Alternative London Branch Wealdstone
Match Report
23 August 2025
​
Steve and Suzanne Batey were left waiting on a friend, as I managed to leave work earlier than planned, and with Time on my Side I decided to get to Ruislip earlier to meet the other London Branch members, at JJ Moons.
With two unimpressive home draws, the Cumbrians had the blues. Talk of the infamous Wealdstone Raider, the Wealdstone street fighting man, was rife with our own Croxy lined up if he wanted some.
Grosvenor Vale sounds very posh, but like a typical non-league ground it’s a tumbling dice of various sized stands from differing eras.
With five straight wins, the Stones faithful were happy and optimistic. The lads from oop norf had boss Sparky absent so it was left for Frank McAvoy to Start ‘em Up.
Floodlight Saturdays are rare in the summer, but the late kick-off meant Wealdstone had to Shine the Light. It was Carlisle, however, in their mint cake away shirts, who started the brightest.
Firstly, Terrell Thomas headed wide from a corner, then Luke Armstrong had a goal disallowed for an alleged foul on the Wealdstone keeper.
Jumping Jack flashed his effort near, as you sensed you could hear us knocking, and the Stones defence looked Torn and Frayed. Inevitably, it was the 19th minute nervous breakdown when Luke Armstrong finally broke the deadlock, his near post header from a corner sneaking in. 0-1.
Immediately Woodman of Wealdstone should've scored but headed over. Linney for Carlisle had an effort saved by the Stones’ number one.
The second half again started brightly for the Cumbrians, Linney shot blocked, before Macadam’s effort was brilliantly saved.
A period followed where Carlisle looked shattered, and Wealdstone grew in confidence and possession.
The Carlisle defence became a jigsaw puzzle and went to pieces in the box, but Gabe Breeze kept the Wealdstone wild horses at bay, the best a one-on-one with Woodman.
The Stones 100% record was going and they know you can’t always get what you want. Linney could've added to the lead, thwarted again by good keeping.
The Cumbrian masses of over 500 begged for one more shot, but it never came, and their own 100% away record remained intact. 0-1, final score.
It’s all over now.
It’s clear we still have room to improve, and I can’t get no satisfaction until we've had 10 games and can convert our away form to Brunton Park.
Perhaps the 'cup final' mentality teams have coming to BP is making it harder to get wins at home, whereas away we sit back more and use our obvious skills at countering?
Dreamy Skies ahead - Jugsy
​
Additional images supplied by Mike Carruthers
