ONWARDS AND UPWARDS FOR GOAL SNEAK HARRY!
HARRY PRITCHARD had been on the field a handful of minutes when he lifted home the equaliser that kept alive ten-man Maidenhead United’s interest in the FA Trophy this season.
The Magpies were down to ten following the deserved first-half dismissal of Ryan Upward for a late, out-of-control challenge on Elliott Godfrey.
And they looked headed for an early exit when Wealdstone’s Jonathan Wright slipped the ball past Carl Pentney from Matthew Whichelow’s cross to make it 2-1 in the 64th minute.
But Pritchard raced onto an exquisite through ball and chipped Stones keeper Jonathan North on 82 minutes to force a replay.
The Magpies made a number of changes to the side that beat Ebbsfleet United to march nine points clear in the league. But for much of this contest they were second fiddle to a Wealdstone side looking to bounce back after three straight league defeats.
In an even first half the visitors carved out the better opportunities. Whichelow came close to a breakthrough but miscued badly when the ball fell kindly to him in the area from a 26th-minute freekick. Elliot Benyon then contrived to head Ciaron Brown’s cross over the bar.
In between, Sean Marks clipped the angle of post and crossbar with a chipped effort from distance.
The returning Eddie Oshodi’s firm header from former Magpie David Hunt’s corner put the visitors in front in the 32nd minute, but that lead was cancelled out four minutes later when Dave Tarpey crossed for Sam Barratt to head home.
Upward’s rush of blood to the head in the 39th minute earned him an early bath and United had a mountain to climb when Wright beat Pentney.
Benyon was denied by Pentney’s spectacular onehanded save before a triple substitution gave the Magpies late momentum, leading to the equaliser.
Stones manager Gordon Bartlett said: “I’m bitterly disappointed because we’ve not been on the best of runs and had an opportunity to put ourselves definitely into the next round and instead we’ve got a replay on Tuesday.”
Magpies boss Alan Devonshire added: “We’ve dug in and showed a lot of character. We’ve got a lot of good lads in there. I’m really pleased, it’s a pleasure to work with them. They do what I ask them to do and they ended up grinding out the result.” STAR MAN: Carl Pentney (United) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★