STONES SHOW RESILIENCE IN FIRST AWAY WIN
KEEPER NORTH WAS CALLED UPON
WEALDSTONE FC recorded their first away win with a remarkably resilient 2-1 victory over London rivals, and in-form Welling United. A first-half goal from Ryan Sellers rewarded the Stones’ dominance in the first 45 minutes, and Danny Green dispatched a penalty just three minutes into the second half after Abobaker Eisa was shoved in the box. Hosts Welling then went down to 10 after Ben Jefford’s lunge on Eddie Oshodi, but the home team rallied and Jack Parkinson headed in their goal to set up a tense final half hour.
The Stones dominated the first half, conceding zero chances, although it took Wealdstone some time to create clear-cut opportunities.
Eisa flashed a header wide on 34 minutes from a Green cross to give Welling their first warning.
Green’s next cross put the Stones ahead. He beat his man – Jefford – and dinked a perfectlyweighted centre to the unmarked Sellers, who tapped in at the far post.
Just 90 seconds into the second half, the Stones had a penalty. A long ball was pumped forward to Eisa, which Dillon Barnes came out for but in the chase for the ball, Eisa was bundled over by Parkinson right in front of the referee, who pointed to the spot.
Green stepped up and smashed it down the middle with Barnes diving to his left, giving Wealdstone a more comfortable advantage.
Welling almost pulled a goal back when Tom Bradbrook was put through on goal – thankfully for the away side, he smashed his effort wide. Two minutes later and the Stones had a man advantage, Jefford lunging in late on Oshodi and the referee giving the left-back a straight red card.
The decision, though, rallied the hosts and Jonathan North pulled off his first save on 62 minutes, getting down low to deny Bradbrook from a header.
On 65 minutes the Wings did score. Jeffrey Monakana swung a corner in to Parkinson and he rose highest to nod the ball past North at the far post.
Welling enjoyed long periods of play thereafter and a territorial advantage, but it was Wealdstone who had the best chances late on, on the counter.
Barnes denied Eisa with his leg, Stephane Ngamvoulou had the better of four defenders before firing over and Dan Fitchett hit the post in the last minute of the game, but it remained 2-1 and the Stones earned their first three points on the road this season, moving up to tenth in the National League South table.