REPORT | WEALDSTONE 1-3 MK DONS
Wealdstone are defeated 3-1 by League Two side MK Dons in their pre-season fixture on a sunny day at Grosvenor Vale .
Two goals early on, through Stephen Wearne and Joe Tomlinson, had the visitors in a clear advantage and cruising at the Vale by the 16th minute.
As the game grew on, the Stones grew into the game, managing to pull a goal back through Enzio Boldewijn in the 68th minute.
But the Dons would regain their two goal lead when a fine effort from Matt Dennis flew into the top corner late in the game.
With pre-season nearing it's finale, the changes to the squad were fewer for Matt Taylor this week. Only three changes to the starting XI, with Todd Miller, Elliott Simmons and Micah Obiero coming into the side.
The visitors looked the much stronger side during the opening period, and were rewarded for their pressure on the Wealdstone goal in the 13th minute when a quite stunning team move saw the ball fall to Wearne, who fainted inside and finished into the top corner.
The Dons then doubled their lead just two minutes later when Tomlinson smashed the ball past Matthews at the back-post.
The Stones biggest chance of the half fell to Sean Adarkwa, who was played through in 22nd minute, but a last-ditch challenge denied him what was likely a goal.
Having recently signed on a permanent deal, just two days before, Anthony Georgiou tested McGill in the Dons goal in the 40th minute, with a driven effort from the edge of the box, which was held by the keeper.
Had it not been for the upright, MK Dons would have had a third goal, when a direct free-kick smacked off the post just after half-time.
With changes aplenty for both sides, the momentum began to swing into the hands of the Stones, and they managed to halve the deficit in the 68th minute, when Boldewijn was played through on goal, and smashed the ball into the back of the net.
Despite their best efforts, the Stones would see themselves two goals behind once again when Dennis hit an unstoppable effort into the top corner from range to put the game out of reach and seal the win for the visitors.
Taylor's side face Kings Langley (A) next on Tuesday night in their penultimate pre-season fixture before the start of the season on 10th August.
WEALDSTONE XI: Matthews (GK), Barrett, Cook (Woodman 72'), Mariappa, Boldewijn, Georgiou (Cesay 72'), Eastmond (Hutchinson 58'), Simmons (Dyer 45'), Miller (Dreher 72'), Obiero (Trialist A 45'), Adarkwa (Ashford 45').
Attendance: 434