Wealdstone 3 – 1 East Thurrock United
Wealdstone3 - 1
East Thurrock United
THE White Lion ground on Tuesday was witness to the most one-sided half of football this season as Wealdstone created chance after chance against a woefully square and inept East Thurrock defence.
The trouble was that Stones came away at half time only one goal to the good, having missed their tenth penalty this season.
East Thurrock keeper Marrable performed wonders in this period to keep his side level, three times saving at the feet of Richard Jolly as well as keeping out an effort from Dave Ryan.
When Marvin Morgan got round him after 25 minutes the forward was brought down by Buffong three yards from goal for a penalty.
How referee Atkin, who has done few favours for Wealdstone when in charge of them this season, could only punish the offender with a yellow card when so blatantly the last man, I will never know.
Anyway, Morgan got up to take the spot kick, but Marrable excelled again, diving to his left to bring off a comfortable save.
Ten minutes later yet another ball past the square and slow defence again saw Jolly threatening. For the first time a defender, Penn, managed to keep pace, but when he and Marrable collided the ball ran loose and Jolly was able to walk it into an empty net.
The collision was such that the keeper was badly injured and had to be stretchered off. Hardingham, also a goalkeeper, took over.
Following this incident and the goal, Wealdstone lost all momentum and the visitors came back, after being completely outclassed.
A free-kick from Holding almost crept in at the far post and Andy Carter pulled off a superb save to stop Mallon scoring.
But it was Wealdstone who scored the important second goal when Rob Courtnage’s whipped-in free-kick took enough of a deflection off of Burns to beat Hardingham.
The two goal cushion was to last only four minutes however, and mid-way through the half Dwyer scored from close-in.
So many times this season Wealdstone have failed to finish off lesser teams.
This time they did, when Jolly was freed down the right and laid the ball back. Danny Tilbury, with time to control it, curled a shot past the keeper’s outstretched left hand to make the game safe.
By Steve Paull – Harrow Times