Report: Wealdstone 3 Scunthorpe 1

Wealdstone made it three wins from four games with a dominant display against struggling Scunthorpe.

After going behind to a fine finish from Caolan Lavery, the Stones instantly replied through a Max Kretzschmar penalty to level the scores. Just minutes before the break Scunthorpe striker Joe Nuttall earned himself an early bath after leaving his studs up on Stones keeper Sam Howes.

The man advantage saw Stuart Maynard’s side take control of the game and set the tone for the rest of the match. After constant pressure on the Scunthorpe goal, Wealdstone finally took the lead on the 64th minute when Micah Obiero smashed the ball into the top-corner to score his second goal for the club since joining in October.

Minutes later the Stones doubled their advantage when Olufela Olomola scored once again to put the game to bed. It ended up being a route win for the boys in blue, their first at home since August.

In usual Wealdstone fashion, the Stones displayed some clinical counter-attacking football early on. Just ten minutes in, Obiero found himself in acres of space down the right-hand side and picked out the head of Kretzschmar, on first start on return from injury, who headed his effort just wide of Marcus Dewhurst’s goal.

Ten minutes later, against the run of play, Scunthorpe found themselves ahead after an accurate through-ball from Tom Pugh found the run of Lavery and with all the time in the world, placed his effort to the left of Howes and into the net to give his side the lead.

The lead didn’t last long and the Stones quickly rallied themselves and continued to attack the Scunthorpe penalty area. A fizzed ball into the centre of the box fell straight into the path of Kretzschmar, who’s first touch took the ball away from George Taft, but the Scunthorpe centre-half scythed down Kretzschmar to earn the Stones their third penalty of the season.

Having won the spot-kick, the Stones midfielder stepped up to the mark and coolly slotted the penalty down the centre of the goal to score his 2nd goal of the season and level the game for the Stones.

Just one minute before the break, Wealdstone gained themselves a man advantage when Scunthorpe Danger-man Joe Nuttall, on his return from suspension, earned himself a red card and another suspension for leaving his studs up on Stones keeper Howes. After a discussion with the linesman, referee Paul Marsden was given no choice but to send off the Scunthorpe striker which saw the Stones go into the break level but with a player advantage.

Utilising their man advantage, the Stones almost found themselves ahead just five minutes into the second half when another lofted ball into the box from Obiero found Lewis Kinsella on the edge of the box, who looked to gain another goal contribution after last week’s assist against York, but smashed his effort just wide of the Scunthorpe goal.

Sustained pressure from Stuart Maynard’s side saw them forging chances and taking the game to Scunthorpe. Olufela Olomola picked up the ball on the edge of the box, found a yard of space and struck a shot that deflected whiskers wide and out from a corner. From the resulting corner, the ball fell to the lively Wealdstone forward Micah Obiero, who chested the ball and smashed it into the top-left corner to give the Stones a deserved lead.

Just five minutes later on the 69th minute, the Stones found themselves two goals ahead, giving Scunthorpe a long road back to recovery. Some more excellent football saw Kretzschmar dink a ball into the box from the by-line straight onto the head of Olomola, who couldn’t miss from five-yards out.

Maynard’s side took control of the game for the final 20 minutes to see out another important victory for the Stones that sees them rise up the table into tenth place, just four points away from rivals Barnet, who they face next Saturday at 12.30pm

Wealdstone: Howes, Cook, Barker, Freckleton, Kinsella, Obiero (Akinola 65), Dyer (McGregor 65), Charles, Kretzschmar (Ferguson 75) Allarakhia, Olomola. Subs not used: Barrett and Mundle-Smith.