Preview - Chelmsford City (A) - Saturday 12th October
Wealdstone return to National League South action this Saturday as the leaders travel to Essex and face Chelmsford City at the Melbourne Community Stadium.
The Stones have been successful in FA Cup action, qualifying for the fourth qualifying round of the competition this week and will now continue to build on their five-point lead at the top of the division.
Stones Manager Dean Brennan: “We have to keep raising the bar to drive the team forward”. Brennan has won 10 of his opening 12 league games and is undefeated away from home since August 6th.
Essex-based Chelmsford City have had an uncharacteristically average start to the 2019/20 campaign, maintaining a mid-table position after the opening two months of the season.
Brennan on not underestimating the Clarets: “They will kick-start their season soon because Rod [Stringer] is proven at this level and has done the business over the last few years.”
Rod Stringer’s Clarets are undefeated on home turf so far this season; they have not lost at the Melbourne Community Stadium since Wealdstone's 3-0 hiding in the final week of last season.
“It’s a really difficult place to go, the way Rod [Stringer]’s teams play make it very difficult”, explained Brennan.
Brennan continued, “I believe they’ve scored eight goals from restarts in their last four games, so you can’t go there and have an off-day.”
Chelmsford’s wealth of experience is evident in new centre-half Dave Winfield, who arrived from Ebbsfleet United last week and will likely make his league debut this weekend.
The 31-year-old and midfielder Billy Knott both impressed for Rod Stringer’s side in the Clarets’ convincing 4-1 win against Stanway Rovers in the Essex Senior Cup on Tuesday evening.
“If you look at their squad, they haven’t got kids playing, it’s an experienced squad”, said Brennan.
The Clarets recovered well from their FA Cup shock away at Corinthian-Casuals with a dominant 4-0 display at Eastbourne Borough in their last league game two weeks ago.
Wealdstone will look to bounce back from the previous league defeat to Havant & Waterlooville by maintaining their dominant lead at the top of the table.
Brennan on bouncing back in the league: “We look for perfection in our performance, it’s what we strive for.”
The Stones are light in squad depth going into this fixture, with defenders Ryan Sellers and George McLennan out as well as midfielders Connor Smith (suspended), Jacob Mendy (family reasons), Jake Sheppard and Kavan Cotter.
Striker Dejon Noel-Williams has returned from his successful loan with Hayes & Yeading United and will be available for selection this weekend.
An on-the-whistle report will be available on the official Wealdstone FC website at full-time on Saturday; you can follow the minute-by-minute action on the official Stones Twitter feed from 3pm.
Preview by Dec O'Reilly
Full quotes from Dean Brennan HERE