Yeading 2

Wealdstone 1 (Feb 2)

A POOR performance against nine men, but still three points saw a change in Yeading's fortunes at the weekend, and despite a lacklustre team performance there were encouraging debuts for Simon Chang, Leyton Brooks and Ryan McIntosh.

The Warren is fast becoming an unlucky place for goalkeepers. After injuries to Yeading's first and second choice keepers, visiting keeper Andy Carter suffered the curse ordered off harshly for a professional foul after only four minutes of the match.

Carter had upended Jesse Hall on a mazy run round him, and Matt Miller fired home the resulting spot-kick past young midfielder Matt Perry, who took over in the Stones net.

Wealdstone however, had good possession for the opening half and the best chances, both falling to former Ding man Fergus Moore. The first headed over when unmarked, the second forcing a fine full-length save from debutant Ding keeper Simon Chang.

On the stroke of half-time Errol Telemaque's shot ended up in the back of the net after a deflection off of the shoulder of Stones' defender John Deadman.

Managed by Gordon Bartlett who led the Ding to Vase victory in 1990, Stones kept their determination up in the second half, even when their cause was made harder on the hour mark when defender Kevin Ramsey was sent-off for a second bookable offence.

Despite the two-man advantage, Yeading struggled, giving the ball away too easily. Meanwhile, up front both Miller and Telemaque wasted chances with team-mates better placed.

The best chance of the half again fell to the Stones when Mick Swaysland's shot rebounded off the bar, but Bryan Hammet scuffed his follow-up shot off the outside of the post.

Wealdstone did get a goal back through Danny Tilbury who deflected home Fergus Moore's hooked shot, but it was too late and the Ding held on to all three points to stay seventh in the table.

Yeading manager Johnson Hippolyte and new coach Erskine Smart were far from happy with the three points and kept the players behind after the game questioning the lacklustre performance that Hippolyte admitted deserved Wealdstone a draw.

Smart will join manager Hippolyte to take on the role of first team player coach at the club. Smart has played for St Albans, Kingstonian and Hendon.

Yeading: Chang, Hawksworth, Vargas, Lee, Behzadi, Griffiths, Brooks, Hall, Telemaque, Miller, Gorman. Subs all used: Hippolyte, McIntosh, Edwards.