Maldon Town 2 – 4 Wealdstone

Maldon Town

2 - 4

Wealdstone

KO: 0:00 | Sat 3rd Sep ’05

WEALDSTONE won a tense encounter after a devastating seven-minute spell that yielded three goals mid-way through the second half on Saturday.

Before that Stones had been on the back foot for long periods only to counter-attack with some effectiveness.

As early as the third minute Russell Ling had to acrobatically contort his body to turn over Huttley’s looping effort, then Dean Harding had to head Clarke’s goalbound header off the line soon after.

Wealdstone were having difficulty coping with a strong wind at their backs and playing down the slope-thus so many potential periods of pressure were spoilt by over-hit passes. Playing the other way Maldon were having no such problems. A last ditch tackle by Liam Baptiste stopped Parker in the act of shooting and Ling went full length to his left to keep out Parratt’s effort.

But suddenly Wealdstone seemed to wake up. Jermaine Beckford brought out the first save of the game from home keeper McCartney after 35 minutes then, in a controversial incident, an assistant referee flagged for a foul by Huttley on Harding and a penalty, but was overruled by the head official.

It mattered little for, five minutes later, Beckford’s precise low ball in from the right was clinically despatched by Richard Jolly.

This lead was to last for only 30 seconds of the second half. In a comical scenario, Ryan Harris allowed a long ball forward to bounce and, hounded by Ansell, headed over the advancing Ling and Ansell ran the ball into an empty net.

Maldon had no problems with the wind and slope and, for 20 minutes, looked the most likely winners. That was until the incredible seven minutes.

When Paul Adolphe went up for an aerial challenge with McCartney, most referees would have blown for a foul, but on this occasion play continued and Jolly scored at the second attempt after the keeper parried the first. That’s six goals in five games now for the Stones striker.

Beckford had a shot saved before Harding finished off a move involving Jolly and Beckford by sidestepping a defender and, firing a deflected shot past McCartney.

Had Ansell not headed wide of a gaping goal moments later the game might still have been in the balance, but Beckford scored his side’s fourth after good work from Jolly and Paul Burton put him clear to round McCartney and net.

Wealdstone were comfortably playing out time when, in stoppage time, another comical event saw Carl Ashton’s clearance hit Dave Ryan and ricochet into an unguarded goal.

Maldon 2 Wealdstone 4 WEALDSTONE won a tense encounter after a devastating seven-minute spell that yielded three goals mid-way through the second half on Saturday. Before that Stones had been on the back foot for long periods only to counter-attack with some effectiveness. As early as the third minute Russell Ling had to acrobatically contort his body to turn over Huttley’s looping effort, then Dean Harding had to head Clarke’s goal-bound header off the line soon after. Wealdstone were having difficulty coping with a strong wind at their backs and playing down the slope-thus so many potential periods of pressure were spoilt by over-hit passes. Playing the other way Maldon were having no such problems. A last ditch tackle by Liam Baptiste stopped Parker in the act of shooting and Ling went full length to his left to keep out Parratt’s effort. But suddenly Wealdstone seemed to wake up. Jermaine Beckford brought out the first save of the game from home keeper McCartney after 35 minutes then, in a controversial incident, an assistant referee flagged for a foul by Huttley on Harding and a penalty, but was overruled by the head official. It mattered little for, five minutes later, Beckford’s precise low ball in from the right was clinically despatched by Richard Jolly. This lead was to last for only 30 seconds of the second half. In a comical scenario, Ryan Harris allowed a long ball forward to bounce and, hounded by Ansell, headed over the advancing Ling and Ansell ran the ball into an empty net. Maldon had no problems with the wind and slope and, for 20 minutes, looked the most likely winners. That was until the incredible seven minutes. When Paul Adolphe went up for an aerial challenge with McCartney, most referees would have blown for a foul, but on this occasion play continued and Jolly scored at the second attempt after the keeper parried the first. That’s six goals in five games now for the Stones striker. Beckford had a shot saved before Harding finished off a move involving Jolly and Beckford by sidestepping a defender and, firing a deflected shot past McCartney. Had Ansell not headed wide of a gaping goal moments later the game might still have been in the balance, but Beckford scored his side’s fourth after good work from Jolly and Paul Burton put him clear to round McCartney and net. Wealdstone were comfortably playing out time when, in stoppage time, another comical event saw Carl Ashton’s clearance hit Dave Ryan and ricochet into an unguarded goal.

Harrow Times – Steve Paull