Forest Green Rovers 1 – 1 Wealdstone
Forest Green Rovers1 - 1
Wealdstone
Wealdstone picked up a point away from home on Tuesday evening after a closely-fought contest with Forest Green Rovers ended in a draw.
Gary Waddock made three changes to the side that defeated Gateshead at the weekend as Fejiri Okenabirhie made his first start, Connor McAvoy returned from suspension and Joe Newton returned at left wing-back.
The Stones created the first chance of the match after five minutes. Okenabirhie showed a burst of pace to break into the box and fired the ball across the face of goal from a difficult angle but nobody in blue was in the six-yard box to turn it goalwards.
A fairly quiet opening 20 minutes followed before the Stones threatened again. Luke Norris inexplicably beat Filozofe Mabete to a ball over the top despite the defender having a significant head start. Norris cut it back to Newton whose first-time shot was caught comfortably by Ethan Ross.
Norris and Newton combined again just moments later as Forest Green’s uncertainty continued at the back. This time the wing-back went through on goal but fired his effort wide of the far post.
The Stones took a deserved lead in the 28th minute through Okenabirhie. Rovers failed to deal with another long ball from Dante Baptiste and Newton headed the ball on for the new signing to produce an impressive, volleyed finish across the keeper and into the far corner of the net.
With 10 minutes to go to half-time Forest Green Rovers equalised. Sean Etaluku got the better of Newton on the right wing and delivered a low cross to Tate Campbell who was able score with a simple side-footed finish.
Rovers should have taken the lead in the 41st minute. Baptiste could only parry Campbell’s shot into the path of Bryan Ifeanyi who somehow blasted the ball wide, missing an open goal.
There was another nervy moment just before half-time as Kyle McAllister tried his luck from 35 yards out, his pile-driving shot cracked off the post – thankfully for The Stones.
HALF-TIME: Forest Green Rovers 1-1 Wealdstone
Stones’ boss Waddock made a change at the break, introducing Ronan Maher in place of Dan Chesters, who had gone down injured during the first half.
Wealdstone were unfortunate not to retake the lead in the 51st minute. Aaron Henry kept the ball alive after his free-kick was blocked, causing havoc in the box before it eventually fell to Jack Wells-Morrison who flashed a shot just past the far post.
Forest Green had a good chance to score on the hour mark. Baptiste again could only parry McAllister’s shot to Jose Marquez who hit the side-netting with the rebound albeit from an off-side position.
The hosts had another chance in the 74th minute when a dangerous cross found an unmarked Marquez. However, his headed attempt went wide causing no problems for Baptiste.
As the game entered the final ten minutes, Olomola did brilliantly to beat his man and cut a ball back towards fellow sub Maher, but his shot was saved by a sprawling Ross.
In injury-time Forest Green Rovers missed a good chance to win the game as Marquez was played in behind the Wealdstone defence before his shot failed to hit the target.
The hosts would have one more huge chance in the 98th minute. Etaluku once again caused havoc in the Wealdstone defence as he ran in behind Jack Cook before delivering a low cross that found its way through to Nick Haughton. His shot was saved heroically by Baptiste before the Stones cleared their lines after a penalty-box scramble which involved a great block from Aidan Francis-Clarke.
This proved to be the last action as the referee brought an entertaining match to an end and the teams shared the spoils.
FULL-TIME: Forest Green Rovers 1-1 Wealdstone
Wealdstone: Baptiste, Newton, Wells-Morrison, Norris, Kadji, Chesters (Maher 45), Francis-Clarke, Henry, McAvoy (c), Okenabirhie (Olomola 80), Kanu (Barrett 72 (Cook 83)),Subs not used: Johnson (GK), Uchenna, Waweru.
