MORE AWAY-DAY TRAVAILS FOR SHAKY STONES
BOBBY WILKINSON declared it a “bad day at the office” as Wealdstone suffered more away day misery, at Concord Rangers.
The Stones slipped to a 3-1 defeat in Canvey Island with Khale Da Costa’s 25-yard curler giving the Beachboys a first-half lead before Ben Greenhalgh scored a penalty five minutes into the second half. Eddie Oshodi responded but Harry Lee wrapped things up on 90 minutes with his first Concord goal.
“I don’t think we turned up, I wasn’t very impressed with my back four, we conceded sloppy goals, had a couple of chances here and there you should take, but overall it was a bad day at the office,” said Stones boss Wilkinson. “I’m very proud of the boys over the last few weeks, but that [against Rangers] just wasn’t good enough. There was a lack of quality, lack of urgency, lack of desire, I don’t think we pressed as we normally do, I thought we looked tired, which wound me up a bit.
“I apologise to everyone travel- ling, I can’t thank you enough for following us week, in week out. I’m really frustrated with that. [performance]”
Both sides made first-half chances. Steve Cawley flicked a header wide inside 10 minutes before Concord keeper Louis Wells made smart stops to deny Dan Fitchett and Ciaron Brown.
Danny Green almost netted a spectacular 30-yard first-time strike but Wells acrobatically tipped it over and the referee indicated a goal kick with the hosts taking the lead from the next passage of play.
Green gave away the ball to Da Costa in the middle and the goalscorer burst forward, beating Brown, and bent an unstoppable effort past a grounded Jonathan North in the Wealdstone goal.
The Stones rallied and Green’s delivery from corners was positive with Matt Day and Oshodi both heading wide from flag-kicks after Concord’s opener.
Just before half time, Fitchett missed a sitter after Abobaker Eisa made a bursting run and his strike from the edge of the box was spilled by Wells into the path of Fitchett who, from a yard out, somehow hit the post.
Just five minutes into the second half Oshodi needlessly felled Greenhalgh, who coolly dispatched the penalty.
Oshodi atoned eight minutes later, Concord failing to clear a Stones set-piece and the ball bouncing forward for Oshodi to slot past Wells.
The right-back almost added another two minutes later expertly bringing down Brown’s cross, only to shoot across goal.
Concord settled and Wealdstone rarely threatened as the hosts wrapped the game up. Sub Femi Akinwande crossed and Brown got a toe on it but only played it into Lee’s path.
Results, however, went in Wealdstone’s favour with the gap to leaders Dartford remaining seven points. The Stones host Wingate & Finchley in the FA Trophy on Saturday.