News April 09

			Saturday 25th April 2009 (3:00pm) – Ryman League, Premier Division STAINES TOWN (3) 4 MARGATE (0) 1 By Steve Parsons. Staines ended their winless run, by returning to form in style against Margate. Once again the squad was kept fresh by some rotations, with Louis Wells, Richard Butler, and David Sargent making welcome returns from injury (the latter coming on as a sub), and Jake Newton from suspension. There are no suspensions going into the play-offs, but Marien Ifura (ankle) and Lee Kersey still have injury niggles. The other switches in Steve Cordery’s seven team-changes saw André Scarlett, Mark Cumberbatch, Darti Brown, and Chris Watters gaining starting places, with Gareth Risbridger, Howard Newton, Scott Taylor, and Elliot Onochie on the bench, with James Courtnage not involved. The visitors’ defence included Jack Haverson, who was briefly a Staines player a couple of seasons back. The last Saturday of the regular season was warm and bright, and the pitch looked in excellent condition, with Staines attacking the Silver’s Farm end in the first half. The visitors, battling hard to escape the drop zone, were on the receiving end of an early double strike from Staines, who netted in the 8th and 11th minutes. Richard Butler had already sent a near post chance rather too close to goalkeeper Pat Mullin, before the first goal, which came from a penalty, confidently swept home by Darti Brown after Leroy Griffiths had been needlessly tripped in the area by Kieran Morris. This was quickly followed by the first of Richard Butler’s three goals, stabbing in from close range after a Dean Thomas corner caused havoc in the Gate box and left Butler in plenty of space, but with an awkwardly bouncing ball to deal with. Staines were able to dictate the rest of the half, Butler again going close, before he made it 3-0 on the half hour. Chris Watters did the hard work, weaving into the box before seeing his low, powerful drive bravely saved by Mullin, but Butler was there to clip in the rebound. The long throws of Margate’s Aaron Lacy on the right and Curtis Robinson on the left created their best chances, and Dan Stubbs saw a shot fly just over in the final moments of the first half after a neat lay-off by Joe Healy. Before that, there had been a few moments of controversy, as Healy was booked for a clumsy challenge on Darti Brown, which left him with a bloodied nose, but the Staines player was then carded after some confusion over his return to the field, referee Lymer deeming that he did not have permission to do so. Trent Phillips also got a talking to for voicing his opinion, before Margate’s Dan Stubbs was booked for a foul. Staines continued on top in the final minutes, including the additional two. There was no let up from the home side at the start of the second, Jake Newton battling through the Margate lines before Mullin bravely saved at his feet, and Butler saw his attempt on the rebound being diverted over the bar. The home side stretched their lead to 4-0 on 54 minutes, and it marked Butler’s second hat-trick for the club. Once again the visiting defence was undone by a corner, this one by Watters, and Butler bundled in from close range. Margate made two substitutions in quick succession, immediately trumped by Staines who made all three at a stroke, for purely tactical reasons. The fresh legs of Margate’s Aaron Quain twice tested Louis Wells from the flank, and the Staines ’keeper also dealt well with a punched clearance from Healy’s free-kick. Staines sub Elliot Onochie felt he might have been awarded a penalty after he was tumbled in the box, but Staines only got a corner. The fourth and final booking of a good spirited match saw H Newton’s name taken for a foul. In the first minute of stoppage time, Margate scored the best goal of the match, a swift passing move being rounded off by a terrific low drive by Kenny Pratt, giving Wells no chance from the edge of the box. It was a goal that sparked hurried a telephone call to the unlikely destination of Whitby Town, as Margate, despite finishing in the drop-zone, hoped that they would have the best record of the 12 relegated clubs at this level across the country, and thus would be best placed to benefit from any reprieve, for example from the proposed merger of the two Bath clubs in the Conference. It transpired that Whitby had lost 3-0, which meant that