| Bank Holiday Monday 31st August 2009 (3:00pm) – Blue Square Conference – South Division STAINES TOWN (0) 1 MAIDENHEAD UNITED (0) 1 By Steve Parsons. Staines made it four drawn games in succession when they renewed acquaintances with their second-oldest rivals in League football. On a humid and hot afternoon on a well grassed Wheatsheaf Park pitch, Staines attacked the Penton Hook Road end in the first half, with a line-up showing five changes from Saturday’s tiring encounter. Simon Jackson, David Woozley, Marc Charles-Smith, and Richard Butler all made their first starts since injury lay-offs of varying lengths, and André Scarlett was available again; Kamara, Ifura, Risbridger and Taylor gained well-earned rests, and Onochie was unavailable. Steve Cordery and his Magpies counterpart Johnson Hippolyte are old friends, and in fact the Staines boss played at York Road for a while, a distinction shared by his left-back Dominic Sterling, who was one of 3 Maidenhead players who were initially cross-signed by Staines last season but who did not appear at the time. The others, Bobby Behzadi and Nevin Saroya, figures for the visitors. The game was only 45 seconds old when Staines had a great chance to go ahead, but Richard Butler’s angled header was cawed away by the diving Adam Carpenter. The visitors responded with a low drive from Behzadi that fizzed just wide, and a high ball into the Staines box that caused some confusion, eventually leading to James Hamsher’s snapshot cannoning off Darty Brown, to be cleared from the line by Woozley. But Staines then shaded the next 35 minutes of a somewhat scrappy game, either side of half time, beginning with a teasing cross from the industrious Butler which was a fraction too high for Howard Newton to keep his header down. On the half hour, a flowing Swans move of five first-time passes, involving Jackson, Leroy Griffiths and Charles-Smith ended with Carpenter parrying Butler’s crisp shot. Griffiths had a free kick following a trip on Scarlett inches outside the box, but it was not as effective as Saturday’s, and then Scarlett picked out Griffiths in space with a corner, but his volley flew just wide. It was another incisive move that led to Staines going ahead in the 48th minute: Griffiths played the final ball in for Richard Butler to elegantly sidefoot the ball past Carpenter. A foul on Butler brought Maidenhead skipper Nisbet the first caution of the game, and it was not long before Mr Hippolyte threw on two subs in a bid to give his team more attacking options. The change quickly paid dividends, as the newly introduced Alex Wall broke up a Staines attack and then advanced up the line before providing a good ball from which Bobby Behzadi shot home the 59th minute equaliser. It then became a tactical battle, as first Mr Cordery amended his strike force with Taylor coming on for Charles-Smith, before his opponent countered with a more defensive substitution, to revert to a 4-4-2. Darty Brown was yellow carded for a foul on Daniel Brown, and the 81st minute free kick led to a good combination between Nisbet and Behzadi, before Daniel Brown drove just over. Dissent by Saroya brought the game’s final yellow card. Staines found the visitors’ defence hard to break down, but worked two decent chances in the final 6 minutes. Firstly, Darty Brown’s strong tackle opened space for Griffiths and Newton to combine well, only to be denied by a fine tackle. Then a swift move ended with Taylor seemingly winning the game for the home side, his 85th minute strike hitting the post, and spinning all the way along the line before being hooked away by a defender, with forwards convinced that it had already crossed and then spun out again. However, despite a Griffiths shot flying wide, it was Maidenhead who might have snatched victory just as the 3 additional minutes were about to be signalled, only for Knight to fire into the side netting. Unfortunately, that late Griffiths drive struck Swans supporter Cheryl Wright painfully on the arm as he protected herself. Attended to by Kim Sherwood and then taken to hospital by her family, it was discovered that she will need surgery on a broken wrist. We wish her a speedy recovery. Staines: Wells, Jackson, Sterling, Gordon ©, Woozley, Scarlett, Newton, Darty Brown, Butler (Risbridger 82), Charles-Smith (Taylor 72), Griffiths; unused Bourne, Ifura, Kamara. Maidenhead: Carpenter, Bradshaw, Collins, St. Aimie, Sappleton, Nisbet ©, Tajbakhsh (Daniel Brown 57), Behzadi, Knight, Palmer (Saroya 78), Hamsher (Wall 57); unused Fyfield, Carter (gk). Ref: L Collins (Knaphill); ARs D Sotimirin (Brixton) & L Pinto Nunes (Jingston-u-T). Att 387
