REPORT: Wealdstone 1-0 Marine

Wealdstone booked their place in the final of the Isuzu FA Trophy in dramatic fashion, grabbing a superb last-minute winner to knock out a resolute Marine side 1-0 in the semi-final, at The Vale.

In front of a record-breaking crowd of 4,000 fans, Micah Obiero’s 94^th minute goal proved decisive, sending the Stones’ to Wembley for the first time since

1985.

Waddock made five changes from the side that lost 0-2 to Yeovil Town midweek, with Terrell Agyemang, Jack Cook, Micah Obiero, Michael Adu-Poku and Nathan Tshikuna in the starting line-up. New loan signing, Ashley Nathaniel-George, from York City was named to the bench.

With the stakes so high, the opening passages of play between the teams were very cagey.

However, the Stones nearly took the lead in the 15^th minute when Sean Adarkwa latched onto Tshikuna’s driven free-kick and fired an acrobatic effort that flew just past Jack McIntyre’s post.

The Mariners were next to nearly forge ahead in the 19^th minute when Matthew McDonald whipped the ball onto the head of Finlay Sinclair-Smith; but the attacker could only direct his header narrowly over the crossbar. 

Waddock’s men began to gain a strange-hold on the game and should have edged ahead in the 37^th minute when skipper Cook delivered an inviting cross to Adarkwa, though McIntyre produced a crucial block to deny the striker.

With four minutes of the first-half remaining, the visitors had their best chance of the half; danger-man Sinclair-Smith got in behind the Wealdstone defence, dragging his shot agonisingly wide of the far post.

The Stones were quick out of the traps for the second-half, coming close to breaking the deadlock as Tshikuna’s fierce strike had to be charged down, before McIntyre smartly saved Junior Tiensia’s rebound.

Marine nearly profited from a quick counterattack in the 52^nd minute as George Newell’s glancing header whistled just past the far post.

With 20 minutes to go, the Stones upped the ante and hit the woodwork as Tshikuna rattled the crossbar directly from a corner.

Despite Bobby Grant’s side being under the cosh, they could have seized the advantage in the 74^th minute through a swift breakaway, with McDonald firing a powerful strike from the edge of the area that drew a vital save from Baptiste.

As the match entered the final stages, young substitute Harrison Huby looked like being the hero for the Mariners as he broke free and drilled a shot towards the far corner, but Baptiste produced another excellent save.

At the death, as penalties loomed, top scorer Obiero produced a moment of magic, plucking Baptiste’s long goal kick from the air and half-volleying a sublime lob over McIntyre into the back of the net.

Wealdstone return to league action on Tuesday evening when they entertain Hartlepool United at The Vale in a 7:45pm kick-off.

Wealdstone: Baptiste; Cook, Woodman, McAvoy; Adu-Poku, Agyemang, Hinchy (Wells-Morrison 67), Tshikuna, Tiensia (Nathaniel-George 67); Adarkwa, Obiero.

Subs not used: Johnson, Georgiou, Barrett, Olomola, Spencer.

Attendance: 4,000

Report by Nicole Cho-Yee