REPORT | MORECAMBE 4-3 WEALDSTONE

Wealdstone suffer defeat in a thriller at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium on a rainy day in the North-East of England.

Jack Nolan put Morecambe ahead early on with an exceptional curling effort. Elijah Dixon-Bonner finished off an excellent team move before Admiral Muskwe put Ashvir Singh Johal’s side three ahead just before the break.

Max Kretzschmar was on hand to pull one back just seconds before half-time to mount the start of the Stones comeback. Micah Obiero was in the right place at the right time as Jack Cook’s rocket deflected in off him.

An inch-perfect strike from Alfie Massey in the 81st minute arrows into the bottom corner to level the game and bring the Stones level from three goals down.

Despite the comeback from Wealdstone, the hosts were able to retake the lead late on when Emerson Sutton was in the right place to finish into the back of the net and give his side the win on the day.

Sam Cox made four changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Gateshead in last week’s Enterprise National League fixture.

Jack Cook returned to captain the side with Omar Mussa and Max Kretzschmar both returning to the XI as well. Sak Hassan made the side, making his first League start for the Stones.

With the rain pouring down in the north-west, the match started in a scrappy nature with both teams looking to take control.

Having slipped over in a similar position moments before, the hosts found Nolan down the right flank, five minutes in, on his favoured left foot. Taking the effort first time, the new signing curled his strike expertly into the top corner to give Morecambe an early lead.

Wealdstone looked to reply quickly. An Enzio Boldewijn header looped narrowly over and out for a corner giving the Stones another chance to strike. From the resulting set-piece, Phillip Chinedu struck a bicycle-kick into the thankful hands of Archie Mair.

The best chance of the half for Cox’s side came in the 19th minute. Deon Woodman peeled off at the back post from a set-piece where the ball fell kindly to him, but the towering centre-half couldn’t connect sweetly and fired wide of Morecambe’s goal with Mair wrong-footed.

The hosts held strong as the Stones pushed for an equaliser, limiting them to half-chances. Once again from a set-piece, Sean Adarkwa struck wide of Mair’s goal with an acrobatic effort.

Having been patient through the game, the hosts looked dangerous when they did look to go for goal. An exceptional team move picked the Stones apart, in the 34th minute, with the final pass finding Dixon-Bonner, who rolled his effort into the corner to double their advantage.

Now two goals ahead, Morecambe smelt blood. Once again, a scything team move found Muskwe unmarked in the area, who finished calmly to put his side into dreamland.

Just seconds to go until the break, a lifeline fell the way of Cox’s side. A poor clearance found Kretzschmar outside the area, who dinked an effort perfectly in to the back of the net past Mair in no man’s land.

The second half took time to get going. The first ‘chance’ of the half fell the way of the Shrimps, a cross from Nolan travelling all the way through and bouncing kindly off the post and out of play.

But as the half grew on, Morecambe continued to pressure the Stones defence. Around the 65th minute, big chances fell the way of the hosts. Ben Tollit forced a huge save out Dante Baptiste in the Stones goal.

Looking to make an instant impact, Obiero struck a fierce effort narrowly over Mair’s goal in the 67 minute.

Making a lively impact after coming on, Obiero found himself in the right place as Cook’s long range effort deflected off the forward to pull the Stones another goal back.

81 minutes in, Wealdstone’s efforts would pay off when Massey picked up the ball on the edge of the area and arrowed one into the corner to bring his side level from three goals down.

Despite the Stones comeback, Morecambe weren’t happy to settle for a draw. A late push saw the ball squared into the path of substitute Sutton, who connected sweetly to put his side ahead once more and give the Shrimps the three points at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium.

Next up for the Stones, a quick return to action when they travel to face Tamworth on Wednesday evening.

WEALDSTONE XI: Baptiste, Cook (Tiensia 76’), Mussa (Georgiou 46’), Woodman, Boldewijn, Kretzschmar (Hutchinson 61’), Hassan, Chinedu, Tshikuna, Massey, Adarkwa (Obiero 61’).