Saturday 29th August 2009 (3:00pm) – Blue Square Conference – South Division WORCESTER CITY (0) 0 STAINES TOWN (0) 0 By Steve Parsons. Staines’ journey to St George’s Lane took almost four hours along clogged holiday motorways, leaving Steve Cordery little time to prepare his side for their first ever meeting with Worcester City. He made one change to his starting team, as André Scarlett had to attend a wedding, but Elliot Onochie returned after a work commitment. Marc Charles-Smith was the real victim of the long journey, not getting a chance to test his leg injury before the team was named. City had made a poor start to the campaign, with just one point and 3 goals to show, but had also made steps to strengthen their squad during the week, and made 5 changes. Supporters in the large main stand of the grand old ground saw Staines attack the right-hand end in the first half, on a mild afternoon. The visitors took the game to Worcester in the opening exchanges, but then Worcester came strongly, with Bridges firing off target, and Louis Wells having to fingertip a Ward header over the bar. Wayne Daniel had an excellent game in the Worcester defence, which deservedly earning him the Man of the Match accolade, and he was quickly in action to deny Onochie from a dangerous position. Staines best chance of the entire match came from a 12th minute free kick, taken quickly by Leroy Griffiths to catch out the home defence, and with a vicious curl which saw it strike the inside of the post and fly across the goalmouth before being cleared. Three minutes later, City were appealing for a penalty when Rob Elvins tangled with Wells, but Staines were relieved that referee Adam Fielding had spotted the forward’s initial shirt-pull and awarded them the free kick. Newton worked a half chance, but was unloaded by Kemp, and then a weak goal kick by Ben Hinchcliffe sent the ball straight to Scott Taylor’s feet, but once again Daniel intervened with a crucial tackle. As the half wore on, the home side started to create some better chances, a long shot by Wilding, a close-range header from Ward, and then a powerful drive by Ward that they were convinced Wells had touched away for a corner. In the 41st minute, Staines mounted a good attack involving Risbridger and Newton, resulting in a centre to Taylor, who saw his shot on the turn blocked. The 45 minutes (plus 1 extra) elapsed with no score. The start of the second half was a very open affair, with Onochie doing well to test Hinchcliffe after receiving on the left from Griffiths, but a Worcester corner almost repeated the goal Stortford scored recently from a free kick, footage of which Swans had been studying during the coach ride: this time, however, the far post header was misdirected. Just after the hour, a Graham Ward cross from the right found Elvins, but his powerful volley was well saved by Wells on the ground. Swans took the opportunity late on to introduce Richard Butler and Simon Jackson following recent injuries, but for a while had to endure a peppering of Wells’ goal with shots that were more nuisance value than threat. However, Marien Ifura’s headed clearance beyond his own post from a Clyde cross was more dangerous. Griffiths relieved the late pressure with a teasing 20 yard shot which drew a save from Hinchcliffe, before Elvins had one last chance to win it for the home side, only to head Ward’s cross over the bar. After 2 additional minutes, the game ended scoreless. Staines: Wells, Kamara (Jackson 80), Sterling, Gordon ©, Ifura, Onochie (R Butler 67), Newton, Risbridger, Taylor, D Brown, Griffiths; un used: Bourne, Woozley, D Thomas. Worcester: Hinchliffe, Clyde, Carter, Wilding, Daniel, Kemp ©, Ward, Emery, Elvins, Adaggio, Bridges (Ledgister 63); unused: M Butler, Walker, Wardle, Mace. Ref: A Fielding (Banbury); ARs R Cox (Bodicote) & KR Norris (Rose Hill, Oxford). Att 555.
Tonight the Academy side will be away to Hampton & Richmond Borough (7:45) in their opening game in defence of the Ryman league (West) title. Then on Monday 7th September, they entertain Harefield United (7:30) in the FA Youth Cup Preliminary Round at Wheatsheaf Lane. The Reserve's game at Hayes & Yeading United on 9 Sept has been called off.
Saturday 22nd August 2009 3.00pm) – Blue Square Conference – South Division STAINES TOWN (1) 1 WELLING UNITED (0) 1 By Steve Parsons. A first-ever league meeting between these two sides saw Staines fail to avenge two cup defeats sustained over the previous quarter of a century. Steve Cordery was forced into once change from midweek, as Dr Onochie was called into work, and Scott Taylor recalled to the starting XI. Dean Thomas was sufficiently recovered from his injury to take a bench seat for the first time this season. Welling’s ex Swan, Dean Cracknell, was an unused sub, but there was a place in the starting line-up for Rob Hughes, a former Oxford United player who was left in a coma after being attacked on holiday an Crete, and now wears a Petr Cech style head guard. The weather was warm, the pitch in good condition (after its pre-match watering), and Staines attacked the Penton Hook end in the first half, following the cavortings of Swans’ 36 year old stag-weekend mascot, Giles Lovett, before kick-off! Staines will look back on this match as two points dropped, as they did enough in the first half hour to have had the game sewn up by then. However, they were able to convert only one chance, and were unable to maintain a clean sheet, thus only ended up drawing the match. It all started so well for the home side, as they tore into Welling from the kick off, and eased ahead with only 4? minutes played. Dominic Sterling laid the foundations of a good move down the left, picking out Scott Taylor, who worked some space and then pulled the ball back to Howard Newton, and he turned his man and then deceived ‘keeper Charlie Mitten with his low shot into the corner. Staines won the ball straight back from the restart, and Taylor interchanged passes with André Scarlett before driving just wide when a second goal looked on the cards. A Michael Deane cross onto the head of Jake Hobbs almost gave Welling some respite, but he could not direct his header on target, and Staines were back onto the attack, with Mitten bravely diving at Taylor’s feet in the 10th minute. Staines continued to dominate for another 15 minutes, some lovely flowing football leading to notable chances for Risbridger and Scarlett, but Welling managed to keep them out, and then rallied briefly, before Staines got back on top at the end of the half. A Risbridger was deflected, but flew into Mitten’s gloves, a nice Sterling / Brown move ended with Griffiths shooting just too high, and Scarlett had a dangerous free kick near the interval. The visitors brought on two subs at the break, but (despite an early booking for a Newton foul on Hurrell) Staines again started well. Risbridger unluckily got the ball stuck under his feet after a neat passing move with Griffiths, and Mitten then stretched out a desperate boot to deny Taylor, after he had been put through by Newton. The rebound flew out to Risbridger, who hit it firmly, only for Welling captain Parkinson to divert it round for a corner. Taylor put another shot just the wrong side of the post after a Griffiths pass, but with just over an hour gone, the visitors stunned the home fans with an equaliser. A tantalising pass from the left flank by sub Tony Finn found its way all the way across to the unmarked Jake Hobbs at the far post, and he made no mistake in slamming his close range shot into the roof of the net. Then followed a scrappy period of play, in which Welling’s Menga was booked for a foul on Risbridger, who then received Griffiths’ resulting free kick, only to fire over. Newton flicked another chance wide after another Griffiths cross. Risbridger had to make a great tackle to rob Hurrell in a good position, but the attacker was then cautioned when his tackle back was mis-timed, Finn put the ball into the net but had already been flagged offside, and Taylor was yellow carded for dissent, responding with a huge shot that Mitten could only gather at the second attempt. The last 15 minutes saw both teams pushing for a winner, with Wells having to make a good save after Hobbs had put Menga away for a powerful Welling shot, and then Kamara coming up from the back to force a defender into a hasty clearance following Taylor’s clipped cross. With just 3 minutes left, Griffiths set up a chance for Newton, whose shot was somehow backheeled off the line, and Griffiths’ rebound was also blocked in the 6 yard box, but just as the game ticked into its one extra minute, Griffiths was penalised at the other end and Menga went close from the free kick. Staines: Wells, Kamara, Sterling, Gordon ©, Ifura, Scarlett, Newton, Risbridger (Charles-Smith 78), Taylor (Butler 84), D Brown, Griffiths; unused Bourne, Kersey, Thomas. Welling: Mitten, Protheroe (Finn HT), Haswell, Parkinson ©, King, Perkins, Hughes (Menga HT), Hurrell, Hobbs, Clarke, Deane; unused Fazackerley, Andrews, Cracknell. Ref: A Gillett (Aylesbury); ARs P O’Hare (High Wycombe) & D Leach (Eynsham). Man of the Match – Dominic Sterling (Staines T).
