10:50am Thursday 18th February 2010
By Simon Mail
Wealdstone manager Gordon Bartlett admits their fixture congestion is becoming "ridiculous" after their match with leaders Dartford was postponed on Tuesday.
The Stones were set to face the Ryman Premier pacesetters at the St George's Stadium but heavy rain forced the match to be called off for the second time.
Bartlett said: "It is going to be ridiculous. I think it will have to be played on a Thursday because there are no more Tuesdays free this season.
"This is definitely going to test the squad now. We probably have about seven league games coming up at home but if the weather carries on then Saturday will be in jeopardy. It is having an enormous knock on effect on us."
Wealdstone’s abject start to the year was finally ended after they picked up their first win in 2010 on Saturday. The Stones recovered from conceding an early goal to earn a 3-2 win at rivals Hendon.
After falling behind, the visitors equalised through centre-back Darren Locke. The Stones quickly took the lead when Danny Spendlove’s cross was swept home by Callum Martin.
A brilliant first-half recovery finished with the third goal for Wealdstone when Martin smashed his shot into the roof of the net.
The Stones conceded a second 15 minutes from time but they held out to secure a significant result in their play-off push.
Bartlett said: "We got over the important hurdle of getting our first win of the new year which was a huge psychological boost.
"That will make a big difference now that we don't have that hanging over us.
"I thought we had much the better of it in the first half apart from when they came out at the start. We showed a lot of character to come back after conceding the first goal.
"But when they scored with 15 minutes left then you saw the fragility we had."
The Stones are at home to AFC Hornchurch on Saturday, assuming the pitch is playable, before another home game against Ashford Town (Middlesex) on Tuesday night.
"AFC Hornchurch are a strong workmanlike outfit," Bartlett said.
"We have to make sure that our attitude is like it was last weekend and then we will be confident of getting another three points."
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