their points tally and goal difference were identical to Margate’s, but the Yorkshire club have scored 5 more goals. Vince Murphy from match sponsors Bullseye Ltd presented the Man of the Match bubbly to hat-trick hero Richard Butler. Staines: Wells, J Newton, Gordon © (Sargent 66), Watters (Onochie 66), Butler, Scarlett, Cumberbatch, D Thomas (H Newton 66), D Brown, Coulson, Griffiths; unused Risbridger, S Taylor. Margate: Mullin, Morris, Robinson, Haverson, Young ©, Wheatley (J Taylor 60), Lacey (Quain 59), Wilson, Healy, Pratt, Stubbs; unused Gregory, Corbishley, Wright (gk). Ref: Colin J Lymer (Mayford); ARs Richard Hailstone (Ash) & Jim Paterson (Camberley); Att 384. Saturday 18th April 2009 (3:00pm) – Ryman League, Premier Division HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS (0) 3 STAINES TOWN (0) 2 By Steve Parsons. Following their run of draws, and the derby defeat, Staines were desperate to regain momentum with this trip to Essex, where they faced already relegated Heybridge. There were no fewer than five changes to the side which met Ashford, mostly rotational, although Richard Butler and André Scarlett were carrying knocks, to be replaced by the returning Howard Newton and Dean Thomas. Marien Ifura came in for Marc Cumberbatch at the back, while Scott Taylor and Leroy Griffiths were restored in place of Darti Brown and Chris Watters. James Courtnage was passed fit to play despite continuing problems with his ankle. On a warm, sunny day, the Scraley Road surface was in excellent condition, and Staines attacked the far (covered) end in the first half. Although unable to avoid a bottom four placing, Swifts were mindful of perilous situation at one or two clubs in higher leagues, and so were eager to finish as high as possible, in case some relegation reprieves are on offer. After a slowish start, Staines started to get into gear, and a neat move involving Griffiths and the hard working Mark Coulson saw the latter send the ball across goal, fractionally out of reach of the arriving Taylor. Wayne Bond, the Heybridge manager, was then forced into an early substitution due to an injury for centre back Philip Goodwin, and Staines capitalised on the reshuffle by carving several chances through the middle. Howard Newton threaded the ball through to Taylor, whose shot on the turn went over the bar, and Newton himself fired just wide after a neat combination between Thomas and Griffiths. But Staines did not have things all their own way, as Courtnage had to come out and save bravely at the feet of Matthew Cutchey. Staines created two more chances in the closing minutes of the half, but H Newton’s shot went too high, and ‘keeper Ollie Morris-Sanders dealt comfortably with Elliot Onochie’s shot. At half time, Steve Cordery brought on Richard Orlu – who was recalled from loan at Walton Casuals just before the deadline – for his League début for Staines, replacing Lee Kersey. Again, Staines started by looking comfortable, and Taylor put another shot off target following a neat trick by Griffiths, who also set up a chance for Onochie which Morris-Sanders smothered. However, Staines started to see some warning signs, as a corner from the left slithered away from Courtnage and was cleared, and – after a substitution for each team – Staines were caught out by two soft goals, both having their origins in free-kicks deep inside their own half. Firstly, a long and hopeful punt by Ryan Hull was pumped into the danger area, and in attempting to clear under pressure from Ben Codling, Marien Ifura could only head the ball past his own ‘keeper to give Heybridge a 62nd minute lead. But worse was to follow, just 60 seconds later, when Staines conceded possession virtually straight from the kick-off, giving a way a free kick almost 70 yards out which was taken by goalkeeper Olly Morris-Sanders. He hit the ball hard towards goal, into a swirling wind, but the ball sailed into the net, clipping the underside of the bar as it did, much to the chagrin of Courtnage, who could perhaps point to his impaired mobility. Watters was brought on for Staines in the 67th minute, and in the 70th, it was his free-kick that gave Staines a life-line, swinging the ball over from the left towards the far post, where Ifura showed his strength in heading the ball in from a tight angle to make it 2-1, and give him the rare distinction of a goal at each