On Wednesday evening, two teams fighting against relegation will clash as Wealdstone host Braintree Town at Grosvenor Vale for matchday 15 of the 2024-25 National League season.
The hosts are currently 23rd in the standings, having earned just eight points from 14 matches, while the visitors occupy 20th place, sitting one point above the relegation zone with 13 points from their 14 games.
Match preview
© Imago
Aside from finishing 13th in 2022-23, Wealdstone have consistently placed in the bottom half of the National League table since securing their return to the fifth tier for the first time in 32 years by winning the National League South in 2019-20.
They finished 20th in 2020-21, followed by 16th in 2021-22 and a 13th-placed finish in 2022-23, but dropped back down to 16th last season, ending just four points above the relegation zone.
However, Wealdstone's disappointing start to this campaign has put their position in the fifth tier in jeopardy, as they currently sit 23rd in the table with a miserable eight points from 14 matches.
They have won just one of their 14 league fixtures, coming on matchday five, leaving them without a National League victory in their last nine matches, although they did defeat Gosport Borough 4-1 in FA Cup qualification during that time.
Matthew Taylor, who was appointed ahead of this campaign, will be desperate to put an end to that dismal run in the league, and a match against struggling Braintree could provide them a perfect opportunity to do so.
Braintree secured their promotion to the National League in dramatic fashion last season, winning the National League South playoffs by defeating Bath City, Chelmsford City, and Worthing after extra time, including a particularly thrilling 4-3 win in the final against Worthing.
They faced an extremely difficult start in their first year back in the fifth tier since 2018-19, winning just one of their first 10 fixtures, including four draws and five defeats.
However, they have enjoyed an upturn in form in recent outings, winning three and losing two of their last five matches across all competitions, defeating Halifax Town and Altrincham in the league and Bishop's Stortford in FA Cup qualification.
Those results have seen them move up the table into 20th, and Angelo Harrop, who has been in charge since May 2022, will be looking to secure another three points to create some distance from the relegation zone in this match.
Braintree have struggled against Wealdstone in past meetings, though, with the Iron losing two and drawing one of the last three meetings across all competitions.
Team News
Following their eighth defeat of the season and the seventh game in which Wealdstone have failed to score, Taylor may opt to make several changes to his lineup for this match.
Anthony Georgiou, Craig Eastmond, and Elliot Thorpe were all substituted on in the 60th minute of that defeat, and all three may be included in the starting lineup for this match.
Although they lost in a contentious manner in their last match against Forest Green Rovers, Harrop would have been pleased with another strong performance, and the manager may decide to name the same starting eleven for this game.
Frankie Terry was the player receiving treatment when the referee controversially permitted Forest Green to take a quick throw-in, which ultimately resulted in the winning goal, and the defender is a potential doubt for this match.
Wealdstone possible starting lineup:
Howes; Mundle-Smith, Barrett, Cook; Thorpe, Wells-Morrison, Eastmond, Georgiou; Kretzschmar, Ashford, Reid
Braintree Town possible starting lineup:
Covolan; Langston, Annesley, Fyfield, Clampin; Robinson, Vennings; Blackwell, Wilkinson, Francis; Effiong
We say: Wealdstone 0-2 Braintree Town
Braintree have shown brilliant improvement in their recent performances compared to earlier in the campaign, while the hosts have continued to struggle, leading us to believe the visitors will win here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
