Bury Town 0-0 Wealdstone

After a fairly straightforward win for Wealdstone on Easter Monday, this Saturdays game against Bury Town was a much more challenging affair. Despite the result, the day out was a very enjoyable one, which is just as well as the performance from Wealdstone was not one that will live long in the memory! Despite the lack of attacking threat, the Stones defended well and limited Bury to just one clear cut chance, a questionable penalty, that was thankfully missed. 

After a slow start for both sides, Bury began to gain some momentum in a game that was dominated by both defences. Wealdstone were limited to just the one long range effort that the Bury keeper spilled to the feet of Scott McGleish, however the Stones striker was signalled offside before he had the chance to put the ball in the net. Bury also were limited to long range strikes, testing Jonathan Norths handling from distance which he dealt with fairly comfortably. Bury were then gifted a golden opportunity on the stroke on half time when Sean Cronin was adjudged to penalise a Bury forward, for a push in the back from a long punt forwards. At the time it looked very harsh, and I think the highlights confirm this, with Cronin simply beating the forward to a header with the Bury man falling over very easily. Luckily for Wealdstone, justice was done, and the penalty was blazed over the bar, much to the delight of the 150 travelling Wealdstone contingent. The second half passed by without any real incidents to report other than Wealdstone stopper North being pushed into the net resulting in a disallowed goal. Full time and a rather drab 0-0.

Wealdstone play Bury Town again tonight at the vale in the return home leg, after one of the fixtures was postponed earlier in the season due to the weather. Based on the recent form of Bury, I think a point away at Bury is a good result, particularly when you take into consideration the fact that both Concord Rangers and Margate lost. However from what I saw on Saturday, Bury did not look a special team by any means. Defensively solid and well organised, they looked difficult to break down, but maybe this was due to Wealdstones lack of creativity? Despite having the leagues top goalscorer in John Sands, Bury didn't look like a side that will cause Wealdstone a huge amount of problems tonight, and hopefully that will remain the case! Based on what I saw on Saturday and whats at stake for both teams, I think Bury will do well to come away from the Vale with anything tonight, as Wealdstone can only improve on what was a poor performance on Saturday. But the Stones will certainly have to be at their best in order to ensure that they do earn the three points, as Sands is not the top goalscorer in the league for nothing! My prediction for tonight is a 3-1 Wealdstone win. I hope my optimism is rewarded...