end. But, disappointingly, it was Swifts who reacted more positively to this goal, Courtnage having to touch a dipping shot from sub Craig Hudgell over the bar. But to compound a forgettable day for the Staines ‘keeper, he was unable to hold a long-distance free kick from out on the right touch-line from Ryan Hull, the ball slithering in at the far top corner to make it 3-1 with just 5 minutes of normal time remaining. These had elapsed, and two of the three extra had been played when Staines pulled a goal back, Coulson racing down the left and setting Onochie away, and ‘The Doc’ showing some great skills before rolling the ball across for Leroy Griffiths to stab in at the far post. Staines even had a sniff of a point when, in the dying seconds, Morris-Sanders had to grab the ball under his bar from a lofted Coulson effort, but it was not to be, and Staines must now turn things around quickly if they are not to suffer their longest winless run in over two years. Staines: Courtnage; Gordon ©, Kersey (Orlu HT), H Newton, Onochie, Risbridger, D Thomas (D Brown 61), Ifura, Coulson, Griffiths, Taylor (Watters 67); unused Scarlett, Cumberbatch. Heybridge: Morris-Sanders, R Hull, C Bourne, Goodwin (Hudgell 27), Boureois, Fisher, S Bourne, Gillespie ©, Codling (Morgan 86), Cutchey, Crick (Simon-Parson 59); unused Bowyer (gk), Smith. Ref: Andrew S Parker (Stanford-le-Hope, Essex); ARs Peter J Wilson (Chelmsford, Essex) & Jamie Garwood (North Weald, Epping, Essex); Off Att 121. Easter Monday 13th April 2009 (3:00pm) – Ryman League, Premier Division ASHFORD TOWN (MIDDLESEX) (0) 2 STAINES TOWN (0) 0 By Steve Parsons. Staines’ run of draws came to an end against a side who so rarely draw, and the Spelthorne derby went the way of the Ash Trees, who thus secured their Premier Division status for next season. If Staines needed any incentive to regain their form, it should have been at Short Lane, but they were outplayed for all but the first 20 minutes, to leave Ashford jubilant. As Steve Cordery continued to rotate his squad, only five players who started on Friday also started this second holiday fixture, including former Ashford favourite Richard Butler. Out were the suspended Jake Newton, together with Ifura, Thomas, H Newton, Griffiths, and Taylor, while Gordon, Kersey, Scarlett, Risbridger, Watters, and Scarlett all started. Sonner travelled, but was not named. The Ashford side, unusually for recent seasons, contained no former Swans men, although Paul Burgess was the unused sub goalkeeper, and Mark Butler is of course the Manager: Johnson is injured and Canderton is currently taking a break. It was a hot holiday afternoon, on a hard and unforgiving surface. Staines attacked the oil depot end in the first half. The first quarter hour or so saw Staines take the game to the home side, Risbridger darting in from the right and testing Craig Ross with a low drive, and Ross also made an important save with his legs from Butler, after Chris Watters had sent over a telling cross from the left. As one would expect from a local derby, there were several crunching tackles from both sides, but referee Gillett kept things flowing nicely. But Ashford quickly found their feet, and Warren Harris headed against the crossbar after Anthony Joseph had crossed, followed by a short Luke Pigden free-kick from which Wellard’s shot was well held by James Courtnage. Then it was Staines’ turn to come forward, with a neat move involving Darti Brown and André Scarlett setting up Butler, who took a touch before seeing his shot deflect into the side netting, and within 2 minutes, Elliot Onochie headed just wide following a Marc Cumberbatch cross from the right. On the half hour, a good move by Ashford saw Scott Harris control on the edge of the box before finding A Joseph, and he held off a challenge before passing to Byron Harrison, whose shot was well saved by Courtnage. Harrison went close again, volleying across the face of goal following an A Joseph pass, and a W Harris corner was met by Michael Peacock’s powerful header, which Courtnage did well to fingertip over the bar. Unfortunately for Staines, Butler sustained an injury in a tackle, and although he struggled on for a while, he had to be replaced by Leroy Griffiths just before the break, suffering from a ‘dead leg’. Ashford’s Peacock picked up a yellow card in the final seconds for a body-check on