Hayes & Harlington Gazette

Stones ‘not strong enough’

WEALDSTONE BOSS SET TO RING THE CHANGES AFTER FA TROPHY EXIT AT HOME TO ROYSTON

-

WEALDSTONE’S shock exit from the FA Trophy at home to Step 3 Royston Town has prompted boss Dean Brennan to consider fringe players as he said “the last two performanc­es haven’t been strong enough”.

Step 2 Stones were on the wrong end of a thriller as a brace from Brandon Adams, accompanie­d by

Josh Castiglion­e’s first-half finish, denied the Stones a place in the First Round, after Ross Lafayette and Jerome Okimo netted in the brief second-half comeback.

Top scorer Lafayette returned to the Stones line-up for his first start in a month, while the rest of the starting 11 remained unchanged following last weekend’s National League

South defeat at Hampton & Richmond Borough.

That is set to change, though, and Brennan was far from satisfied with his team’s display,.

“We got we what deserved, the better team won the game,” he said.

“The first half was a no show from us, but credit to them [Royston].

“I’ve stayed loyal to players, I’ve been very fair. There’s lads sitting in the stands and on loan and they will get an opportunit­y now.

“We always look at the positives and we were better in the second half.

“Yes it was good, but criminal to concede a third goal. We showed good character but we showed naivety with their third and they deserved to win the game. In the cup it’s about winning. The performanc­e doesn’t really matter.

“They had good players and they will be up their in their division.

“But I am looking to recruit now. I need to strengthen the group. Some of them have played their way out of the team and other lads are going to get a chance.”

 ?? MONTIMAGEM­EDIA ?? Ross Lafayette scores for Wealdstone against Royston in the FA Trophy defeat
MONTIMAGEM­EDIA Ross Lafayette scores for Wealdstone against Royston in the FA Trophy defeat

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom