Bank Holiday Monday 28th December 2009 (3:00pm) – Blue Square Conference (South)

STAINES TOWN (0) 2  BISHOP’S STORTFORD (1) 2 

By Steve Parsons.

Staines garnered another draw from this, their second game of the holiday period, repeating the result from the away fixture between these sides earlier in the season.  With Steve Cordery on a well-earned break, Craig Maskell took the side for the first of two games, and made two changes, with Michael Kamara taking over from the injured Jackson, and Scott Taylor coming back for Chaaban who was nursing a thigh injury.  There was a first League selection, albeit as unused sub, for Academy product Alfie Arthur.  The Stortford attack included the returning Bertie Brayley, and Teddy Sheringham’s son, Charlie.  The afternoon was chilly but bright, and the overnight frost had thawed, leaving the pitch in decent condition.  Staines attacked the Penton Hook end in the first half.

The early stages saw a return of one of Staines’ lingering problems as they were unable to seriously threaten Nicky Eyre in the Stortford goal, despite having much the better of possession.  The best chance in this period came from a Sterling free kick on the left touch line, which was met at the far post by a Marien Ifura header that came back off the bar.  Good skills by Howard Newton saw him carve out a chance that was diverted over the bar by a defender, but in between there were warning signs for Staines, when a great ball into the box by Sulaiman might have resulted in a goal but for a team-mate slipping over when well placed.  Sulaiman sent another shot over, but in the 18th minute a neat move begun by Sheringham and Brayley ended with Louis Riddle firing into the bottom corner from the 18 yard line, to give Stortford the lead.  Two minutes later, Staines were back on the attack, with Jones having to divert a Taylor cross-shot out for a corner under pressure from Butler, and then Sterling seeing a close-range drive blocked on the line, by a combination of Eyre and team-mate Butler.  Newton then put a snap-shot wide, before two visiting players were booked for fouls – Champion (34 mins, foul on Butler) and Riddle (37 mins, high challenge on Sterling).  The half ended with Stortford skipper Tom Champion almost increasing their lead, when he headed on a corner kick that just flashed past the post.

Staines took only 8 minutes of the second half to get back on level terms, with Newton starting the move by passing to Taylor out wide on the right, and Taylor’s accurate ball in was met by a rapier finish by Richard Butler, sending the ball beyond the diving Eyre.  However, parity lasted only 6 minutes, as a speculative ball into the Staines box by Nunn took an unfortunate ricochet off Brown, and while some forwards stopped to appeal for hands, the deadly Bertie Brayley kept his eye on the ball and netted from just inside the box.  Both sides made substitutions, with Staines sacrificing Taylor and Griffiths, who has been ill, to get Chaaban and Ahmad on for the last quarter of the game.  There were chances at each end, with Champion and Riddle again going close, and Ahmad sending a shot just over, before Staines bagged a deserved equaliser in the 81st minute.  Newton sent over a corner from the left, Kamara stabbed it goalwards from the far post, only to see his effort blocked on the line, by Chaaban pounced from a couple of yards out, and duly became the first Staines goalscorer to reach double figures this season.  Despite being behind twice, Staines certainly deserved their point, and neither side could score in the final minutes, which saw one more yellow card, this for a foul by Stortford sub Lathrope. 

Staines: Wells, Kamara, Sterling, Gordon ©, Ifura, D Brown, Newton, Scarlett, Butler (Charles-Smith 75), Taylor (Ahmad 64), Griffiths Chaaban 64); unused: King, Taylor.

B Stortford: Eyre, Nunn, Jones, Lette-Jellow, Angus, Champion ©, Sulaiman (Lathrope HT), Southam, Brayley (Shulton 80), Sheringham, Riddle; unused Abdullahi, Llewellyn, Mason.

Ref: Tim Robinson (Bersted, W Sussex); ARs David Jones (New Haw), Adrian Piggott (High Wycombe); Att: 382.

Boxing Day Saturday 26th December 2009 (3:00pm) – Blue Square Conference (South)

HAMPTON & RICHMOND BOROUGH (0) 1  STAINES TOWN (1) 4 

By Steve Parsons.