Risbridger, and Onochie’s powerfully struck free kick was touched onto the upright by a diving Ross. With the tide continuing to flow Ashford’s way in the second period, Harrison was off target after a strong run by A Joseph. The game’s second and final booking came 9 minutes after the restart, as Staines’ Mark Coulson checked A Joseph, but Staines were to suffer a more significant punishment from the resulting free kick, which was spanked into the net from the left foot of Ricky Wellard, which deceived everyone in the box, and flew past Courtnage for 1-0. Staines tried to get back on terms, and Griffiths might have taken on a shot following a clever Scarlett pass, but elected to square the ball and the chance went begging. Then Onochie and Ross collided heavily, and for a worrying moment there was a reminiscence of the Staines striker’s injury v Tooting, but thankfully he was soon able to resume. Howver, with 64 minutes played, the game was put beyond Swans’ reach. Joseph and Scott Harris combined for Harrison, whose header was pushed round for a corner, but Wellard drove the ball over from the right, to be met by a bullet header from Gavin Smith. Scarlett tried to haul the visitors back into it with a darting run, then Staines made a double substitution, and Risbridger saw a powerful drive fingertipped away as they became increasingly desperate. A Griffiths drive unfortunately hit Onochie in the back, and H Newton wove himself into a good shooting position, only for Ross to smother the chance. There were two added minutes, but it was not enough for the visitors to reply. Staines: Courtnage; Gordon ©, Kersey, Watters (H Newton 73), Butler (Griffiths 44), Onochie, Scarlett (S Taylor 73), Risbridger, Cumberbatch, D Brown, Coulson; unused Ifura, D Thomas. Ashford: Ross, O’Sullivan, Pigden, Wellard, Jeffreys ©, Peacock, Smith (Palmer 90+2), A Joseph, S Harris, Harrison (Logie 90+2), W Harris; unused R Joseph, Byron, Burgess (gk). Ref: Adrian Gillett (Aylesbury, Bucks); ARs Dennis Rigney (Amersham, Bucks) & Ian Lowe (Wendover, nr Aylesbury, Bucks); Att 354. Good Friday 10th April 2009 (3:00pm) – Ryman League, Premier Division STAINES TOWN (1) 2 A.F.C. HORNCHURCH (0) 2 By Steve Parsons. With Staines seeking to gain three points over nearest challengers Tonbridge Angels to make sure of second spot, and AFC Hornchurch knowing that victory would take them into the play-off zone with 4 games remaining, an exciting match was anticipated at Wheatsheaf Park. The game had been brought forward a week or so earlier at the visitors’ suggestion, owing to their busy schedule in the week after Easter, and Staines readily agreed necessary. The pitch was in good condition, softened by morning rain, and Staines attacked the houses end in the first half of a game which was peppered by drizzle. Louis Wells had hurt his ankle at work and so was ruled out, and James Courtnage was also doubtful with an ankle sustained while coaching a class. Of course, Shaun Allaway has been ruled out all season, and the two emergency goalkeepers signed when none of the regulars was available to play at Hornchurch back in August were also unavailable (Ricky Perks injured, Corrin Brooks-Mead in the Mediterranean). This meant that 17 year old Danny Sonner from the Academy team was on stand-by to play, but in fact Courtnage passed his pre-match fitness test, and kept goal admirably, with Sonner on the bench. A side-effect of the re-arrangement was that Jake Newton was able to play as his suspension does not start until the Saturday. Howard Newton gained his first League start since being injured in February, the captain’s armband went to Richard Butler as Danny Gordon took a well-earned rest, and Marc Cumberbatch slotted into the centre of defence. The other ‘rotations’ saw Elliot Onochie and André Scarlett moved to the subs’ bench, with Darti Brown and Scott Taylor handed starts. The home side made a tremendous start, and Richard Butler had already seen a great volley fly across the face of goal from a good Scott Taylor ball, before a sweeping move led to the 19th minute opener. Taylor and Leroy Griffiths combined for Butler to fire in a shot, but the impressive Darren Behcet saved with his legs, the ball coming back to Butler, who set up Howard Newton to tuck in the rebound. Centre back Marien Ifura made a great tackle at the back, robbing Mark Janney as he prepared