Match Report by Nick DuGard: Saturday, 12 September 2015: National League South: Wealdstone 0 Chelmsford City 0
ON a day when greats of Wealdstone’s past were in attendance the class of 2015 lacked cutting edge in a dour goalless draw with Chelmsford.
Stones’ double winners of 1985 were wined and dined before the game and applauded onto the pitch before kick-off, but once the first whistle blew it was defenders who dominated amid little sign of champagne football.
Moses Makasi curled a early effort into the hands of Jonathan North, but in an end-to-end first half it was the hosts who carried the greater threat.
Elliott Godfrey’s long-range effort forced a diving save from Christian Dibble, while the keeper was well positioned later in the half to hold another effort from the former AFC Wimbledon midfielder.
Straight from the restart confusion in the Stones’ rearguard gave Hugo Skepelhorn a clear sight of goal for the visitors, but he failed to hit the target.
At the other end Hutchinson’s volley was blocked behind by Mark Haines, while Matt Ball volleyed horribly off target from Scott Davies’ delicious pass.
With 19 minutes left Stones produced the best move of the match as substitute Shaun Lucien latched onto a ball in the right channel and crossed for Ball to volley, but Dibble flew across goal to make the save.
Both sides used all substitutes in a bid for a winner, but with Carl Martin and Marvin Ekpiteta outstanding at the heart of their respective rearguards no-one could break the stalemate.
Wealdstone: North, McLeod-Urquhart, Watts, Martin, Hamblin, Godfrey, Wright (Louis 76), Corcoran (Brown 67), Hutchinson (Lucien 53), Davies, Ball
Subs not used: Calcutt, Bevans
Chelmsford: Dibble, Haines, Palmer, Hughes(c), Marvin Ekpiteta, McAuley, Daley (Marvel Ekpiteta 80), Makasi (Adeloye 62), Bricknell, Skepelhorn (Morgan 62),
Sawyer Subs not used: Bagasan, Vaughan
Attendance: 803