RYMAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
Wealdstone  1
Met Police    0

WEALDSTONE put the disappointment of missing out on Wembley behind them to earn three precious points in their battle for the playoffs against Met Police last night.

Just 48 hours on from the heart break of their FA Trophy semi-final exit to Newport Gordon Bartlett’s showed the character and grit to suggest they are not ready to sign off for the season and have refocused efforts on reaching the end of season knockout lottery.

And while Richard Jolly’s 39th of the season clinched victory it was some of those who stepped out of the shadows who took the eye.

Tom Pett, cup-tied for the Trophy run was a worthy man of the match, full of hunger, pace and tenacity, while young Watford loanee Tommie Hoban, in for injured skipper Wes Parker, had his best game yet in a Stones shirt, proving a real rock at the heart of the hosts’ rear-guard.

Understandably perhaps Stones started slowly with Steve Sutherland and Sam Hurrell going close for the visitors in the early minutes with a header and shot respectively.

Wealdstone’s first threat came on 17 minutes when David Hicks shot straight at the keeper following sharp interplay between James Hammond and Kurtney Brooks.

However, Police were still on top and were close to the opening goal on 21 minutes when Sutherland’s header was met by the fists of North before Brooks hooked the ball to safety.

The impressive Brooks was soon involved at the other end as his fabulous pass picked out Pett, who looked destined for his first league goal when he stepped insidehis marker and slid his shot beyond keeper Jamie Butler,only for Jay Lovett to slide in and clear the danger.

With Hoban easing pressure at the other end with some towering headers, the hosts were almost ahead against the run of play when Pett’s industry won the ball on the edge of the visitors box and when the ball broke to Scott Fitzgerald his shot forced Butler into a diving stop.

Jack McLeod’s shot forced a save from North as Stones started slowly after the interval before taking the lead with their first attack.

The credit must go to Brooks who regained possession in a dangerous area and played the ball over the top for Jolly who beat the offside and fired his shot beyond Butler and inside the far post.
It was almost two three minutes later as Massey played a one-two with Pett and charged into the box, but Butler dived bravely at his feet to block.

Hicks limped off with what looked like a hamstring problem on 63 to be replaced by Connor Smith, but stones’ fluency was not disturbed and Tom Pett burst into the box with 20 minutes left only to stumble in the act of shooting and allow Butler to save comfortably.

Hoban too went with a header from substitute Alex Dyer’s corner, but Jolly's goal proved enough for Stones who move back into the top 10 still with games in hand on all playoff rivals.