Wealdstone 1

Northwood 1

Wealdstone threw away two valuable points in their quest for promotion from the Ryman League's Second Division, when held at home by local rivals Northwood on Easter Monday.

Dennis Greene was guilty of the miss of the season early in the second half, firing over the bar from a few feet from a cross by Brian Jones.

Then, to rub salt into the Stones' wounds, their former striker Terry Hibbert fluked an 80th minute equaliser when his shot spun up off Roy Marshall's boot, hit the underside of the bar and found the net.

As early as the second minute, Northwood keeper Pelton was lucky to stay on the pitch following a bad tackle on Jones.

He should have been sent off ten minutes later when he wrestled Jones to the ground, giving Wealdstone a penalty. Pelton then threw the ball at the referee, who took no action.

Greene scored from the resultant spot kick to put the Stones ahead. After home keeper Noel Imber saved well from Sherry, Wealdstone should have doubled their advantage, but there was nobody on hand to push the ball home from a low cross by Jones.

A minute before the interval, Wealdstone were fortunate not to concede a penalty when Marshall tripped Halbert.

After Green's crucial miss, Wealdstone got worse, with the introduction of substitutes Simon Garner, Chris Walton and Keith Boreham, failing to improve matters.

Playmaker Walton, sidelined with a back injury since February, got the biggest cheer of the afternoon when he replaced Steve Bircham.

It seemed just a matter of time before Northwood got on terms, and Hibbert duly earned them a point.

It was the home side who finished chasing the game, and with Bedford beating Leighton Town, Wealdstone's chances of promotion are looking slim.

Paul Lamb and Dominic Sterling are still suspended and miss Saturday's visit to Tooting and Mitcham.

WEALDSTONE: Imber, Dobson, Peaks, Moore, Horner, Marshall, McKay, Jones (Boreham), Bircham (Walton), Greene (Garner), Benning.

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