Wembley FC v Harefield United

Recap

WEMBLEY   1,  HAREFIELD UNITED   1,

Saturday, 20th August, 2016,

F.A. Cup – Preliminary Round

Wembley thought that they had booked a place in the First Qualifying Round of the F.A. Cup when Nathan Jallow’s majestic 82nd minute header flew into the back of the net to give them a late, one-nil lead against Harefield United. But, sloppy defending three minutes from time,  enabled the visitors to equalise and force a replay.Both sides did not quite master the blustery conditions which badly hampered this

Both sides did not quite master the blustery conditions which badly hampered this non-descript local contest.  Harefield went closest to scoring during the blank first-half by the hitting the goal frame on three occasions.  A couple of good saves from the visiting goalkeeper,thwarted the Lions at the other end.

Wembley, however, gradually came into prominence after the break.  They  looked the most likely scorers during this period.  Joe Wright’s  deft lob fell on top of the net,  two firmly struck drives from Jabir Laraba were blocked, while Wright  then squandered a good chance when well-placed. But apart from that, Wembley’s attacks were far too spasmodic,   A goal did not seem forthcoming   and this game appeared to be drifting   towards a goalless stalemate when, with eight minutes remaining,  the Lions suddenly scored.

Carl Pearce delivered a great long diagonal pass from the right towards the far post. Jallow, who had just come on as a substitute, outjumped his marker and with a superb thumping angled header, he sent the ball soaring beyond the despairing ‘keeper.

This single strike should have been enough.  But in the 87th minute,  the contest was levelled.  A needlessly Wembley foul was committed in a  central position, a few yards inside the home side’s half. Strangely, at that point,  rather than leaving their players to concentrate on defending the situation, the home bench ignored the usual trait of never making a substitution when your opponents had possession, by doing one!

However,  the decision to replace striker Wright with Conor Carroll,  a defender,  in the bid  to try and reinforce  Wembley rearguard,  made little odds.  The home side dismally failed to properly clear the eventual free-kick, and Perry Price planted the loose ball hone from close range to square matters at one-all.

WEMBLEY:  McCreeth, Pearce, Weir (Mota 29), Walters, Brown, Humphries, Sabti, Webb, Wright (Carroll 87), Laraba (Jallow  76), Kasirye