Wealdstone 2 – 2 Derby County U21’s (3-2P)
Wealdstone3-2(P)
Derby County
WEALDSTONE were denied progress to the knockout phase of the National League Cup by an 89th-minute Derby County U21s penalty, which left them one point short of the second qualifying spot behind FC Halifax Town.
A bonus point from a penalty shootout win proved little consolation for the Stones, who by then knew they couldn’t catch Scunthorpe United in the Group A runners-up place.
Gary Waddock made nine changes to the starting side that beat Southend Utd 3-2 at The Vale on Saturday afternoon, with only Joe Newton and Dylan Kadji keeping their places in the line-up as an Academy-laden bench meant Wealdstone’s on-pitch ranks got younger and younger as the game wore on.
It proved to be a cagey affair between the Stones and the Rams in the opening 10 minutes of the match, until the first chance of the game fell to Derby County U21s, a ball was whipped dangerously into Wealdstone’s box from a corner finding the head of Oguntolu, whose headed effort on goal went just wide.
Fast-forwarding to the 19th minute, the game started to open up a little more for the Stones, with Joe Newton attempting a left-footed shot from outside the box which was comfortably saved by visiting goalkeeper Nick Bilokapic.
However, just a few minutes later, Milton Oni was on the receiving end of a late, crunching tackle from Remi Harvey, who saw red and put the visitors down to 10 men just 22 minutes into the game.
With the Rams now one short and the score still level, the Stones were trying to cause as many problems for them as possible, with Kyle Smith firing a dangerous ball across the face of the visitor’s goal just before the half-hour mark, however no one was there to get a telling touch.
Smith continued to be a threat down the right-hand side when, in the 37th minute, he played a brilliant ball to the back post which was met by the head of Callum Lee, who unfortunately couldn’t get any real power behind his header, directing it straight into the hands of the keeper.
HALF-TIME: Wealdstone 0-0 Derby County U21s
Three minutes after the second half got underway, the ball fell to the Stones’ number 35, Academy player Daniel Banjoko, on the outside of the box. He attempted a convincing strike on goal, which was blocked well by the Rams’ defence.
With 25 minutes to go and following a quiet start to the second half in terms of clear-cut chances, Carmichael Uchenna managed to win a free kick on the right flank after a late challenge from the Rams’ Charlie Smith. Uchenna was the one to take the free-kick for Wealdstone and his low left-footed shirt missed a forest of legs to sneak inside the far post.
Just 10 minutes later, a pass short of power was made back towards Stones’ keeper Sam Long by one of the host’s youthful back line. Justin Oguntolu nipped in for County, rounded the helpless Long and rolled the ball home.
But the hosts were to restore their lead just four minutes later. This time it was Wealdstone capitalising on an under-hit pass. Callum Lee took advantage, threaded a fine through-ball to Banjoko and he swept the ball home past Bilokapic.
Stones could have doubled their lead and put the tie to bed when Amaru Kaundu chested down Seamus Atem’s cross with eight minutes remaining, but the forward couldn’t apply the finish with the ball tantalisingly out of reach.
Then came the moment which effectively ended Wealdstone’s National League Cup campaign for another season. Rams’ Charlie Smith broke into the box and was felled with a clumsy challenge. Oguntolu bagged his second of the night, sending Long the wrong way from the spot to make it 2-2 just as the clock hit 90 minutes.
Two shootout saves from Long, as well as successful spot-kick conversions by Kaunda, Lee and Uchenna helped Wealdstone take the extra point on offer as they ended the four-game group stages on eight points – just one behind both qualifiers The Shaymen and The Iron.
FULL-TIME: Wealdstone 2-2 Derby County U21s (3-2 on penalties)
Line-up: Long (GK), J Newton (Campbell HT), Kadji (Banjoko HT), Uchenna, Smith (Atem 60), Oni, McAvoy (Fernandes HT), Lee, T Newton, Kaunda, Kanu (Pavic 31).Unused subs: Johnson (GK), Zezula.
Att:146
Match Report:
Garry Waddock Post Match Interview HERE
Jon Taffel Match Pics HERE
Match Highlights:
WFC HERE
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