The thaw that denied us a white Christmas allowed Staines to take the field and score their best result against local rivals Hampton since 1974, and their first four-goal haul in their short Conference history.  Steve Cordery pitted himself against Alan Devonshire, hoping for a first victory at this ground in 4 visits since leaving Hampton, and he made three changes to the side which so nearly held Newport a week ago.  Dominic Sterling, Ali Chaaban, and Howard Newton were available again, and came in for James King, Michael Kamara, and Scott Taylor.  Maskell was previously at Hampton, as was Swans forward Leroy Griffiths, whilst The Beavers included three former Swans, Matt Lovett, Marcello Fernandes, and skipper Stuart Lake.  On a bright but chilly afternoon, Staines attached the far end in front of a noisy holiday crowd of 613. 

The home side were quickest out of the blocks, and a 4th minute Lake cross was stabbed in from close range by Craig Dundas, but he was ruled offside.  Staines gradually warmed to their task, and they opened the scoring in the 21st minute, after a good move was ended by a trip on André Scarlett just to the left of the ‘D’, and Ali Chaaban stepped up to curl a low shot through the wall and into the bottom corner of Lovett’s net.  Chaaban was now demonstrating some silky close control, and he almost bagged a second goal just 3 minutes later, when sidestepping Lovett, who just did enough to narrow the angle so that he fired into the side netting.  Then Sterling started another dangerous move for Staines with a long throw to Richard Butler, who wove his way into the box but was denied by Lovett.  With just a couple of minutes remaining before the interval, an accidental collision resulted in Jackson going down in obvious pain, and he had to immediately make way for Kamara.  During the interval, Jackson’s dislocated shoulder had to be popped back in, but he will be ruled out for 2 or 3 weeks.  His loss left the Staines defence a little disorganised in the remainder of the half, and both Matthews and Tanner fired balls across the face of goal, with the latter only a whisker from being converted by either Dundas or Matthews.

Staines still looked a bit disjoined at the start of the second half, but they were thankful that the Hampton shooting was inaccurate.  However, Kamara still had to clear an angled Lee-Charles shot off the line, whilst Beckford collected a wayward pass but saw his shot diverted round the post.  A minute later, however, Staines grabbed a vital second goal, Sterling intercepted a pass and played a great ball to Chaaban, who advanced before unselfishly squaring to Richard Butler, who picked his spot in the bottom corner of the net with 61 minutes played.  But Hampton were in no mood to surrender without a fight.  A couple of substitutions were made, Scarborough saw a decent chance thwarted for offside, and a strong run from the powerful Dundas won them a corner.  Sub Dave Tarpey picked out Scarborough with a pinpoint free-kick, only to see his team-mate shoot over, but on 70 minutes, another Tarpey run was halted by a trip just inside the box, and Barrie Matthews converted the penalty.  It was now anyone’s game, and on 77 minutes the home side almost levelled, following a foul by Gordon which saw the Staines skipper cautioned.  Tarpey drilled the free kick against the inside of Louis Wells’ post, and the danger was cleared upfield.  And just 2 minutes later, Staines scored the goal that sealed their first win over Hampton for 6 years, Chaaban showing great skills down the left before rifling an unstoppable shot beyond Lovett for 3-1.  But there was more to come for the visitors, with Howard Newton bagging a fourth with another great finish from the left on 83 minutes.  Staines have secured the local bragging rights, and climbed to 12th, but with the Conference fixtures being reversed on New Year’s Day, they will need to do it all again less than a week later.  A bonus for Staines was that Marc Charles-Smith made a cameo appearance as a late sub, his first senior action since his training ground injury 13 weeks earlier.

Staines: Wells, Jackson (Kamara 45-), Sterling, Gordon ©, Ifura, Scarlett, Newton (Ahmad 86), D Brown, Butler, Chaaban (Charles-Smith 81), Griffiths; unused: King, Taylor.

Hampton: Lovett, Fernandes, Tanner, Jeffery, Scarborough, Beckford (Tarpey 65), Lake, Lee-Charles (Yaku 81), Dundas, Collier (Beadle 65), Matthews; unused Schoburth, Quashie.

Ref: Tony Serrano (Hemel Hempstead); ARs Vince Penfold (Row Town), Ben Furneaux (Ickenham); Att: 613.Saturday 19th December 2009 (3:00pm) – Blue Square Conference (South)

NEWPORT COUNTY (0) 1  STAINES TOWN (0) 0 

By Steve Parsons.

