We've made no secret of the deep-rooted bonhomie that exists between us and Wealdstone but, despite enjoying Saturday (before, during, and after the game), and as discussed with Craig and others on Monday, there was no doubt that we would love it - Keegan-style - if able to beat them in the replay …
Even though Rotherham United at York Road wouldn't be the most enticing reward (shows how far we've come etc., etc. that a home draw vs a League One side is now viewed with such relative indifference)
A 'Waze special' - via Langley, Iver Heath and Uxbridge - got us to Ruislip in time for a quick drink (Black Iris' Bajan Breakfast; not bad) with home fans (some we'd seen on Saturday, some we hadn't) in the Hop & Vine (which would make a killing in Maidenhead)
Lots of head scratching re the Magpies line-up (three right-backs starting, with Seth Twumasi at left-back; Rene Steer and Freddie Grant among the subs), but we were on the front foot from the off and took a deserved lead when Josh 'he's one of our own' Kelly - clearly onside - finished with a shot across the keeper
Didn't have a good view of the Wealdstone sending off - *if* it was a foul then it initially looked like a penalty and a yellow card to me, rather than a free kick and a red - but, either way, I don't think that the decision was crucial to the result; we were comfortably better than them, on the night, even when 11v11
Stones' vocal support was underwhelming throughout, TBH, but they did find their voices - baying for the referee to level the numbers - when, after their on-loan keeper had made another excellent point-blank save (he'd made a similar one, in the first half, on Saturday), there was a melee in their six-yard box; again, we didn't have a good view of things, but a yellow card (for Ryan Upward) seemed about right
Talk at half-time concerned accusations made by Barnet stewards - notoriously crap - against two Maidenhead regulars; sounds a bit like Ebbsfleet 2010 all over again ("We don't want to ban you, but … ")
Only one up at the break was a disappointment, such was our control of proceedings, but Kelly effectively settled the tie with another decent strike after 56 mins; we were directly in line and knew it was in as soon as the ball left his foot
Not allowed out at the final whistle (a rarity), presumably because there's only one entrance to the ground; I appreciate that a larger away following would be granted an expanded segregated section, but goodness knows what the likes of Wrexham will make of the Vale if the Stones are able to emulate our 2016/17 title success ("National South champions, you'll never sing that!")
Ellul, Joe - belatedly substituted after being knocked over, and possibly out, by a ball-to-the-face - thankfully seemed OK in the bar post-match; we also chatted to other Wealdstone fans, whom we'd missed on Saturday (e.g. Mark 'The Fall fan'), and wished them all the best for the rest of the season
(Match highlights)
(Match highlights)
It'll be a very sad day indeed if/ when the Bell End is taken away. https://t.co/FavCMQoeOP— ɢᴏ ᴍᴀᴅ ᴏʀ sᴛᴏᴘ ᴄᴀʀɪɴɢ (@gomadstopcaring) October 23, 2019
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