Wealdstone 3 – 1 Oxford City
Wealdstone3 - 1
Oxford CityWealdstone recovered from a goal down to pick up a comfortable 3-1 win over Oxford City at Grosvenor Vale on Tuesday evening.
Former Stones striker Josh Parker gave the visitors a 28th minute lead with a stunning 30-yard free kick before Kyle Smith restored parity just five minutes later. And then Sam Bowen sealed the victory with a quickfire double in the second half.
Stones boss Stuart Maynard made two changes to the side that drew with Boreham Wood in front of the TNT Sports cameras on the weekend, with Ashley Charles and Smith both returning to the eleven.
It was a night spent in the ascendency for Maynard’s side and they got straight to work, with Nathan Ferguson blasting over from 10 yards out after a pinpoint delivery from Smith just five minutes in.
Smith’s crossing caused Oxford problems all evening and he provided a chance for Charlie Barker on 10 minutes, with his deep corner poked into the side-netting by the defender from a tight angle at the far post.
Oxford keeper Chris Haigh was left scrambling across his goal from a long-range Ferguson effort shortly after, but thankfully for the stopper his effort went wide.
The visitors posed an attacking threat in spells and almost went ahead when debutant Claudio Ofosu directed Rafferty Pedder’s cross over the bar from close range.
Minutes later they did lead. Infamous Stones signing and now Oxford skipper Parker, who had one Stones appearance to his name, put them in front with a spectacular 30-yard free kick directed into the top corner, that no keeper would have a chance stopping.
Despite the sucker-punch, supporters on the sidelines remained positive and that drew an equaliser just five minutes later when Smith got the faintest of touches to a deep Jaydn Mundle-Smith cross.
Wealdstone started the second half how they ended the first and took the lead just three minutes after kick off. Jack Cook’s heavily deflected effort found Bowen who had the presence of mind to anticipate the ricochet and with the freedom of the penalty area, slotted past Haigh.
Uncharacteristically to some, the Stones were a big threat from set pieces all evening and after numerous half chances and blocked efforts, Bowen made the Hoops pay. Smith’s corner was headed to the Welsh loanee on the edge of the area and he swerved a fantastic effort into the top corner.
With Bowen now one-goal behind him, Stones top scorer Tahvon Campbell almost put himself on the scoresheet, seeing a well-worked solo effort skim off the outside of the far post and out.
Bowen almost added a third to his tally but Haigh reacted well, but the keeper could only push into the path of Charlie Barker, who’s goalbound effort was crucially blocked by City substitute Lewis Coyle.
Oxford rallied and Jed Ward had to make two smart stops late on in the game to twice deny the lively Pedder.
Stones sub Sean Adarkwa almost put the cherry on the cake in stoppage time but he crashed an effort off the crossbar from close range to keep the score at 3-1.
The Stones are back on the road this Saturday where they head to high-flying Solihull Moors in a 3pm kick off at The ARMCO Arena.
WEALDSTONE: Ward, Cook (c), Barker, Mundle-Smith, Smith, Charles, Ferguson, Bowen, Allarakhia (Mason 66), Kretzschmar (Obiero 84), Campbell (Adarkwa 90). Subs not used: Clayden, Abdulmalik.
Attendance: 1,029
Report by Chris Woods
Craig Saunders post Match Interview HERE
Jon Taffel Match Pics HERE
Simon Godfrey Pics HERE
Match Highlights HERE
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