PHOTO SPOTLIGHT: Non-League Wealdstone’s FA Cup dream involves an finish by the hands of League One high-flyers Wycombe Wanderers – as ANDY HOOPER captures all of the motion
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Welcome to Photo Spotlight. For our latest episode of the series, ANDY HOOPER soaked up the passion, drama and tension of Stamford Bridge while capturing photos of Wealdstone’s FA Cup second round clash with comparative giants Wycombe Wonderers.
The National League outfit played host to the League One leaders on Saturday in what had the potential to be a massive upset, only for Wycombe to not read the script and come through the tie with a 2-0 win to enter the third round of the cup.
Fans flocked to Grosvenor Vale with their tin foil trophies and steaming flasks of tea in the hope Matty Taylor’s National League outfit might make it to the third round of the FA Cup for only the second time in their rich 125-year history and the first time since 1983.
Yet Wycombe arrived in blistering form, and duly took the lead with a moment of quality by Beryly Lubala in the 29th minute, who curled his free kick beautifully into the top left corner to break the deadlock.
The visitors had made 11 changes ahead of the game as their League One campaign goes on, but after a raft of substitutions, Wycombe star Richard Kone came off the bench to make it 2-0 with six minutes to play, and end the Stones’ aspirations of a dream cup run.
Our man Andy Hooper was in position at Grosvenor Vale to absorb the highs and lows of the FA Cup clash.
One Wealdstone fan proudly showed off their impressive pin badge collection ahead of the big occasion on Saturday afternoon
Opportunistic autograph hunters among the home fans were keenly on the lookout for any players’ signatures before the game
It was all hands on deck as Wealdstone’s employees rushed to get the refreshments sorted for supporters at Grosvenor Vale
Travelling fans faced a slightly different entry to the away end than they might be used to at stadiums up in League One
Gordon Parmar Hill, AKA The Wealdstone Raider, is a builder who gained internet fame as a meme after a video of him went viral
As a legendary cult figure around Wealdstone, several supporters rushed to take their pictures with him at Grosvenor Vale
The players made their way out on to the Grosvenor Vale pitch via a special red carpet to honour the special FA Cup occasion
Wycombe Wanderers’ 26-year-old goalkeeper Shamal George clears his lines from outside his box during the FA Cup tie
With a sense of belief in the air, several supporters flocked to the Wealdstone ground armed with tin foil FA Cup cutouts
Players compete for the ball after a cross is sent into a dangerous area of the Wycombe box, as the visitors hold a tight line
Wycombe Wanderers star Beryly Lubala scored a beautiful free-kick which was bent into the top left-hand corner on 29 minutes
A few lucky Wealdstone-supporting youngsters were given the chance to run up the touchline on a memorable FA Cup afternoon
Used to watching their team win, Wycombe Wanderers’ fans were in full voice throughout what was a comfortable FA Cup victory
But it wasn’t to be for the hosts, whose wait for just a second third-round appearance goes on after Wycombe’s 2-0 triumph