Tuesday 18th August 2009 (7:45pm) – Blue Square Conference – South Division BISHOP’S STORTFORD (1) 2 STAINES TOWN (1) 2 By Steve Parsons. Staines travelled to Essex on a mild Tuesday night, and secured a valuable and hard-earned point from this exciting clash with their old Isthmian rivals, Bishop’s Stortford. Steve Cordery made two changes from Saturday’s defeat, one of the enforced, as impressive right back Simon Jackson picked up an injury against Havant, and was replaced by new signing Michael Kamara – a Sierra Leone international who was previously at Woking. Changing the formation further upfield, Darty Brown started his first game of the season, with Scott Taylor dropping to sub. Stortford included one player who spent most of the pre-season with Staines, in Marlon Patterson, and also Charlie Sheringham (Teddy’s son), who bagged 5 goals for them in their game on Saturday. The pitch was in good condition, and Staines unveiled their new away kit (all white with royal blue trim), attacking the Airport Terrace end (to the left, for spectators in the main stand) in the first half. Following a probing opening period, it was Stortford who took a 19th minute lead, following a corner which led to a free kick near the flag, following a foul by Danny Gordon. Mark Wright sent it towards the near post, and Duane Jackman got a firm header to the ball to neat at the far post. However, after soaking up a bit more pressure, Staines were behind for only 8 minutes, after a darting run by Howard Newton took him into the box. He seemed to slip as the first challenge from Matt Jones came in, but when Tom Champion tripped him as he surged towards the 6 yard box, referee Parker had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. With David Sargent off making his début for Uxbridge, the penalty duty fell to Elliot Onochie, and although Nicky Eyre flung himself to make the save, Onochie was quickest to follow it up and prod the ball in for the equaliser. Staines had another decent chance when Onochie fired over the bar, but Stortford were efficient in breaking up their attacks and quickly turning defence into attack, with Goodacre heading just over, and Jackman sending a header just wide in the final minute of the half. The second half, however, was a far more lively affair, and – after Onochie was denied in a decent one-v-one situation early on – it was the home side who began to get on top. Wells dived to save a Bowditch free kick from just outside the box, and Harris went close with another header. But Staines turned the game on its head when they snatched the lead in the 62nd minute. Risbridger found Brown, but his ball was cut out, only to fall into the path of Howard Newton, and he did well to work space and drilled a low shot from just outside the box beyond Eyre’s fingertips and into the bottom corner of the net. Stortford had a half chance to draw level straightaway when Wells was caught out wide of his posts as a clearance fell to Patterson, but his long shot deflected wide. But they did not have long to wait, as in the 67th minute, a Mark Wright corner from the left was firmly headed home by Ashley Nicholls. Both teams made changes in a bid to secure the game, with Taylor coming on for the visitors, and Ifura got his head to a Griffiths corner, but it flew just wide of Eyre’s upright. Swans’ last chance fell to Taylor, who saw a low drive saved following a driving run by Risbridger, but the game ended with the home side threatening to snatch it, with Jackman skewing a great chance across the face of goal with only Wells barring his path, and then the same player set up McKenzie who also fired wide. A last minute foul by Newton brought the game’s only yellow card. Jackman was announced as the home side’s man of the match. Staines: Wells, Kamara, Sterling, Gordon ©, Ifura, Scarlett, H Newton, Risbridger, D Brown, Onochie (Taylor 73), Griffiths; unused Butler, Bourne, Kersey, Charles-Smith. B Stortford: Eyre, Jones, Wright, Bowditch (Taylor-Forbes 80), Goodacre ©, Champion, Harris (Lettejallow 73), Nicholls, Jackman, Sheringham (McKenzie 80), Patterson; unused Jones, Cooper. Ref: Andrew S Parker (Linford, nr Stanford-le-Hope, Essex), ARs Maurice T Cook (Black Notley, nr Braintree, Essex, Jim A Pope (Braintree, Essex); Att 387.
