Wealdstone 3 – 2 Chelmsford City
Wealdstone
3 - 2
Chelmsford City
WEALDSTONE achieved a deserved victory in a closely contested basement battle at the White Lion Ground on Tuesday, partially making up for the disappointment of Sunday’s FA Trophy exit at Bath.
Despite playing with only one true striker, Jermaine Beckford being detained at work and Martin Carter filling in up front, Stones played excellent football during the first half, but the second period is best forgotten.
The game was only three minutes old when Gary McKeown’s astute pass gave Richard Jolly the time to slip the ball past advancing keeper Nicholls and open the scoring.
The superb, controlled, passing move, that went the length of the pitch and led to Gary Burrell’s 12th minute goal, will be a strong contender for Wealdstone’s goal of the season, unfortunately it led to Stones relaxing and Chelmsford getting a goal back ten minutes later.
Exposed down the middle, Butterworth lobbed over the hesitant Andy Carter. Dave Ryan had the situation under control but tried to control the ball rather than send it over the stand and the forward nipped in to score from close range.
Another poor goal conceded seemed to sap the Stones’ confidence and it wasn’t until Ryan redeemed himself with a well struck free-kick five minutes before the break that it returned.
The interval affected Wealdstone more than the visitors and the second half was scrappy. Chelmsford reduced the deficit ten minutes in when a long-distance strike from Lay caught Carter unawares.
Neither keeper was truly tested in the last half an hour as the visitors became more physical, referee Bentley being incredibly lenient on their misdemeanours.
Wealdstone began to rue the absence of a second striker but held on for three points.
Harrow Times Steve Paull