MATCH PREVIEW: Wealdstone vs Brackley Town
- Aryan Jolly
- 58 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The Stones are back at the Vale tonight as they face Andy Whing’s Brackley Town following an eventful weekend, both on and off the pitch.
The Basics
Date: Tuesday, February 24
Venue: Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip, HA4 6JQ
Competition: The Enterprise National League
Kick Off Time: 7:45 pm
Broadcast Information: The game will be available to watch live via DAZN
News From The Vale
Following Saturday’s three-nil defeat against Sutton United, the Wealdstone FC Board of Directors decided to relieve Sam Cox of his duties as first team manager, with First Team Analyst Liam Badcock also leaving the club. Everyone at Wealdstone Football Club wishes both Sam and Liam the best for the future and thanks them for their commitment and endeavour this season.
First Team Coach Danny Payne will lead the team on Tuesday night, supported by the rest of the coaching staff, so here is some information about ‘Payney.’
He started his non-playing career with Stevenage, where he spent two years working as a scout and coach in the academy.
Payne left Stevenage in the summer of 2015, moving to Watford as an academy scout and spending three years at Vicarage Road. He then held recruitment-focused positions at Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion.
What is perhaps Payne’s biggest footballing venture is with the Pro Direct Academy. He has spent over eight years with the academy, which specialises in providing a footballing and education-based pathway for players aged 16-19 and has produced the likes of Jaden Philogene and Taylor Allen, rising from being the Head of UK Recruitment to being the Managing Director of the company.
He joined Wealdstone in the summer as a First Team Coach, and Tuesday night will be the first time that he has led a senior team from the dugout since he lead Biggleswade Town to the Southern League Division One title in the 2023/24 season.
Good luck, Danny!
The Opposition
Recent form: LDDWL
League Position: 16th
Our visitors on Tuesday night sit just one place above us in the league table by virtue of an ever so slightly superior goal difference.
After years of toiling away at the top end of the National League North, the Saints finally won promotion last season under the guidance of Gavin Cowan.
Cowan was in the midst of establishing his side as a solid fifth-tier team before he was appointed as manager of Shrewsbury Town in January. His replacement, Andy Whing, has a good knowledge of the fifth tier due to his previous experience managing Solihull Moors, who he guided to the playoffs in the 2023/24 season.
The reverse fixture: The Stones secured an impressive two-nil victory in the reverse fixture between the two sides at the start of October.
Nathan Tshikuna almost fired his team into an early lead, as his snap-shot in the second minute forced Brackley goalkeeper Jonny Maxted into a sharp save.
The opening goal came 20 minutes later. Anthony Georgiou showed excellent strength to hold off his man as he ran down the left flank and put a ball into the box. It eventually fell into the path of Enzio Boldewijn, who smashed home to give the Stones the lead!
Following this goal, the Stones generally maintained the ascendancy, but could not work another clear-cut opportunity before half-time.
However, the travelling fans did not have to wait until long after the break for Wealdstone to double their lead. Dylan Kadji drove through the heart of the Brackley midfield and found Micah Obiero, who cut inside and fired a powerful strike into the net off the post!
The Stones managed the game from this point onwards, and Brackley’s only major chance of the game came in the 91st minute. Danny Waldron was slipped through on goal, but Dante Baptiste rushed out and made himself big to deny the attacker and maintain the Stones’ clean sheet.
The danger man - Shane Byrne: Shayne Byrne provides leadership and control at the heart of the Brackley midfield, and he is also the Saints’ top scorer in the league this season.
Byrne came through the Leicester City academy and had a fleeting career in the EFL before establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in the National League South.
He is currently in his second spell with Brackley, and has made the best part of 300 appearances for the club across both stints.
Byrne stepped up for the Saints recently, scoring a crucial 93rd-minute penalty to secure a point for his side against FC Halifax Town.
Buy Your Tickets Now!
Following a turbulent couple of days, the players need their 12th man to help them get back to winning ways in the league, so make sure to purchase your tickets via the link below!