Saturday 15th August 2009 (3:00pm) – Blue Square Conference – South Division STAINES TOWN (1) 1 HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE (2) 2 By Steve Parsons. Another sunny day saw Staines Town’s first ever meeting with the merged Havant & Waterlooville FC, a club that will always be remembered for their FA Cup exploits at Anfield 2 seasons ago. Steve Cordery selected an unchanged team, although Richard Butler had recovered sufficiently from his ankle injury to take a place on the bench. The visitors’ team included right-back Jake Newton, Howard’s brother, who left Staines over the summer as he now lives on the south coast. The pitch was green and flat, and Staines attacked the Penton Hook end in the first half. The early exchanges went the way of the home side, and Staines might even have taken the lead after just a minute’s play, when ‘keeper Aaron Howe parried out a Scott Taylor drive, and then recovered to palm away H Newton’s rebound. Staines piled on the pressure, and were rewarded as early as the 7th minute, when a great finish by Elliot Onochie put them in front, following some neat skills in the box by Leroy Griffiths, who then squeezed out his pass just as the defence seemed to have crowded him out. Staines had chances to extend their lead, while The Hawks mounted just one serious threat in the opening 25 minutes – a diving header from Tiryaki which Louis Wells did well to save. However, their hard work was cruelly undone by a highly controversial refereeing decision in the 26th minute. As Simon Jackson swung his boot to clear a dangerous ball some 10 yards from the Staines goal, a forward stooped to try to get his head to it, and the inevitable contact was made. Both players went down injured – Jackson would not in fact return and was sorely missed – but instead of the expected drop-ball, referee John Scott awarded the visitors an indirect free-kick, which was tapped to Muzzy Tiryaki, who slammed the ball into the roof of the net. After conceding for the first time this season, Staines’ confidence looked to be somewhat dented, and even after Chris Bourne was brought on the restore the side to 11 men, it was now Havant & Waterlooville who were in the ascendancy. The hard working Wes Fogden loosed a shot which, with the aid of a deflection, seemed goalbound until Wells fingertipped it over the bar, and then, 4 minutes before the break, the visitors scored what proved to be the winning goal. And it was quite a gem, too, with Shaun Wilkinson playing a corner short along the goal line to Manny Williams, who showed an incredible turn in the tightest of spaces to evade his marker, and then found the net from a very narrow angle. Right on half time, Williams almost created another goal, centring to Tiryaki whose shot was diverted for a corner. The second half was a little more cagey, with Staines seeming to have steadied their jitters, but Havant still looking the best of the three opponents they have yet faced in the Conference. A late tackle by Bourne brought the Staines man the only yellow card of the game, but with a quarter of the game remaining, the home side made a double substitution to try to find a way back into the game, Marc Charles-Smith and Darty Brown coming off the bench. However, the immediate action came at the other end, as a couple of missed tackles allowed Ian Simpemba room for a low shot, that stretched Wells as he touched it round for a corner, and this in turn led to another good save, as he denied Tiryaki in his last effort before being withdrawn. With 76? minutes played, however, the referee’s attention was drawn by assistant Vince Penfold flagging on the ‘bench’ side, in some pain with a pulled calf muscle. Despite treatment from physio Gareth Workman, it was clear that he was unable to carry on. After making enquiries among the crowd, local referee Steve Rance – whose son was watching the game – was summoned to hasten over from officiating at a match between Guildford & Woking Alliance clubs Addlestone and Shepperton FB – and he took over for the remainder of the match, although there had been a 23 minute delay in the meantime. Staines used the remaining minutes to mount several promising attacks, including a long shot by André Scarlett that was deflected for their eighth corner (as against 5 for the visitors). More controversy ensued in the 85th minute, when Charles-Smith was held only inches outside the penalty area, yet the defensive wall was allowed to line up just 6 yards back – adjacent to the penalty spot. The outstanding Williams almost gave the visitors an unassailable lead only for Wells to cling on to his 86th minute shot. In the final minutes, Staines saw shots by Charles-Smith, Risbridger, and a Newton header all blocked or just off target. The NLP’s man of the match, unsurprisingly, was Manny Williams, while the Massive chose Marien Ifura as Swans’ MoM, the president being made by acting chairman Ken Williams. Staines: L Wells, Jackson (Bourne 29), Sterling, Gordon ©, Ifura, Scarlett, H Newton, Risbridger, Taylor (Charles-Smith 68), Onochie (D Brown 68), Griffiths; unused Butler, Courtnage. Havant: Howe, J Newton, Gasson, Walker, Pearce, Simpemba ©, Fogden (Nightingale 90+2), Wilkinson, Williams, Tiryaki (Hutchings 74), Woodford; unused Martin, Hinshelwood, Norgate. Ref: J Scott (Buckingham), ARs V Penfold (Addlestone) / S Rance (Egham), G Viccars (Bletchley); Att 396.
