MATCH REPORT: Wealdstone 2-1 Brackley Town

Wealdstone bounced back to winning ways with a vital 2-1 victory over ten-man Brackley Town at Grosvenor Vale.

Goals from Sean Adarkwa and Nathan Tshikuna led the Stones to their first league win since 17^th January, with Morgan Roberts’ strike proving only consolatory for the Saints. 

New interim manager Danny Payne made three changes to the side that was defeated by Sutton United at the weekend, with Adarkwa, Terrell Agyemang and skipper Enzio Boldewijn returning to the starting line-up.

The Stones started the match in promising fashion, with Micah Obiero dummying a cross for Adarkwa to fire on target in the third minute, but the striker’s shot was charged down by a Saints’ defender.

Wealdstone continued their bright start and Dylan Kadji seized possession, and then found Tshikuna, whose strike from just inside the box flew narrowly wide.

In the 9^th minute, the visitors nearly took the lead when Roberts’ deep cross for Ben Wodskou looped over Dante Baptiste and bounced off of the post.

Payne’s side nearly opened the scoring in the 17^th minute following a fluid passage of play which resulted in Obiero unleashing a powerful strike from the edge of the box, which whistled just over the crossbar.

A minute later, the Stones came close to assuming an advantage when Kadji slipped through Adarkwa, who slotted the ball agonisingly wide of the far post.

Moments later, the ball fell to Agyemang from Tshikuna’s set piece, but the midfielder could only fire his shot wide of the target.

The Saints were reduced to ten-men in the 23^rd minute when Danny Newton was shown a straight red card for a foul on Dom Hutchinson.

In the 31^st minute, the Stones profited from their numerical advantage and duly took the lead with Adarkwa pouncing in the box to clinically fire home past Johnny Maxted.

Bolstered by the goal, Wealdstone looked to double their lead, with Hutchinson flashing two dangerous deliveries across the face of the goal in quick succession, but Stones’ attackers were unable to capitalise.

As the match approached half-time, the Stones had another sight of goal, when Tshikuna and Obiero combined well inside the penalty area, with the latter’s shot deflected just wide of the target.

Two minutes into stoppage time, Obiero’s strike was parried into the path of Junior Tiensia, who fired his rebound marginally wide.

Wealdstone returned from the interval in the same attacking vein they finished the first-half, dominating proceedings as they probed for another goal.

On the 61^st minute mark, Payne made a double-substitution with the introduction of Fela Olomola and Shay Spence for Agyemang and Adarkwa, and this provided a catalyst for the Stones’ second goal.

Two minutes later, Hutchinson surged forward and crossed to Kadji, who flicked the ball to Tshikuna, and he despatched past Maxted to seal a two-goal cushion for the Stones.

Wealdstone looked to extend their advantage further and Obiero was nearly fruitful in the 75^th minute, twisting and turning on the edge of the box, with his shot deflected wide for a corner.

Against the run of play, the Saints reduced the deficit in the 79^th minute as Roberts’ driven strike from range beat Baptiste.

Despite conceding, the Stones responded immediately with Obiero surging down the middle and combining with Olomola, before rocketing an effort inches over the crossbar.

With two minutes of regulation time remaining, Wealdstone should have put the result beyond doubt when Olomola fired a teasing ball across the six-yard box, but the Stones were unable to convert.

Wealdstone held firm to seal victory and notch a crucial three points as they moved to 14^th position in the National League table, with two games in hand.

The Stones return to action on Saturday when they travel to the Aggborough Stadium to face Kidderminster Harriers in the Quarter-Final of the FA Trophy, in a 3pm kick-off.

Wealdstone: Baptiste, Boldewijn, Woodman, McAvoy, Hutchinson (Adu-Poku 84), Kadji, Agyemang (Spencer 61), Tiensia, Obiero, Adarkwa (Olomola 61), Tshikuna.

Subs not used: Johnson, Georgiou, Hassan, Dixon-Bonner.

Attendance: 1,092