From wealdstone-fc.com
National League South table toppers Wealdstone travelled to Cherrywood Road to face Farnborough in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.
A first half brace from Ross Lafayette, along with goals from Dennon Lewis, Jacob Mendy, and Sanchez Watt led the Stones to an emphatic victory over Boro.
Wealdstone started the match brightly, and were agonisingly close to assuming the lead in the fifth minute as Lewis produced one of his trademark surges down the left wing, laying off to Green, whose powerful strike was deflected to Nick Arnold at the far post, but his effort was cleared off of the line.
Further excellent work from Lewis in the 15th minute saw him play the ball to Michee Efete on the edge of the box, who unleashed a fierce shot towards goal, which prompted Boro goalkeeper Liam Beach to make a vital save.
The Stones continued to dominate possession, and again came close to seizing the lead in the 26th minute. Billy Clifford’s whipped corner towards the back post found Connor Stevens, who rose highest to head on target, but Beach produced another fine save to thwart the defender’s effort.
In the 30th minute, the Stones were duly rewarded for their early pressure as top goal scorer Lafayette pounced on a melee in the Boro box to convert past Beach, and send the visitors into the lead.
Ten minutes later, Wealdstone doubled their lead in spectacular fashion as Lewis picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and rifled a stunning shot into the top corner past Beach.
On the stroke of half time, Danny Green’s curled corner was clinically headed home past Beach by talisman Lafayette to treble the Stones’ lead.
Wealdstone started the second half in the same vein, coming close to quadrupling their lead in the 46th minute as Green bent a delightful effort towards the top corner, which flew narrowly wide.
Three minutes later, Lafayette was inches from hitting his second hat trick of the season as Green played a clever curling free kick into box, which marginally evaded the striker.
In the 61st minute, super sub Jacob Mendy latched onto a through ball to powerfully convert past Beach, low into the bottom corner, increasing the Stones’ lead to four goals.
Mendy was close to completing his brace seven minutes later, producing a vicious strike from the edge of the box which blazed agonisingly over the crossbar.
In the 74th minute, Green latched onto new signing George McLennan’s cross, half-volleying towards goal, but Boro displayed resolute defending to clear the ball off of the line again.
The visitors cemented their victory in fine style, as Sanchez Watt diverted Mendy’s half-volley with a looping header over Beach to score his first goal for the club, and send the Stones into the next round of the FA Cup.
Wealdstone will found out their opponents for the third qualifying round on Monday at 1:30pm via TalkSport 2.
The Stones return to league action next Saturday with a top of the table clash against third place Havant & Waterlooville in the National League South at The Vale, kick-off is at 3pm.
Wealdstone: Oxborough, Arnold (McLennan, 65), Efete, Clifford (Mendy, 57), Stevens, Okimo, Phillips, Smith, Lafayette (Watt, 57), Green, Lewis.
Subs not used: North, Saunders, Coker.
Report by Nicole Cho-Yee
