Wealdstone’s growing injury list couldn’t halt their progress in the FA Trophy as the Stones won 2-0 at Met Police to advance to next month’s first round proper.

Skipper Tom Hamblin was sidelined with a dead leg from Monday evening’s National League draw against Whitehawk. But there was good news with Wes Parker and Elliot Godfrey declared fit to play and midfielder Matty Harriott, out of the reckoning for a month, able to make a welcome appearance as a substitute late on.

This was, however, a typically frustrating match for Stones with bags of possession and good build-up play in parts. But their end product continues to perplex.

A hatful of chances went begging and a true reflection could have been 6-2 in favour of the Isthmian Premier Division side. Thankfully, goalkeeper Jonathan North came to the rescue at key moments for the visitors.

Nevertheless, Wealdstone showed enough to overcome a Met side also depleted by injury, with influential skipper Steve Sutherland withdrawn in a late change to the starting XI.

The Stones were quickly on the front foot and when the lively Bradley Hudson-Odoi was fouled outside the box, Met keeper Craig King only just punched away Scott Davies’ difficult free kick.

After five minutes Hudson-Odoi broke free again but, with only King to beat, he scuffed his strike at point-blank range.

Stones won three corners in succession as they piled on the pressure but again missed out on a great opportunity when the luckless Josh Hutchinson fluffed his lines in a one-on-one with King.

The home side weathered the storm by a combination of luck and poor finishing and had a good chance on 17 minutes when North was positioned correctly to grab a header.

Davies then seized on a loose ball only to blast his strike from distance straight at King who was able to hold the ball.

Former Stone Nikki Ahamed was pulling most of the strings for the home side and his 20-yard strike was almost rewarded before being turned away by North.

But nine minutes later Stones finally made the breakthrough their overall dominance merited. Hudson-Odoi turned sharply outside the area, moving the ball onto his right foot, and sent an accurate strike past King.

Davies almost built on the lead with a powerful strike but King was equal to it pushing the ball around the upright.

The game was virtually killed off two minutes into the second half. Johnny Wright, who had had a relatively quiet game, moved the ball brilliantly around a defender before poking the ball between the keeper’s legs and into the net.

The tie then became scrappy as Stones failed to turn possession into real chances and, despite using all three substitutes, were unable to build on their lead.

There was time for one more superb save from North from a Joe Turner strike that prevented the possibility of a nervous finish.

Stones are back in league action on Monday evening when they entertain Gosport Borough at The Vale.

Wealdstone: North, Duffy, Parker, McLeod-Urquhart, Binns; Wright (Lucien 56), Godfrey, Ball (Harriott 77), Davies, Hudson-Odoi (Louis 87); Hutchinson.

Subs: Corcoran, Lowe.