REPORT | KINGS LANGLEY 2-3 WEALDSTONE
Wealdstone win their penultimate pre-season game thanks to a brace from Sam Ashford and a stunner from Luke Dreher.
Dreher opened the scoring on the 30 minute mark with a stunning volley before a dink from Ashford doubled the Stones lead just one minute later.
A header from Ashford had the Stones cruising just after half-time, but the hosts would begin somewhat of a comeback when a free-kick was whipped in and found the back of the Stones net.
With five minutes left, Kings Langley found themselves another goal, slightly against the run of play, but it wasn't enough and the Stones gained the win on the road.
In typical pre-season fashion, Matt Taylor made ample changes to the starting XI that faced MK Dons on Saturday, with only Sean Adarkwa and Jack Cook keeping their place in the lineup.
Wealdstone came close to opening the scoring, just four minutes, when Max Kretzschmar's direct free-kick sailed narrowly wide of the Kings Langley goal.
The Stones no.10 was at the heart of the Stones next big chance, ten minutes later, when he rounded the Kings Langley goalkeeper but struck his effort off the post from a tight angle.
Bang on the thirty minute, the Stones relentless possession finally payed off when the ball fell to Dreher on the edge of the box. The midfielder took the ball in the air and hit a sublime volley into the top corner to give the Stones a deserved lead.
Running high on their momentum, Taylor's side doubled their lead just one minute later when the ball sat up perfectly for Ashford around the edge of the box, and the Stones forward placed an inch perfect dink into the back of the net.
The Stones then took what looked to be an unassailable lead in the 56th minute when Ashford was once again on hand to finish off a move, sticking a back-post header out of the keeper's reach to make it 3-0.
But the home side weren't going out without a fight. After what had been a largely dominant performance from the Stones, Kings Langley drew a goal back in the 74th minute when an in-swinging free-kick found a body in the Stones area that converted the ball into the roof of the net.
Looking to hit back instantly, Wealdstone came close to making it 4-1 when Trialist A picked up the ball and hit a fierce effort from range that forced a stunning save out of the Kings Langley no.1.
But the hosts would draw the deficit back to one goal in the 85th minute. Again largely against the run of play, Kings Langley showed no signs of giving in, but it wouldn't be enough and the Stones would come away with a win on the road.
Next up for the Stones, their final pre-season fixture against Hemel Hempstead at Grosvenor Vale at 3pm.
WEALDSTONE XI: Adams (GK), Cesay, Mason, Woodman, Cook (Barrett 70'), Dyer (Trialist A 61'), Dreher (Simmons 70'), Hutchinson (Georgiou 70'), Kretzschmar (Miller 61'), Ashford (Obiero 61'), Adarkwa.