Wealdstone shook off their hugely disappointing midweek FA Trophy defeat to Corby Town with a comfortable victory over an inconsistent Carshalton side. Incredibly, this was Stones first home win over the Robins in 49 years but as the game wore on it became very apparent that this poor run would finally be broken with relative ease.
With this win on Saturday, Stones also broke another record – a year has almost passed since Canvey Island beat Wealdstone 2-1 in the league at The Vale on Saturday, 19th November 2011. Since then Stones have played 21 league matches at home, winning 14 and drawing 7 thereby breaking the record set up during 1997-98 of 16 consecutive home league games without defeat.
Even so Robins started the brighter of the sides as Wealdstone looked sluggish and initially found ball retention a problem. A good save by Rikki Banks from Ola Sogbanmu steadied the nerves as Stones gradually worked their way into the game. And once the home side got their slick passing game into top gear they look far more threatening and Richard Jolly went close from a Nathan Webb pass on 17 minutes.
Robins were finally undone after persistent pressure when Tom Pett swept home from a perfect ball across the box from Jolly on 28
minutes.
The away side tried hard to find a way through a solid Stones back line but without real penetration with Lee Chappell in commanding form, using his lightning pace to good effect.
After Sol Pinnock drove across Banks’ goal, a moment of quick thinking doubled Wealdstone’s lead. Following a foul outside the Robins area, Webb smartly played the ball through to Jolly who made no mistake with the Robins defence switched off.
Stones totally dominated the second period playing some lovely one touch football but without finding the net to make the game entirely safe. Alex Dyer scuffed in front of goal and then Jolly agonizingly slipped when in a great position to pull the trigger.
Robins rallied well as Stones ran out of steam and applied some pressure mid half winning several free kicks but ultimately failed to break through a solid back line; Justyn Roberts came closest for his side but he hit the side netting.
But Stones wrapped up the win and three precious points to keep the pressure on at the top echelons of the Ryman Premier table when substitute Shabazz Baidoo shot home with a great finish from a superb Peter Dean/Alex Dyer combination.
Wealdstone: Banks,Hammond,Chappell,Parker, Cronin, Dyer, Brooks,Webb,Dean, Jolly,Pett Subs used: Baidoo, Nicholas. N/u: Tumwa, Haxia (GK),
Brewer
Crowd: 422
MoM: Baidoo