to shoot, and picked out H Newton, whose run was only interrupted by a defender’s toe, but the ball fell to Taylor, whose low drive was well saved by Behcet. Simon Parker had a couple of chances for the visitors, but headed one wide from an Andy Tomlinson cross, and drew a decent save from Courtnage after getting on the end of a direct Behcet / Green move. After J Newton had shepherded a Green shot out for a corner, Tomlinson found Lee, but Cumberbatch was onto him quickly to avert the danger. With Staines now playing some of their best football for weeks, the visiting ’keeper made two breathtaking saves to deny Howard Newton, the first from an accurate swerving shot that seemed destined for the top corner; when Leroy Griffiths’ corner found its way to H Newton, Behcet again touched his shot over the bar, and H Newton again went close after Taylor had sent in the corner that followed. James Courtnage proved his agility with a fingertip save to deny the bustling Kris Lee, just as the game ticked towards its single added minute of first half play. AFC boss Colin McBride boldly threw on all his subs at the break, and it transformed his team who now looked more potent going forward. Ross Wall had been halted by a good J Newton tackle, but just 2 minutes of the restart, Lee squeezed the ball to Dean Green in a crowded box, and the former Staines man lifted the ball over the diving Courtnage from 8 yards to make it 1-1. The Urchins won several corners, but the most dangerous of them was dealt with by Darti Brown, as Staines were forced onto the back foot. As they rallied, Behcet again denied the Swans, as he saved first from Butler, and then from a powerful H Newton drive following a clever lay-off by Griffiths. However, on 67 minutes, a stunning strike by Green gave the Essex side the lead, as he curled the ball left-footed from outside the box and into the net via the inside of the far post. Lee’s deflected shot might have increased the lead 10 minutes later, having received from Green, and at this point Staines seemed to be heading for a first League reverse since Harrow, a dozen games and 52 days ago. Behcet made another great save, albeit from his own skipper, John Purdie, after he firmly headed an H Newton cross towards his own goal. The last 10 minutes were frantic as the home side desperately tried to snatch back a point. Leroy Griffiths drove just wide after a cross by Butler, and Dean Thomas saw a shot blocked. At the other end, a foul on Janney saw him take the free kick to Lee, whose shot was diverted away by Ifura, with Courtnage holding onto Wall’s swirling corner kick. But seconds into stoppage time, Staines snatched a late equaliser – and a 7th successive draw – when Jake Newton headed home from a Mark Coulson cross after Ifura and Griffiths had linked up in midfield. It was the first time in half a century that brothers had scored for Staines; meanwhile, two late Tooting goals against Tonbridge meant that Staines have done enough to guarantee the runners-up place for the second year running, and home advantage if they reach the play-off final. Staines: Courtnage; J Newton, H Newton, Butler ©, Cumberbatch, D Thomas, Brown (Scarlett 74), Ifura, Coulson, Griffiths, Taylor (Onochie 68); unused Gordon, Orlu, Sonner (gk). AFC: Behcet, Barnard, Coyne (Curley HT), Purdie ©, Goodfellow, Tomlinson (Abraham HT), Green, Janney, Lee, Parker (Wall HT), Styles; unused McFarlane, Willis (gk). Ref: Lee M Collins (Knaphill, near Woking, Surrey); ARs Alan Morley (Church Crookham, near Fleet, Hampshire) & Barry Lynch (Camberley, Surrey); Att 307. Saturday 4th April 2009 (3:00pm) – Ryman League, Premier Division STAINES TOWN (0) 0 TOOTING & MITCHAM UNITED (0) 0 By Steve Parsons. With the sun shining warmly at Wheatsheaf Park, and an excellent playing surface, the scene seemed to be set for a good game, and perhaps Staines taking a big step towards nailing that second spot. There was excitement, too, as Steve Cordery unveiled his deadline signings to the home crowd for the first time, with Chris Watters slotting into the left side of midfield, and the bench containing defenders Marc Cumberbatch and Richard Orlu. Absent were Lewis Cook and Marc Charles-Smith, who have been loaned to Boreham Wood (Charles-Smith will return for the play-offs), Gareth Risbridger (starting a 2-game suspension), and James Courtnage, who sustained a knee