REPORT: Aldershot Town 0-1 Wealdstone

Wealdstone produced an impressive performance in difficult conditions to defeat Aldershot Town by a single goal at the EBB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Stones created the first chance of the game when Olufela Olomola teed up Ronan Maher on the edge of the box.  Fresh off his spectacular goal in the Emirates FA Cup last weekend, he tried to recreate that moment as he cut inside onto his right foot before bending an effort just wide of the far post.

Aldershot threatened for the first time in the 10^th minute as a deep cross into the Wealdstone box picked out an unmarked Brody Pert, who was unable to generate enough power with his header which Sam Long gathered comfortably.

The home fans thought they had a penalty in the 20^th minute when Basil Tuma went down under pressure in the Wealdstone penalty area, but the referee booked the Aldershot winger for simulation.

Wealdstone quickly went back up the other end and nearly opened the scoring as Luke Norris nodded a Ronan Maher cross onto the post before The Shots scrambled to clear the danger.

The Stones continued to keep the pressure on and Luke Norris had two chances to score.  He stung the hands of the goalkeeper with a speculative effort from the edge of the area and should have scored a minute later, but couldn’t convert Olomola’s low cross as he hooked his shot wide of the goal with just the keeper to beat.

HALF-TIME: Aldershot Town 0-0 Wealdstone

The Stones scored the opening goal of the match just one minute into the second half. Jack Wells-Morrison whipped in a corner to the near post for Olomola to score with a simple header. The striker celebrated by running to the halfway line and hugging Gary Waddock.

Aldershot looked for a quick response and Sam Long was forced to punch the ball away for a corner in the 59^th minute after a dangerous cross from Basil Tuma. The resulting corner was delivered into the box and found the head of Brody Pert, who couldn’t keep his header on target.

The Stones defended well for the next 20 minutes as both sides struggled to create chances in the stormy conditions.

Ronan Maher nearly extended the Wealdstone lead in the 77^th minute, weaving left and then right to wrong-foot the defender before shooting into the side-netting

Olufela Olomola also had a chance to pick up his second goal of the night in the 88^th minute after driving into the box from the left wing, but his shot was straight at the goalkeeper.

Gary Waddock’s side stood firm against some late pressure without giving up any clear-cut chances. After they successfully defended a last-minute corner, the referee blew the final whistle to confirm that Wealdstone would leave with all three points.

FULL-TIME: Aldershot Town 0-1 Wealdstone

Wealdstone: Long, Wells-Morrison, Conroy, Norris (Okenabirhie 80’), Olomola, Chesters, Francis-Clarke, Henry (Kadji 60’), Oni (J. Newton 78’), Maher, Kanu (McAvoy 80’)

Unused Subs: Baptiste, Cook, Kaund

Attendance: 1801