Tuesday 11th August 2009 (7:45pm) – Blue Square Conference – South Division STAINES TOWN (0) 3 DORCHESTER TOWN (0) 0 By Steve Parsons. A warm evening, a pitch in superb condition, and two sides who had begun with a win on Saturday, made this an attractive occasion for the first ever Conference fixture in Staines, and the first League meeting with Dorchester. Just over 400 people turned up, and they were treated to an exciting evening of fast, flowing football, and ultimately a great result for the home team. Steve Cordery stuck with the same starting XI as at Weston, and the home side attacked the Silver’s Farm end in the first half. The visitors quickly showed how they had got off to a 3-0 flyer in Saturday’s opening fixtures, and looked strong and incisive when going forward. Forwards Ryan Moss and Phil Walsh both looked dangerous when going forward, and each had an early ‘sighter’ at goal, whilst Mark Jermyn also got forward and went close twice. The Magpies goalkeeper was in action in the 9th minute, however, when he made a flying save to turn a Scott Taylor drive round for a corner, after the Staines man had controlled well and arrowed a shot towards the top corner. A stooping header from Elliot Onochie met the same fate on 24 minutes, after an excellent move in which Leroy Griffiths had fed Dominic Sterling, and he had provided a deep centre. Louis Wells was stretched on the half hour by a skewed clearance from his own defence, when Marien Ifura stretched to get a boot to a dangerous cross-shot from Neil Martin. The best chance of the half came at the other end, however, as Taylor won a corner, and with Ifura and Sterling pushing up at the far post, Griffiths deceived the visitors by rolling the ball back to Simon Jackson, , whose cross reached Taylor, who in turn lined up a shot which seemed destined for the net. However, it took a big deflection, and cannoned off the angle of post and bar before coming back out to him, only for his second shot to go too high. The match was well refereed, and played in fine spirit by both teams, but there were yellow cards for two Dorchester players for fouls either side of half time – Hill and Martin. If Dorchester had shaded the first half possession, Staines got on top in the second, and they were boosted by an early goal just 4 minutes after the restart. Howard Newton played a quick one-two with Elliot Onochie, before crashing a low shot just inside the post, with too much power for Ryan Northmore’s diving hand to have much effect. Taylor was put through again 8 minutes later and had the chance to secure some breathing space in what was becoming a very fast and open game, but he fired wide. Dorchester won a free kick close to the halfway line on the hour, and Jake Sheeton played it up to Moss on the edge of the 6 yard box, but he somehow spooned his shot over the bar, thus wasting his team’s best chance of the game. Staines freshened up their attack by introducing Marc Charles-Smith and the now recovered Darty Brown, but for a while it was the Swans defenders who were seeing more of the ball. There was relieved applause after a swift Dorchester break had been halted by a superb Gareth Risbridger tackle and Sterling’s intelligent sweeping up, but Risbridger almost talked himself into the book after a foul a few minutes late. However, he was soon showing the style that earned him the supporters’ Man of the Match accolade, winning the ball in midfield and droopping a great pass into the path of Charles-Smith, whose good shot was deflected for a corner. Dorchester now had nothing to loose by staying back, and Staines had to defend accurately. Wells was tempted to the very edge of his box to grab a long range effort by Walsh, and did well to retain his balance and avoid conceding a dangerous free kick. Staines were now looking tired, and when André Scarlett sent the ball forward following a great Ifura tackle on 85 minutes, the outcome could not have been predicted. But Leroy Griffiths dug deep to find the speed to get beyond his marker, and then sent a glorious chip-shot just under the bar, via the fingertips of the leaping Northmore, to make the game safe. Chris Bourne was then brought on for his competitive début with 4 minutes to go, and it was he who scored the third right on time. Scarlett broke up an attack and played it to Charles-Smith, and he again demonstrated his excellent distribution to find Griffiths. Griffiths’ low drive was saved by the feet of Northmore, but as the ball rebounded, Bourne reacted the sharpest to guide it back beyond him. Staines: L Wells, Jackson, Sterling, Gordon ©, Ifura, Scarlett, Newton (Bourne 86), Risbridger, Taylor (D Brown 69), Onochie (Charles-Smith 69), Griffiths (Charles-Smith 82); unused Sargent, Kersey. Dorchester: Northmore, Jermyn, Sheeton, Mitchell, Bowles, Hill ©, Martin (Groves 61), Gleeson, Moss, Walsh, Forbes; unused Vickers, Nodwell, Flood, Filkins (gk). Ref: A Quelch (Berks), ARs M Sennett & B Furneaux (both Middx); Att 402.
