SUPERSUB IRA MAKES DIFFERENCE FOR STONES
WEALDSTONE signed off in style at Grosvenor Vale this season with a comefrom-behind victory over already relegated King’s Lynn Town.
Gold Omotayo put the Linnets in front on 36 minutes but a goal from Josh Umerah restored parity.
And it was left to Ira Jackson to seal all three points for the Stones with an 87th-minute winner.
“It was a great win against a team who are really in form since the changes they’ve made,” said Wealdstone assistant boss Matt Saunders.
“We could have been better first half, but the lads took the information on board at half time and we deserved our win in the end.”
Lynn started brightly and gave notice of their intent as early as the ninth minute when Cameron Hargreaves latched onto the ball on the edge of the area and powered a fierce strike which rattled the crossbar.
The Stones, though, were always in the game and they too went close on 16 minutes when Aaron Henry’s corner was flicked onto David Sesay at the far post, but the ball drifted wide of target.
Sesay threatened again on the half-hour when he advanced into the box and shot goalbound but Paul Jones held well after initially spilling the midfielder’s effort.
Lynn duly made them pay with the opening goal on 36 minutes – Barrett’s sublime free-kick smashed off of the underside of the crossbar and was nodded home by Omotayo.
Moments later, Tommy Widdrington’s side had the chance to double their lead when the influential Barrett dribbled into the box and unleashed a shot but keeper George Wickens reacted with a solid save.
Indeed, Barrett posed a threat all afternoon and almost broke through again on the stroke of half-time with a shot from the edge of the area which forced Wickens into another top-quality save.
The Stones emerged from the interval with intent and were close to levelling on 52 minutes when Charles Clayden’s cross was flicked towards goal by Umerah, but Jones was alert in the Linnets’ goal to thwart the forward’s attempt.
A minute later, Lynn danger man Barrett ghosted past Connor McAvoy on the edge of the box and fired towards goal, however Wickens was again equal to the effort.
That proved crucial as on 59 minutes, McAvoy cleverly threaded the ball through to Umerah and the Stones top goal scorer coolly slotting the ball home past Jones.
Wealdstone kept plugging away and got their reward three minutes from time when Nikola Tavares’ cross was headed back across goal by Charlie Cooper to Jackson, who smashed home a superb strike past Jones from an acute angle.
STAR MAN: Josh Barrett (King’s Lynn) ATT: 1,324 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Gary Parsons