MATCH REPORT: Boston United 1-3 Wealdstone

Wealdstone came from behind to secure a massive 3-1 victory on the road against Boston United, their second league win of the season.

Gary Waddock made six changes to his side that thrashed Stoke City U21s 6-0 in The National League Cup in midweek, as Dante Baptiste, Jack Wells-Morrison, Jayden Harris, Aidan Francis-Clarke, Kyle Smith and Connor McAvoy returned to the starting line-up.

The Stones were quick out of the blocks, testing the Pilgrims’ back-line in the opening three minutes as Fela Olomola pounced on an error by Jake Rooney, unleashing a powerful volley that sailed over Louis Chadwick’s crossbar.

The hosts opened the scoring on the 10-minute mark when Gavan Holohan delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, finding Boston’s captain Jamie Grimes, who rose highest to beat Baptiste and head home to break the deadlock.

Boston were eager to double their advantage in the 19^th minute as Ken Aboh raced forward on the counter before teeing up Lennon Wheeldon, whose effort was parried away by Baptiste. Aboh reacted quickest to the rebound and fired home, only to see the flag raised for offside.

Five minutes later, the Stones posed a threat at the other end of the pitch as Baptiste picked out Smith on the right, whose cross found Newton, but his diving header trickled off target.

With the Stones piling on the pressure, their persistence was finally rewarded in the 27^th minute as Mundle-Smith’s looping delivery dipped to Smith at the back post, who picked out Dylan Kadji to steer home and bring the scores level.

Looking to regain control of the contest, Aboh burst beyond the Wealdstone back-line before cutting the ball across to Lenell John-Lewis, but Francis-Clarke put his body on the line to keep the Pilgrims at bay.

Just before the interval, Boston threatened once more as Aboh looped a header that drifted towards the top-right corner, but Baptiste produced an acrobatic fingertip save to keep the score level heading into the break.

HALF TIME: Boston United 1-1 Wealdstone

Chaos unfolded immediately after the restart as Oliver Bostock burst into the box and saw his cross strike Smith’s hand, prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot. John-Lewis stepped up to take the penalty, but Baptiste heroically denied Boston the advantage.

Just minutes after the hour mark, Harris dispossessed Boston’s backline and squared a low cross to Olomola, who slotted the ball past Chadwick to give the Stones a well-deserved lead.

Wealdstone turned the game on its head just two minutes later as Wells-Morrison laid the ball off to Mundle-Smith, who struck an effort that deflected into the top right-hand corner to notch a third goal of the afternoon for the Stones.

Five minutes later, the Pilgrims cranked up the pressure as John-Lewis produced a towering header on the right edge of the box that ricocheted off Baptiste’s right-hand post.

After a drama-filled start to the second half, the tempo slowed for both sides in the latter stages of the tussle with no clear-cut opportunities until the 90-minute mark.

With six minutes added on, Boston substitute Tom Cursons skipped down the right flank with intent, but Francis-Clarke produced a crunching challenge to halt Boston’s attack and clear the danger.

With time running out, ex-Stones midfielder Terrell Agyemang produced a thunderous strike that rattled Baptiste’s crossbar. This was the last chance for the Pilgrims to get back into the match but the Stones held firm to pick up their second league win of the season.

FULL TIME: Boston United 1-3 Wealdstone

Wealdstone return to home soil on Tuesday evening to host FC Halifax Town in a 7:45pm kick-off. Get your tickets HERE!

Wealdstone: Baptiste, Newton (Cook 46), Wells-Morrison, Kadji (Chesters 72), Olomola (Waneru 72), Harris, Francis-Clarke, Henry, Smith, McAvoy, Mundle-Smith
Subs not used: Johnson, Newton, Kaunda.

Att: 1,612 (86* Stones’ fans)
* Due to a kitchen fire in BUFC’s new South Stand forcing visiting supporters to be relocated, this number wouldn’t account for any late-arriving Stones’ fans intending to pay at the turnstiles)