Date   2nd September 2008     Competition   Ryman League Premier Division     Attendance    371     Referee   David Belbin (Staines)

Lineup   1 Paul Nicholls     2 Jack Smith    68 West 3 Alan Bray      4 Gavin Heeroo    68 Wilde 5 Chris Collins     6 Karim El-Salahi     7 Karl Murray     8 Dean Palmer     9 Gavin McCallum     10 Craig Dundas    62 Eribenne 11 Delando Smith             12 Steve West     14 Chukki Eribenne     15 Adam Wilde     16 Steve McKimm     17  Matt Hann

Sutton's start to the season continued its inconsistent pattern at Grosvenor Vale on Tuesday when, having bounced back from Bank Holiday Monday's defeat at Tooting with a good win on Saturday, they again slumped to a chastening away reverse against a side who, like Tooting the previous week, were able to record their first Ryman League win of the season. During a featureless first half and at the start of the second U's, who gave a debut to Karl Murray, signed on loan from Bromley earlier in the week, appeared in little trouble and seemed the likelier side to break through, although even then some promising approach work had rarely resulted in any clear chances. Once defender Alan Massey had volleyed Wealdstone in front with their first on-target shot of the game nine minutes after half time and added a second five minutes later, however, U's subsided alarmingly and the Stones took full advantage to record a thumping win. The best moment of the first half came to nothing when Gavin McCallum strayed fractionally offside as he met Delando's Smith fine cross with a half volley just wide, but a Apart from that it was largely long range efforts, Smith and Gavin Heeroo both trying their luck but failing to hit the target. McCallum thought he might have given U's the lead just before half time when he slid in to challenge goalkeeper Sean Thomas to a through pass, and then rolled the ball in to the net when it ran loose, but referee David Belbin penalised McCallum's challenge even though it was by no means certain that Thomas ever had the ball in his possession. The keeper then needed two attempts to keep out a McCallum free kick on the stroke of half time, and with Paul Nicholls' action in the fist half restricted mainly to playing sweeper behind his back four and plucking a couple of dangerous crosses out of the air U's were entitled to feel they had had the better of things at the break and early in the second half the same pattern seemed to be continuing. Then Dean Palmer was booked for a foul on Carl Martin on the Wealdstone right, and when they failed to clear David Hicks' free kick the ball fell for Massey to catch his volley perfectly from 20 yards and beat the diving Nicholls. Massey was inspired by his moment of glory, and five minutes later found the ball at his feet some 25 yards out. A neat exchange of passes left him clear of U's defence, and he rounded Nicholls before firing his second goal. The goals gave Wealdstone a huge boost, and when a minute later Marvin McCoy surged down the right and crossed low, Callum Martin, whose hat trick against Sutton's reserves on Saturday had earned him a first appearance of the season, was only inches from carrying on that form at senior level. U's responded with three substitutions, Adam Wilde coming on for his first game after injury, and Palmer forced a diving save from Thomas after Murray had headed on an Alan Bray corner that had been partially cleared. U's efforts lacked any real pattern or conviction, though, and the attempts to rescue the game left gaps at the back. Callum Martin burst through after dispossessing Chris Collins on the halfway line and saw his shot beaten away by Nicholls, but with seven minutes left Lee Chappell and Stephen Hughes linked up on the left and Chappell was free to cut in and drive a low shot in to the net. As the home side finished in style there was worse to come for U's as Callum Martin broke clear on the left and shrugged off Bray's attempt to hold him back that earned the U's defender a booking, but only after Martin's low cross had been converted at the far post by a sliding Ryan Ashe.

Wealdstone:  S Thomas, M McCoy, A Massey, J Gray, Carl Martin, R Ashe, K Forbes, D Hicks, Callum Martin, S Hughes, L Chappell. Subs n/u C O'Leary, G Burrell, D Quaye, N Salapatas, B Clarke. Booked: Hicks(72-foul).                             
Attendance: 371