Wealdstone 6 Hampton & Richmond Borough 0
Middlesex Senior Cup – 2nd Round
By Nick DuGard
Wealdstone took a welcome day off from the rigours of the Vanarama Conference South on Saturday and in the process completely outplayed former league rivals and current holders of the Middlesex Senior Cup, Hampton & RB.
Stones superiority was about as much as you can have in a competitive match and although the Beavers are clearly a side under transition under new Manager Alan Dowson, this was a real drubbing by any standards, the home side exacting full revenge for their defeat to Hampton in last season’s Cup Final.
Stones new boys, Connor Calcutt on loan from Stevenage and permanent signing Matt Ball both made their debuts and both performed very well. The whole team looked relaxed and played cohesively as a unit throughout and restricted Hampton to three worthwhile efforts on goal all afternoon.
The goals were scored by Calcutt (2), Sean Cronin (penalty), Wes Parker , Johnny Wight and Joe Turner.
After some early sparring in the midfield, Stones soon started to look far more alert and threatening. Two corners produced nothing but on 10 minutes Calcutt showed his class by turning sweetly in the box and smashed the ball past ‘Keeper Ronnie Worster. The away side looked increasingly disjointed and when they did manage to gain possession it was continually wasted. It wasn’t long before Calcutt was just wide with another effort from an excellent Ryan Watts cross.
Stones doubled their lead on 21 minutes when former Beaver Tom Hickey was brought down in the box and Referee Mr M Morrison pointed immediately to the spot. Sean Cronin smashed home the penalty with great aplomb. Worster saved magnificently from the lively Johnny Wright at point blank range but it wasn’t long before the rampant home side grabbed their third. Turner delivered a smart cross and Skipper Wes Parker turned in via the outside of his boot.
The Beavers were now gnashing their teeth in complete disarray as Wright broke free down the flank and rifled home for Stones fourth on 37 minutes. The half time whistle was only seconds away as Calcutt, cool as a cucumber, netted his brace.
The second half inevitably cooled off somewhat as a contest but not before an awful defensive mix up that not even Jeeves could contemplate saw Turner tap into an open goal with Worster stranded. The away side’s first serious attempt on goal came on 66 minutes – but the header was comfortably collected by a virtually redundant Jon North.
Charlie Moone for the away side toiled away and came into the match a little more but the much heralded striker was largely anonymous and credit has to be given also the home defence that snuffed out everything that was put their way.
So a welcome distraction for Wealdstone and progression the quarter finals of the County Cup as they now look forward to the far more serious business of gaining their first home win in the league next Saturday at The Vale when Maidenhead United are the visitors.
A midweek friendly match may be arranged – check out the website and twitter for details.
Wealdstone: North, Mills, Watts, Parker ©, Cronin, Ball, Lucien, Hickey, Wright, Calcutt, Turner. Subs used: Brown, Martin. Not used: Godfrey, McGleish, Hamblin
William Hill MoM: Connor Calcutt.
