Chelmsford City 0 Wealdstone 2
By Nick DuGard
A hard working and resilient Stones performance saw them claim their third Vanarama Conference South win of the season at a damp Melbourne Stadium on Monday. This was ahugely welcome victory but came at the cost of several injuries including a serious looking one to on–loan striker Connor Calcutt
Elliott Godfrey’s fantastic opening strike and goal after just three minutes set Wealdstone on their way to an impressive victory as the home side struggled to break down the visitor’s solid rearguard all match.
Shaun Lucien then tucked away from close range in the second-half following an awful defensive mix–up by City
The Clarets, after Saturday’s drubbing by Whitehawk, found themselves behind just three minutes into the game. Elliott Godfrey picked up a defensive clearance and hit it on the volley as it arrowed into the net with wonderful accuracy from fully thirty yards.
Wealdstone, whose 4-5-1 set up continues to work well away from The Vale were happy to soak up pressure and concede corners as the home side tried to hit back.
James Hammond who later limped off injured saved Stones at the last moment as he slid in to deny Michael Cheek early on.
Stones broke out and then had a decent penalty appeal turned down with around twenty minutes of the first-half remaining when City’s Watkins appeared to collide with skipper Wes Parker in the box.
Wealdstone’s defence looked solid throughout, successfully cutting out most of what City had to offer in attack as the home side rallied.
There was still time for some action in the dying moments of the first period however as Parker nodded Matt Ball’s corner over.
City, similarly to the first-half, began the second slowley and found themselves chasing a two-goal deficit after just 51 minutes. Leon Redwood, the City left-back, headed beyond his keeper and Shaun Lucien nipped in smartly to tap in the rebound.
City then had a great chance to pull a goal back when Lee Sawyer danced his way through the Wealdstone defence before sliding the ball to Michael Cheek. He squared the ball across the box but the eventual shot was saved fantastically by Jonathan North.
But Stones saw out the match with an assured display and there was to be no last minute histrionics.
Wealdstone: North, Hammond, Watts, Parker, Cronin, Godfrey, Lucien, Ball, Calcutt,Brown, Turner Subs: McGleish (used) Hamblin Hickey (used) Showunmi Carter (GK)
