Report – Marlow 0 – 1 Wealdstone

We won our first game of their 2018/19 pre-season last night with a David Pratt goal in a 1-0 win over Marlow at the Alfred Davis Memorial Ground.

A notable returnee to the Stones line-up was Luke Williams, who had spent the past six months out with injury and he played the full 90 minutes.

The hosts were the first side to have a real effort on goal, a free kick on the edge of the area that produced a good save from young trialist Sonny Wheeler in the Wealdstone goal.

Stones then struck the woodwork. Jeffrey Monakana swung in a free kick that was met by the head of Tom Gardiner, but he saw his effort come off the outside of the post.

Marlow then missed a great chance to open the scoring just a few minutes into the second half, a defence-splitting ball set their striker in on goal, his effort beat Wheeler but then drifted wide of the far post.

And the Stones punished them for that miss just minutes later. Pratt capitalised on a wayward pass from a Marlow defender and placed past the keeper.

The visitors had a good chance to double their lead a minute later when they were awarded a penalty. Bradley Bubb stepped up but his effort was tipped expertly wide by the keeper.

Bubb almost atoned for the penalty miss after he brought down a cross with an excellent first-touch but then he saw his effort hit the post and get cleared.

WEALDSTONE: Wheeler, Sheppard, Grant (Demuria 45), Gardiner, Wilson (Simbana 45), Abbey, Hatton (Clark 45), Williams, Pratt (Brown 70), Bubb, Monakana (Tyler 70).