Match Report: Saturday, 22 August 2015: National League South: Wealdstone 1 Ebbsfleet United 2
In the proverbial game of two halves it was high flying Ebbsfleet United that eventually came out on top of this entertaining and highly competitive encounter, leaving Stones again winless.
Huge credit to the home side in taking the game to a very strong Ebbsfleet side and they bossed most of the play in the first period with Bradley Hudson-Odoi showing some great skill down the left flank and posing a big threat throughout.
In fact Stones had the ball in net from a great flowing move on 13 minutes with Hudson- Odoi instrumental, but Josh Hutchinson’s effort was ruled frustratingly, offside.
The away side passed the ball well enough but lacked any real cutting edge and with Stones defence standing firm North was untroubled. Robbie Willmott broke free for United in a rare shooting chance but blasted over
Eventually Stones pressure was rewarded when Hudson –Odoi got free down the middle and was able to loop the ball superbly over keeper Brandon Hall. This was the away side’s first goal conceded in 355 minutes of football and Stones were good value for it at that stage.
The second half was a different affair however and once United had equalised via the dangerous Jordan Parkes 5 minutes into the second period, Stones never really regained their rhythm or attacking threat.
Stones were now being out passed by United’s full time professionals and struggled to find an outlet; big Jefferson used his strength and power to find some space but couldn’t create shooting opportunities. Danny Kedwell’s looping header sealed the points for the now buoyant away side on 61 minutes.
Both sides now used all their available subs with Dean Rance the main catalyst for changing the game for United. Stones did apply some worrying late pressure for Ebbsfleet with the best chance for a leveller falling to substitute Shaun Lucien, but his vicious strike flew over
Difficult times again for Wealdstone but they have been here before and this performance will provide encouragement that a win will come sooner rather than later. The forwards need to find their shooting boots though!
Attendance: 764
Wealdstone :North, Bevans, Urquhart, Parker, Hamblin, Godfrey, Ball, Corcoran (Davies 75), Louis, Hutchinson (Calcutt, 22), Hudson-Odoi(Lucien 75) Subs not used: Gore (GK), Brown.
Ebbsfleet Utd:Hall, Fish, Howe, Lewis, Clark, Bonner, Godden (Rance 45), Parkes, Kedwell, (Cunnington 78), Kissock, Willmott (Haynes 82) Subs not used:
Miles (GK), Acheampong