Saturday 8th August 2009 (3:00pm) – Blue Square Conference – South Division WESTON-SUPER-MARE (0) 0 STAINES TOWN (0) 1 By Steve Parsons. After 36 years of Isthmian League football, Staines Town kicked off their first ever campaign in the Conference South after a 3? hour journey down to Somerset. Steve Cordery’s selection was almost made for him, as 4 of his squad were ruled out through injury (Cumberbatch, Woozley, Thomas, and Butler), whilst a fifth (Brown) was down with the ’flu’. The starting team thus featured two new signings in either side of defence, Simon Jackson and Dominic Sterling, and a third new signing – Chris Bourne – was on the bench. The pitch was decent, the weather warm and sunny, and there was a contingent of perhaps 70 Staines fans in the official crowd of 297, and Staines attacked the end with the large covered terrace in the first half. As with the Fulham game last week, kick-off was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of Sir Bobby Robson. After Elliot Onochie’s kick-off started the new era, it did not take Staines long to settle into their stride, taking the game to the home side and almost going in front in the 11th minute. A low drive by Onochie struck the foot of Kevin Sawyer’s left-hand post and cannoned back against Scott Taylor so quickly that he did not have time to shape himself for the rebound. Taylor then sent a shot across the face of goal, that Sawyer seemed to fingertip away, although no corner resulted, before Weston’s first significant chance, on the half-hour, when Ben Wells sent a long free-kick just beyond the upright. Staines were quickly back into the attack, with Leroy Griffiths getting away on the right and sending a cheeky shot towards the top corner, and then having a snapshot going just too high, before two blistering runs by Onochie stretched the home defence. As the half came to a close, the home side could count themselves a little fortunate to still be on terms, having gained only one corner to Staines’ nine, although in Ashan Holgate they had a forward who looked quite a handful. Although Staines had the ball in the net within 4 minutes of the restart, Onochie was some way offside, and the home side looked a little more composed to start with, but were forced into an early substitution when Mike Green was withdrawn. This seemed to open up new paths for the tricky Howard Newton, who sent over a lovely cross towards Scott Taylor, whose claims that he was pushed in the back as he went for the far post header seemed justified. Onochie continued to look dangerous, but in the middle of the half, Staines suddenly looked a little tired, and Weston began to enjoy some good possession. A swift move down the left ended with Holgate firing just inches wide. Staines responded with a neat move which saw Newton pick out Griffiths, and he centred for Taylor to chest the ball down, but then saw his volley deflected round for a corner. In the 76th minute, some clever skills by Josh Llewellyn in the box drew a brave save fro Louis Wells, and 3 minutes later, they should have scored when Holgate drove the ball into the box, and it rebounded to Llewellyn, who delayed his shot just long enough to enable Wells to regain his balance and make a fine save. In response, Staines withdrew Griffiths and introduced Marc Charles-Smith with 8 minutes left, and it proved to be an inspired change, for it was Charles-Smith who set up the only goal of the game in the 86th. After Newton had sent a shot just wide from an André Scarlett pass, it was Wells, Sterling, and Scarlett who worked the ball forward to Charles-Smith out wide on the left, and he sent over a low, awkward cross towards the far post. Elliot Onochie bravely stooped to head the ball goalwards, by way of a slight deflection, this proved enough to secure all 3 points. Weston went forward rom the kick off, but the move was broken up by a Risbridger foul, which sparked off something of a mêlée, in which Scarlett seemed to get a slap from Adi Harris; however, it was Risbridger and Darren Mullings who had their names taken. As the final whistle sounded, Staines fans could celebrate a memorable début before beginning the long journey home. Staines: L Wells, Jackson, Sterling, Gordon ©, Ifura, Scarlett, Newton, Risbridger, Taylor, Onochie, Griffiths (Charles-Smith 82); unused Sargent, Bourne, Kersey, Courtnage. Weston: Sawyer, Green (Compton 54), Paranello, Harris ©, Rand, Fortune [NLP MoM], B Wells, Mullings, Llewellyn, Holgate (Jeanne 81), Bartlett (McGregor 81); unused Brown, Klein-Davies. Ref: L Swabey (Devonport), ARs S Berner (Uffhulme, Devon), M Long (Chideock, Dorset); Att 297. | |
