beat Farnborough 4-2 on the weekend with a change in trialist keeper and Jaydn Mundle-Smith and Micah Obiero omitted to give two more trialists an opportunity to impress.

Despite a dominant first half, the hosts failed to create many clear cut chances from open play. With an inspired Wilks in the Billericay goal denying Olufela Olomola from a free kick and then McGregor shortly after from a similar position.

The ball did ripple the net once on the evening but former member of the Stones National League South winning side Moses Emmanuel saw his effort ruled out for an offside in the build-up.

Nathan Ferguson went close just after half time when he dragged an effort just wide of the post from the edge of the area.

With changes aplenty made by both sides on the hour mark it took until the latter stages for the game to spark into action.

Max Kretzschmar caught the Billericay defence unprepared and unaware with a quick free kick played to the trialist who netted a late double at Farnborough on the weekend, although the young forward’s fortunes were amiss as he poked his effort wide from close range.

Sub Kretzschmar was now the main orchestrator in the Stones attacks and he picked out the same trialist again, threading a well weighted through ball to the striker, who then blazed over from close range when one-on-one.

Billericay had a late chance to snatch a winner when one of their trialists was played in on goal but he was denied by the outstretched leg of Wealdstone’s trialist stopper.

That draw ends Wealdstone’s 100% record this pre-season but the hosts do remain unbeaten ahead of the visit of League One side Charlton Athletic at The Vale this Saturday at 3pm.

WEALDSTONE: Trialist A, Barker (Trialist F 60), Cook (c) (Charles 60), Trialist B, Trialist D, Trialist C, Ferguson (Dyer 60), McGregor (Kretzschmar 60), Clayden, Olomola (Allarakhia 60), Andrews (Trialist E 45).  Subs not used: Trialist G, Phillips, Brookshaw.

Report by Chris Woods

Stuart Maynard post Match interview HERE

Jon Taffel Match pics HERE