REPORT | OLDHAM ATHLETIC 3-2 WEALDSTONE
Wealdstone were defeated by Oldham Athletic depsite a two-goal first-half lead at Boundary Park.
Micah Obiero put the Stones ahead with a fine finish after a successful press won the ball high up, four minutes in.
Max Kretzschmar smashed home to put the Stones into what looked like a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Josh Stones pulled a goal back just one minute before the half with an expertly taken header before bagging his brace almost instantly from the restart with a touch and finish, after a knock down in the area.
Substitute Mike Fondop proved too much to handle for the Stones defence, winning a penalty in the 78th minute, forcing a save out of Steward with the intital effort before tapping home his own rebound to complete Oldham’s comeback.
Matt Taylor made just two changes to the side that drew 3-3 with Altrincham in midweek. Josh Grant came into the backline, replacing Jaydn Mundle-Smith whilst Micah Obiero made the starting XI, replacing Alex Reid, who wasn’t eligible to face his parent club.
It was a perfect start for the Stones, flying out of the blocks in their typically energetic press. Forcing Oldham into a mistake early on, Obiero ended up with the ball on the edge of the box, took the ball out of his feet and expertly placed his effort into the bottom corner.
The home side looked to boost their efforts after going behind early, but failed to create anything of note for a long period of the half. Two crucial blocks from Adrian Mariappa and Grant denied two fierce efforts from the home side around the 15 minute mark, but the Stones kept compact.
Looking dangerous when going forward, Taylor’s side kept pushing for a second goal. A ball into the box found the exquisite touch of Sam Ashford, 20 minutes in, who finished well inside the area, but was denied a goal by the offside flag.
Ashford once again in the thick of things, flicked the ball into the area from a set piece, 29 minutes in, creating a scramble inside the Oldham penalty area. A parry from Matt Hudson found Kretzschmar, in acres of space, to smash home an equaliser and put the Stones into a comfortable 2-0 lead.
With groans from the home fans, Oldham looked to pull themselves back into the game. A lofted through ball found Sutton unmarked at the back post, but his header could only find the hands of a calm Toby Steward.
Keeping the pressure up with just minutes to go until half-time, the home side pressed on for a goal of their own. A perfect cross found Josh Stones in the area, who dispatched a perfect header into the bottom corner to put Oldham within touching distance.
Coming out of the break slightly shaken up from the final few minutes of the first period, the Stones looked uncomfortable as Oldham went direct from kick-off. The ever-present Josh Stones was on hand once again to take a touch and finish to level the score.
As the half grew on Wealdstone began to pick up. Their first chance of the half fell to Jack Cook, who struck a half-volley well over the bar from the edge of the area, 60 minutes in.
With Taylor’s side committing numbers to their attack, Oldham looked to hit the Stones on the break. Putting themselves 3-on-2, Norwood drove into the box, flashing a cross into the path of Stones, who came inches from tapping the ball home for his hat-trick.
Just one minute later, the Stones had a chance almost identical to the one created by Oldham previously. Enzio Boldewijn whipped a low ball into the area, with his cross narrowly avoiding two sliding Stones forwards.
Despite the Stones solid performance after losing their two goal advantage, the changes made by the hosts proved too much for the backline. The imperious Fondop caused havoc after entering the pitch. The striker brought the ball down in the 78th minute. Weaved his way into the box, eventually being schythed down to win a penalty for Oldham.
The striker stepped up to take the kick, forcing a save out of Steward, who could only parry into the path of Fondop once more to tuck away the rebound.
Looking to salvage something from the game, Wealdstone continued their pursuit of a goal. Substitute Elliot Thorpe did brilliantly to take on his man and deliver into the box, but could only find a crowded out Obiero, who’s shot dribbled wide.
The home side saw out the game professionally, leaving the Stones with nothing to take from their strong first half performance.
WEALDSTONE: Steward, Cook, Mariappa, Grant (Thorpe 73’), Boldewijn, Wells-Morrison, Cesay, Georgiou (Mundle-Smith 54’), Kretzschmar (Sandat 88’), Ashford, Obiero.
Attendance: 5534 (77 away)