STONES EDGED OUT IN VALE OPENER
Wealdstone were edged to their second successive defeat of the season by high-flying Oldham Athletic, at Grosvenor Vale.
A goal at the death from Harry Charsley ensured Micky Mellon’s side claimed all three points and continued their unbeaten start to the season.
Matt Taylor made three changes to the side that were narrowly beaten by Dagenham and Redbridge last week, with Dom Hutchinson, Max Kretzschmar and Deon Woodman returning to the starting line-up.
Mellon’s men were quick out of the traps, with Mike Fondop galvanising the first chance of the match in the third minute of play, but Archie Matthews was quick off of his line to thwart the danger-man.
Three minutes later, Wealdstone forged their own goal-scoring opportunity; however Kallum Cesay could only scuff his shot wide, from outside of the box.
As the early stages progressed, the game was evenly poised, with both sides looking to gain the upper hand in this tight encounter.
On the 27th minute mark, the visitors looked like they had seized the initiative through Charsley’s fierce strike from Oliver Hammond’s cutback, but the number seven’s effort whistled narrowly past the target.
The Stones responded positively, with Anthony Georgiou firing a speculative long-distance volley just wide of far post, in the 31st minute.
Wealdstone’s adventurous passage of play continued with Hutchinson agonisingly close to prodding home Kretzschmar’s teasing cross, on the 35th minute mark.
Following a goalless first-half, Taylor’s side returned from the interval with added impetus, pumping consecutive dangerous crosses into the box, which had to be impressively cleared by Dan Gardner.
In the 58th minute, Henry Sandat had a glorious chance to break the deadlock for the Stones from close range, but Charlie Raglan produced a vital last-minute block to deny the striker.
Four minutes later, it was the Latics’ turn to nearly gain the ascendancy, however substitute Josh Kay’s low shot was smartly claimed by Matthews.
As the match entered the latter stages, Oldham Athletic upped the ante, and they were tantalisingly close to taking the lead with 20 minutes remaining, when Manny Monthe flashed a superb ball across the face of the goal.
Despite a passage of pressure from the Latics, the Stones quickly broke on the counter attack in the 82nd minute, but Sandat’s shot was well-saved by Matthew Hudson.
With five minutes of regulation time left, the visitors’ late rally for a goal finally proved fruitful, as Fondop’s inviting cross was headed home by Charsley.
As the ninetieth minute struck, the Stones had the opportunity to dramatically salvage a draw, as Jack Cook’s whipped cross found the head of Enzio Boldwijn, but Hudson reacted with a solid point-blank save to preserve the score line.
Four minutes into stoppage time, Fondop was presented with the chance to double the Latics’ advantage and put the result beyond doubt, but the talisman sent his close-range header over the crossbar.
Wealdstone’s fortunes took a further dent in the 95th minute as substitute Christian Scott was shown a straight red card for denying Fondop a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
From the resultant free-kick, Matthews produced a fine save to prevent Tom Conlon’s powerful effort from finding the back of the net.
Wealdstone have the chance to bounce back almost immediately as they return to action on Tuesday evening, when they entertain Sutton United at Grosvenor Vale, in a 7.45pm kick-off.
Wealdstone (3-4-2-1): Matthews 6; Boldwijn 6; Woodman 7(Traore 99); Cook 7; Mariappa 7 Georgiou 7; Dyer 7 (Scott, 73, 4); Cesay 6 (Obiero 88); Hutchinson 6; Kretzschmar 7 (Clarke 66, 6); Sandat 7.
Subs not used: Adams, Dreher, Mason.
Attendance: 1,825
Report: Nicole Cho-Yee
Photos: Sean Troup