Att: 1,157 (46 Stones’ fans)
Match Report:
Garry Waddock Post Match Interview HERE
Jon Taffel Match Pics HERE
Match Highlights:
WFC HERE
FGR HERE
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Forrest Green RoversWebsite Match ReportForest Green Rovers drew in an end-to-end affair at The New Lawn.Despite dominating the majority of the game, Rovers were unable to come out on top. Wealdstone took the lead midway through the first half with a clever move that saw Joe Newton play Fejiri Okenabirhie into the six-yard box, whose shot across goal couldn’t be saved by Ethan Ross. Ten minutes later, FGR equalised through Tate Campbell; an elegant run by Sean Etaluku saw him beat two opposition players and put the ball into a busy box; his cross found the number six in the middle of the penalty area, who duly converted. The second half was dominated by the Rovers, but no winner could be found. The home side had to settle for a point, for the second game running. First half:It was a lively start on a dark evening at GL6 as both Forest Green and Wealdstone had opportunities early on. Striker Jose Marquez cleverly teed up Etaluku, as his shot on goal was blocked and sent over the bar. Up the other end of the pitch, the opposition had a chance through Newton, whose shot from inside the box was put wide. After a very even twenty minutes, the first shot on target went to the Greater London side; a nice pattern of play saw the ball fall to the opposition left-back once again, but Ross was equal to his effort. Just moments later, the Wealdstone fullback saw another opportunity, this time one-on-one with the FGR keeper; however, the shot was dragged past the post. The away side continued to chip at the Rovers defence and finally broke through after a ball from the middle of the park landed at Newton’s feet in space; with time to think, he played a tricky pass to wideman Okenabirhie, whose shot from just inside the six-yard box flew past the Forest Green goalkeeper to make it 1-0. The goal for Wealdstone sparked FGR into life! With ten minutes to half-time, home debutant Bryan Ifeanyi played a lovely ball across goal, beating keeper Dante Baptiste; however, no one was there to turn the opportunity into an equaliser. Etaluku created a similar opportunity minutes later, beating two defenders out wide and putting the ball into a packed box; his ball found Campbell, who calmly put the ball into the back of the net to level the score. orest Green, now in their groove, continued to create more brilliant opportunities. Defender Fil Mabete saw his long-range effort saved by Baptiste; Etaluku was unable to convert the rebound. Seconds later, McAllister hit the post with an absolute rocket from outside the box. The Greens will have felt hard done by not having gone into the break with the lead. Half-time Forest Green Rovers 1-1 Wealdstone The visitors started the second half on top; however, Forest Green had a great chance not long after the break. McAllister’s shot from distance was parried by the away keeper; Omari Patrick was first to react, but couldn’t put the ball into the net. Another skilful move from Rovers not long after saw substitute Nick Haughton dance into the penalty area, but a very well-timed tackle made sure he couldn’t get his shot away. After twenty minutes of intense pressure and shots from Patrick and Marquez, Rovers continued to build momentum, but the back of the net evaded them. Despite the Gloucestershire club being on top, Wealdstone created a golden opportunity with just a few minutes to go. Dylan Kadji found himself in space and fired a powerful shot from the centre of the box, but a wonder save from Ross denied the midfielder a potentially game-winning goal. The hosts continued to look for the winner and three points but the clock was against them. We saw a glorious chance in the dying embers from Nick Haughton, just inches away from a winner, but Baptiste pulled off a fantastic save to deny the FGR sub. It was a frustrating evening for Rovers; clear-cut chances were made, but the ball just didn’t find the back of the net in the second half. A tough draw to take for the home team, but one to build on. Full-time: Forest Green Rovers 1-1 Wealdstone Line-ups: Forest Green Rovers: Ross, Kuemo (Pemberton), Ajayi, Mabatete, Abrefa, Campbell, Gbadehan (Haughton), Ifeanyi (Patrick), Etaluku, McAllister, Marquez Subs not used: McNicholas, Kircough, Fearon, Walsh Wealdstone: Baptiste, Newton, Kanu (Barrett) (Cook), Francis-Clarke, McAvoy, Wells-Morrison, Henry, Okenabirhie (Olomola), Kadji, Chesters (Maher) Subs not used: Johnson, Waweru, Uchenna Attendance: 1157 (49 away)
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