Wealdstone 0 – 1 Maidenhead Utd

Wealdstone

Vanarama National League

0 - 1

Maidenhead United

KO: 19:45 | Tue 6th Feb ’24

Ten-man Wealdstone lost only their second home game of the season in a tight 1-0 defeat to Maidenhead United at a windy, soggy Grosvenor Vale on Tuesday evening.

Stones captain Jack Cook was sent off for a second bookable offence on the stroke of half-time, with Ashley Nathaniel-George netting for the visitors on 78 minutes.

There were two changes to the starting line-up from Saturday’s draw at Barnet, with Aaron Henry and Max Kretzschmar coming back into the starting eleven.

The game started slow for the Stones, with Ryan de Havilland’s early effort being deflected in the first couple of minutes and going out for a corner.

Charlie Barker denied Reece Smith from putting the visitors ahead with a sliding challenge in the first fifteen minutes.

Stones keeper Marcus Dewhurst continued his impressive form from the weekend with plenty of first half saves, one being a diving save to deny Nathaniel-George.

The Stones had their first main chance of the game at the half an hour mark, with a free kick flicked on by Barker, but no one was there to meet it.

Then skipper Cook received his second yellow on 43 minutes, forcing Stones to make a substitute with Deon Woodman making his debut, replacing Sam Bowen.

The second half started with more energy from the Stones, with a solo effort from Charlie Seaman going over the bar. A similar chance came ten minutes later, this time for substitute Corie Andrews, whose shot again went over the bar.

The visitors broke the deadlock in the 78th minute, with Nathaniel-George cutting into the box curling it into the top corner following a quickly taken throw-in, sending the Magpies home with all three points.

As a result, David Noble faced his first defeat in his reign and will look to make amends next as Wealdstone face local rivals Hendon in an FA Trophy derby clash at home on Saturday at 3pm.

WEALDSTONE: Dewhurst, Cook (c), Barker, Mundle-Smith, Seaman, Henry, Bowen (Woodman 44), Ferguson, Allarakhia, Kretzschmar (Andrews 65), Adarkwa (Obiero 79).  Subs not used: Dyer, Mason.

Attendance: 1,035 (including 82 Maidenhead supporters)

Report by Libby McElhinney

David Noble Post Match Interview HERE

Jon Taffel Match Pics HERE

Match Highlights HERE