Two goals within the space of two second half minutes ensured that Uxbridge’s dismal record against Wealdstone continued at Honeycroft. Since the Stones were promoted to Division One in 1998/99 Uxbridge haven’t beaten them in a league fixture and that run has now stretched to six matches. The games have also usually been ill tempered affairs and this was no exception with six players ending up in the referee’s book, five of them from Uxbridge. In an open first half chances were plentiful but neither side were able to make them count. Mark Gill had a header saved by Wealdstone goalkeeper Darren Watts in the eighth minute before Watts was called into action again shortly afterwards, this time palming away a Gavin Bamford shot. Meanwhile, at the other end, both Wayne Carter and Mick Swaysland shot wide when well positioned. Midway through the half Gill was denied again by Watts with another header whilst Reds goalkeeper Daryl Pelton had to be alert to save a fierce Danny Tilbury effort. Uxbridge came closest to breaking the deadlock in the thirty fourth minute when they broke quickly from defence. Phil Granville sent Lee Tunnell away on the right and his twenty-yard shot clipped the crossbar. Nine minutes later Watts almost gave an early Christmas gift to Uxbridge when his miss hit clearance landed at the feet of Gill but the Reds captain’s attempted lob wasn’t high enough and the Stones ‘keeper gratefully gathered the ball. The even pattern of the game continued into the second half. Kevin Cleary’s header was tipped over the crossbar by Watts before Brain Jones went close on two occasions for Wealdstone. However just as the visitors appeared to be getting on top Uxbridge hit back just after the hour, firstly when Gill hit a shot into the side netting and then when the same player got on the end of a deep cross from Chris Moore but headed over from six yards. From then on it was always going to be about who scored the vital first goal and in the sixty sixth minute Wealdstone made the important breakthrough, taking full advantage of some indecision in the Reds defence which allowed Mick Swaysland to drive his side into the lead. Pelton worked wonders to keep out a Holmes shot almost immediately afterwards but two minutes later he was helpless as Holmes rose to head a second from a corner to put the game out of Uxbridge’s reach. It was a cruel blow for the Reds as up until the time of the first goal they had looked on course to continue their recent improvement with another decent result. Tunnell did have a shot headed off the line ten minutes from time, and Gill and substitute Jamie Carter got in each others way going for the rebound, as the Reds fought for an opening to get back into the match but the Wealdstone rearguard held firm in the closing stages to ensure they leapfrogged out of the bottom six and in doing so sent Uxbridge back into it.

UXBRIDGE: Pelton, Mills (B.Bamford 72), S.Bamford, K.Cleary, Granville, G.Bamford, Walters, Gill, Tunnell, Moore (Carter 72), Clark.

Sub not used: Roberts.

WEALDSTONE: Watts, Joyce, Domi (James 78), Tucker, Reeve, Boyce (Morgan 63), Carter, Jones, Swaysland, Holmes, Tilbury.

Sub not used: Norman