Wealdstone 2 -1 Uxbridge
Wealdstone2 - 1
UxbridgeThere was no real surprise that this game would be less intense than the last match, but to see both sides struggle to create and break down their opposition in a fairly dour struggle was not fully expected.
Stones started brightly, and Morgan almost opened the scoring in the first minute, but as he rounded the goalkeeper he was forced wide and in the end his shot was comfortably blocked and cleared as the defence recovered.
The Uxbridge midfield worked hard and stifled the game for long spells as they too struggled to get the ball forward, but they did win a series of free kicks, the first striking the crossbar before being cleared in their best effort of the first half, but Stones opened the scoring on 22 minutes, when the Uxbridge defence failed to clear a corner. The ball fell to Morgan and his back heel found Tucker who blasted the ball into the roof of the net from five yards.
The remainder of the first half saw little action at either end, but in the second, Uxbridge came out with a little more endeavour and purpose as they tried to move the ball around and a cross from the left was met by Swaysland, his effort again striking the woodwork and going clear – an action repeated in similar style minutes later.
Swaysie did score his customary goal against the Stones to equalise on 70 minutes, shortly after Morgan had been booked for a trip – a booking that will rule him out of the Maidenhead fixture…..
Stones failed to clear their lines and the ball fell to Mickie Swaysland, who shot into the far corner from 18 yards. Two immediate substitutions and the goal galvanised the Stones into their best spell of the match and they were rewarded on 80 minutes when an excellent through ball from Ryan allowed Morgan to get behind the visiting defence. He rounded the goalkeeper and slotted home from a tight angle to give Stones the lead and as it turned out, the points.
There was more to come however as on the final whistle, Shaw and Howell were involved in a challenge for the ball, the visiting player seeming to kick out which sparked a furious reaction from all sides as players rushed in, resulting in the Referee reporting both clubs and a number of individuals. We await the report to determine the exact outcome and any further action that may be taken.
Harrow Times
Wealdstone 2 – 1 Uxbridge
Games ends in 20-player scuffle….
It was only to be expected, but after the heights of last week’s Trophy win, Wealdstone were less than convincing in this encounter.
Uxbridge must consider themselves highly unlucky to leave empty-handed after three times hitting the woodwork.
When Uxbridge’s Stuart Bamford cleared Marvin Morgan’s shot off the line in the first minute, it seemed that Stones were going to continue in the same vein, but Uxbridge came back and brother Gavin Bamford’s curling free-kick smacked against the bar and Royal put the ball over.
Wealdstone captain Robin Tucker opened the scoring just after the half-hour, lashing in a loose ball after a Tommy Williams corner had prompted a free-for-all at the far post.
This prompted the visitors into a more positive attitude. Charlie Leary saved another Bamford free-kick at the foot of a post, but was helpless when the same player’s header crashed against bar ten minutes after the break.
Mick Swaysland, returning as an Uxbridge player after three spells over the years with Wealdstone, hit the bar for the third time, but did eventually bring the scores back level with a neatly taken header after 70 minutes.
At that time, the equaliser was well deserved but, having drawn level, Uxbridge seemed content with what they had achieved and Wealdstone quickly regained the initiative.
Dave Ryan and Rob Courtnage came on for Ben Alexander and Alon Hemmerdinger, and it was Ryan who immediately had an effect on the game when his astute pass put Marvin Morgan in the clear to round keeper Francis and score with some style.
Unfortunately, Morgan’s petulance had earlier seen him yellow carded and the striker will now miss the Trophy game at Maidenhead as his suspension.
Wealdstone held on and might have gone further ahead but the alertness of Francis made sure Richard Jolly did not latch on to another through ball.
The largely lifeless match ended with Jason Shaw getting caught up in the limbs of Uxbridge’s Swift. All of a sudden there were 20 players in a mass scuffle that the referee watched and made no attempt to stop.
As tempers calmed down, the players seemed embarrassed and sheepishly trooped off the field.
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