Stefan Bailey admitted he was surprised to find his name on Wealdstone’s team-sheet prior to Monday night’s 3-0 derby win over arch-rivals Harrow.
The ex-QPR midfielder had become something of a forgotten man at the Vale, having recently been out on dual registration at Dunstable after finding it increasingly hard to earn a spot in the Stones’ engine room.
However, with Glen Little being nursed through the fixture congestion, several others on the treatment table and having impressed in last week’s County Cup win Bailey was stunned but happy to accept the summons for duty.
He is now keen to repay the manager’s faith. Bailey said: “I didn’t see me being thrown into the derby as I’ve struggled with a bit of injury over the last few weeks and I’m only slowly coming back. I’ve played enough games to be able to come in and do a job, but I was not expecting to get the call. It’s good the boss has got faith in me.”
Michael Malcolm, Elliott Godfrey and Luke Pigden were the men on target for Stones as they bounced back from Saturday’s rather jaded 1-1 draw with Hendon, where Jonny Wrighe grabbed a late equaliser.
It might have been different against Harrow had Sean Cronin not cleared an early Harold Odametey effort off the line, but while Bailey admitted it was a key moment he was not offering to buy his skipper a beer for ‘doing what defenders do’.
He added: “Sean’s clearance early on was crucial but that is his job, same as people who are there to score have scored. He is there to defend and he has done that very well.”