injury at work, while Scott Taylor was rotated to the bench. Into the starting team came Marien Ifura, André Scarlett, Richard Butler, and Leroy Griffiths, who were all either injured or rested at Hastings. Staines attacked the Silver’s Farm end in the first half. There was a lively start, with André Scarlett hitting a powerful shot inches wide of the post at one end, and Dean McDonald bending one just past the post at the other, after cutting in from the right. Richard Butler ran onto a good ball and shot just too high, but thereafter the chances became very few and far between. Tooting were in the odd position of entertaining a mathematical chance of reaching the play-offs, but more realistically wanting to garner a few more points to make sure they don’t go down, and they settled into a containing game, breaking only rarely but efficiently marshalled at the back by skipper Allan McLeod. Leroy Griffiths saw a low drive gathered at the second attempt by Terrors’ keeper Dave King, before being clattered by Andrew Howell in a challenge which earned the Tooting man a yellow card. However, after the bruising game at Imperial Fields in November, this game was played in a very good spirit, and was sensibly controlled by referee Alf Field. After a quiet period, the first half ended with a little flurry of half chances, as a neat passing move involving Griffiths and Elliot Onochie saw Ifura power a header just over, then Griffiths’ good lay-off seemed destined for the onrushing Watters until Joe Vines made a saving interception. Watters saw a free kick caught by King following a foul on Butler just outside the box, but Tooting nearly snatched a stoppage time lead, when Colin Hartburn combined with McLeod to set up a header for Paul Vines, but Louis Wells touched it over via the crossbar, and Staines were able to scramble P Vines’ next attempt off the line from the resulting corner. Watters was withdrawn early in the second half as a precaution after feeling a twinge in his back, and the good news for Swans fans was that Howard Newton came off the bench, and showed some of the clever touches that have been sadly missed over the 5 games since his hamstring injury. Scarlett made another good run but his shot was bravely smothered by King, but most of the second half was rather flat. Ifura was booked for a clumsy challenge, as was Tooting’s J Vines for dissent. Taylor came on for the final 12 minutes, and quickly constructed – with the help of Dean Thomas – a chance that the impressive Mark Coulson drilled into the body of Vines. The ball rebounded to Swans’ new left-back, but his centre unfortunately fell between strikers. Ifura temporarily went off after a painful ankle injury, and while he was being treated, Tooting’s Paul Vines found the gap, but Wells saved well. Then Tooting sub Craig Pitterson shot just wide, and with Danny Gordon and a couple of visiting players also needing treatment, the extra minutes stretched to over 8? minutes. The visitors came closest to breaking the deadlock during this period, but Billy Marshall’s header was nudged round for a corner following Pitterson’s cross, before Onochie saw a shot just clear the bar after a Griffiths free-kick. After the final whistle, Larry Lane and Claire Jackson from sponsors Dagenham Motors presented the Man of the Match bubbly to Leroy Griffiths. Staines: Wells; J Newton, Gordon ©, Watters (H Newton 56), Butler (S Taylor 78), Onochie, Scarlett, D Thomas, Ifura, Coulson, Griffiths; unused Cumberbatch, Brown, Orlu. Tooting: King, McLeod ©, Howell, Goode, Roberts, Hartburn, J Vines, Marshall (Pitterson 69), P Vines, D McDonald, York (Pinnock 69); unused Watts, Platel. Ref: Alfonso SC Field (Bellingdon, nr Chesham); ARs Adrian R Piggott (Terriers, nr High Wycombe) & Ashley C Hyne (Prestwood, near Gt Missenden); Att 308. After the match, Safety Officer Chris Boyce praised two of his stewards, Kim Sherwood and Chlöe Boon, for their quick attention to an elderly Tooting supporter who had a painful fall, looking after him until the ambulance crew arrived to check him over. Congratulations also went to Arthur Ward, the Staines Town life-member, who was celebrating his 90th birthday by spending the afternoon at the match. Staines have now gone 11 League games unbeaten, but the present run of 6 successive draws still leaves them needing 5 points to make certain of finishing 2nd.