Vanarama National League
Monday 30th August 2021
Bank Holiday Monday saw the biggest attendance at Grosvenor Vale in over five years but, unlike the previous 2,000+ crowd which witnessed eight goals in an FA Cup First Round tie against Colchester United in November 2015, this was a rather sterile 0-0 draw.
Southend United are fancied to be amongst the front-runners in the Vanarama National League this season and in Phil Brown they've got a vastly experienced manager with a proven CV. However, by the final whistle he was left holding his head in his hands at a performance which can best be described as 'lukewarm' and concerning as to what may lie ahead.
The Shrimpers did actually start brightly enough and in the early stages it seemed like it would only be a matter of time until they made a breakthrough. Attacking towards their own supporters, they had Wealdstone penned back and twice hit the upright through Rhys Murphy's spectacular acrobatic attempt and Harry Phillips' well-struck shot from distance which brought about a magnificent fingertip denial from home custodian George Wickens.
Wealdstone, one of few part-time clubs in the National League nowadays, eventually got their act together and were screaming for punishment in the minutes leading up to half-time when visiting 'keeper Steve Arnold brought down Josh Umerah on the edge of the box. The decision by the rather young-looking referee was just a yellow card - much to the frustration of those on a flabbergasted home bench and Charlie Cooper's resulting free-kick went over the target. A second free-kick also lacked accuracy - this time as it was driven straight into the wall, before Arnold was finally called into action from a third set-piece when he tipped away Ashley Charles' effort.
The second half saw a goal apiece disallowed at both ends - first for Southend and then Wealdstone though both times the whistle went long before the ball actually hit the net. It was the hosts who, surprisingly, looked the more likely to snatch the points and despite having to rely on some resilient defending on a few occasions, they succeeded in frustrating the hell out of their perceived 'better' opponents.
Clear-cut opportunities were at a premium as a series of long-throws into the box were either cleared by the visiting defence or lacked the good fortune to be flicked on and fall for anyone wearing a home shirt. Despite the disallowed goal in the 88th minute, it actually took until deep into three subsequent minutes of stoppage-time for Arnold to be tested again and he held firm following an effort by Craig Fasanmade.
Phil Brown cut a frustrated figure throughout the second half on the edge of his technical area and by the final whistle he was disconsolate - knowing full well that this display was a million miles away from what you'd expect a genuine promotion contender to produce. Wealdstone should be easily brushed aside by the top teams in the National League and it's to their credit that they weren't and that they dug in and achieved their first point of the season.
On a personal level, this was my first visit to Grosvenor Vale and it's a ground which has an eclectic mix of quirky stands and I really enjoyed it. The idea behind the club megastore (which consisted of two mini-tents on a grass corner) probably won't be getting nicked by developers at bigger London clubs anytime soon but it's those tiny things which make the ground so brilliant.
It's almost impossible for Wealdstone to be mentioned nowadays without a fleeting thought in regards to their most famous supporter and although I didn't see him with my own eyes, he was apparently at the game and posing for photographs.
Maybe Mr Brown should have got hold of him to deal with his players?
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