REPORT: Wealdstone 3-2 Southend United

THE Stones scored a last-minute winner to beat Southend United 3-2, in a rematch of last season’s FA Trophy final.

Wealdstone twice equalised after going behind – through Fejiri Okenabirhie’s first-half penalty and a second-half header from sub Luke Norris – before sealing all three points with virtually the game’s last kick when Olufela Olomola arrived unmarked at the back post to stroke home.

Gary Waddock made four changes from the side that lost to Solihull Moors on Tuesday night, as Dante Baptiste reclaimed his place between the sticks instead of on-loan of Sam Long. Joe Newton came in to replace Ronan Maher, who came off early on Tuesday night after picking up an injury. Milton Oni made way for Dylan Kadji in midfield, while Okenabirhie came in for Norris.

The Stones had a similar horror start to the Solihull game in midweek, as they conceded an early goal from a free-kick. In just the fourth minute, a set-piece from the right-hand side was whipped into the box and deflected into Leon Parillon, who volleyed a fierce strike past the helpless Baptiste.

A few minutes later, the Stones had their first chance of the game. Olomola found Okenabirhie on the edge of the box, who took a touch inside and tried to find the near bottom corner, but Joe Duncan in the Southend goal was equal to it.

In the 21st minute, the Shrimpers had an excellent chance to double their lead. Promise Omochere was played in down the right wing and drove into the box before squaring it to Oli Coker. Aidan Francis-Clarke rushed back and made a crucial last-ditch slide tackle to block the shot.

Just a minute later, the Stones went up the other end and got an equaliser through a penalty. Joe Newton engineered a brilliant switch of play over to Kadji on the right wing. He drove into the Southend box before he cut inside and got taken out by the sliding challenge of Kyle McAdam. Okenabirhie stepped up to take the penalty and calmly slotted it into the bottom right corner, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

The visitors responded well to conceding the equaliser and piled the pressure on the Stones, with Omari Patrick at the heart of the action. On the 31-minute mark, he was involved in a slick team move where he played a couple of one-twos before finding himself free on the left-hand side of the box. He went for the far corner, but Baptiste made a great save to tip it round the post. From the subsequent corner, Patrick found himself open at the back post, but his volleyed effort cannoned off the post.

The Shrimpers eventually retook the lead, as Parillon scored his second of the game. McAdam was played in down the left wing, where he put a cross in which again deflected towards Parillon in the middle of the box, who floated a shot into the right corner of the goal.

It was a cagey end to the first half, as a couple of Shrimpers’ players picked up yellow cards for late challenges. The Stones had a half-chance two minutes into injury-time, but Jack Wells-Morrison saw his shot blocked.

HALF TIME- WEALDSTONE 1-2 SOUTHEND UNITED

Wealdstone enjoyed a strong start to the second half, making their intentions clear, and came close to scoring an equaliser just three minutes in. Aaron Henry picked the ball up on the edge of the box and floated a chip towards the back post. It hit bounced off the bar and started a goalmouth scramble, but the Shrimpers managed to clear it.

In the 56th minute, Waddock made a triple substitution which completely change the game. He brought on Norris, Oni and Tyrelle Newton – two of which contributed to the equaliser six minutes later. Oni played a pass out wide to Joe Newton, who floated it to the back post where Norris planted a header back across goal into the bottom corner.

The visitors almost took the lead again straight away, when the ball fell to Ryan Colclough in the box. His shot from close-range was the subject of a vital block by Dion Conroy. In the 68th minute, Conroy made another fantastic defensive intervention after Vontae Daley-Campbell put a dangerous centre across the six-yard box.

The momentum then shifted the Stones’ way, as they had a few half-chances to take the lead. In the 72nd minute, Joe Newton found himself with an isolated 1v1 on the left edge of the box. He created a yard of space and got a shot off towards the near post but the keeper made a comfortable save.

In the 75th minute, Francis-Clarke got on the end of a Jack Cook cross, but his acrobatic effort bounced wide. Just a minute later, Olomola brought it down from a long ball and had a shot from the edge of the box, but it flew over the bar.

The Shrimpers then went up the other end and had a huge chance to take the lead. Tyreece Simpson was played in behind down the left wing, before he took it round the onrushing Baptiste. He had a shot at goal but Conroy was there yet again to make a crucial goal-line block.

In the 82nd minute, Southend had another chance to take the lead. Colclough found himself down the right in acres of space before he put a low cross in, which Simpson couldn’t get on the end of.

After keeping the Shrimpers in their half and applying pressure, the Stones scored a dramatic late winner in the third of four added minutes. Norris did well to bring down a long ball before he flicked it forward to Tyrelle Newton. He drove forward into the box and sent a low centre skimming across the six-yard box. Missed by covering defenders, it reached Olomola who was waiting to tap it into an empty net at the back post. The Stones fans in The Vale erupted and the players ran over to celebrate.

The Stones stayed solid and saw out the win, which secured a vital three points and a statement win against the more fancied promotion hopefuls.

FULL TIME- WEALDSTONE 3-2 SOUTHEND UNITED

Wealdstone: Baptiste, Francis-Clarke, Conroy, Kanu (Cook 73), Chesters (McAvoy 65), J Newton, Wells-Morrison, Henry (T Newton 56), Kadji (Oni 56), Okenabirhie (Norris 56), Olomola.
Subs not used: Long (GK), Kauna.

Attendance: 2,503 (1,012).