In one of only four Conference South games to beat the bad weather (five in the whole three divisions), Staines were desperately unlucky to come home from their first League visit to Wales with nothing, after a patched-up side came within seconds of claiming a deserved draw against the runaway League leaders.  Steve Cordery had to do without the injured Risbridger, Dean Thomas, and Chaaban; Onochie was working, and Newton was at a wedding.  South Wales avoided the snow, but low temperatures meant that the excellent playing surface was at the mercy of freezing.  Although it was passed fit, the unfortunate Dominic Sterling managed to find a frozen spot in the warm up, and had to be withdrawn just before kick off.  The bench contained two untried Academy products (Arthur may have been a third, but for his suspension) and one of them – James King – was hastily slotted into the team sheet for his début at this level.  He had in fact not played since being signed on senior forms in August and immediately loaned to Walton Casuals, where he broke his arm on the first day of the season, until appearing in Staines’ Reserves on Monday.  Playing alongside him that night were Marc Charles-Smith (first game since breaking his jaw in training in October), and newly registered Academy product, Hyun-Jin Lee – and these two were also named on a bench, to which Trent Phillips was a last minute addition after the Sterling injury, making two goalkeepers.  All this meant two other changes to last week’s starting XI, Richard Butler for Onochie, and Michael Kamara for Thomas – the right back was expecting to play in midfield, but had to fill in on the left after Sterling’s calf injury.  Staines attacked the ‘wind farm’ end in the first half of a chill afternoon at Newport’s Spytty Park athletic stadium.

Unsurprisingly, Staines made a nervy start, with an early Ifura handball giving Sam Foley the chance to sting Louis Wells’ hands with a free kick.  Then Wells forced Sam Foley wide after a good ball in from Coutts.  But Staines settled, and soon started showing some of the form that makes them the only side to have beaten County in the League this term.  Richard Butler shot just wide, and Kamara fizzed an angled effort right across the goalmouth.  But The Exiles were never less than dangerous, and when a cheaply conceded corner was whipped in by Charlie Henry, Gary Warren powered a close range downwards header into the ground and it bounced over the bar.  Staines countered with André Scarlett’s diagonal ball which just eluded Scott Taylor, and a Scarlet free kick that faded wide when the fired-up Leroy Griffiths seemed set to take it.  The game’s champagne moment occurred on 37 minutes, when Jackson played a clever ball to Taylor on the edge of a crowded box, and, with seemingly no way of threading it through to Scarlett, he deftly lifted the ball over a defender’s head and into the path of the lively midfielder, whose half volley was scuffed away.  Griffiths took the resulting corner, which ’keeper Glyn Thompson tipped over the bar, and Taylor found Scarlett from the next corner, for another volley that flew wide.  Both sides were getting a little frustrated with what they saw as inconsistent refereeing, and Staines picked up two yellow cards for what seemed little more than an accidental collision and a stumble – Griffiths (31m) after Cochlin went down in the centre circle, and Ifura (35m) after Turk fell.  By contrast, several clear dissents and a hoofed away dead-ball went unpunished.

The visitors had a real go at Newport at the start of the second half, with Butler given just offside when put through, and Thompson fingertipping an inswinging Griffiths corner over.  At the other end, a Taylor foul led to an unusual free kick move orchestrated by Collins, and when the ball eventually reached Foley, he fired over from 18 yards.  With half an hour still to play, the pitch started to show serious signs of freezing, as players lost their footings and put themselves under pressure.  One such let Henry in for Newport, but he shot just wide, and another led to Staines conceding a disputed 72nd minute corner, whipped in to Gary Warren, who powered his header over from close range.  After 74 minutes, the battling Butler hurdled clear of a despairing tackle on the halfway line, but was pulled down by a second home player, Cochlin, who was yellow carded.  Staines almost grabbed a lead on 81 minutes, Taylor crossing for Ifura who emulated Warren’s effort by heading wide of an inviting target.  Kamara again sent a ball across the face of goal, and in the 87th minute it was Staines’ turn to almost capitalise on an error, Thompson clearing the ball straight to Griffiths, who picked out Butler, who in turn fired over from 15 yards.  In truth, for either side to have won it at this stage would have been something of an injustice, after both teams had served up such a battling display in difficult conditions.  But, that’s exactly what did happen in the 90th minute, when two Swans defenders slithered when trying to cut out a low ball from the sub Kerry Morgan on the Newport left, leaving Charlie Henry with the split second he needed to steady himself and crack the winning goal into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Most of the terrific 1460 crowd went wild with delight, and Staines were unable to create the opening they needed in the few seconds that remained.  Newport’s sponsors gave their Man of the Match award to skipper Gary Warren.

Staines: Wells, Jackson, King, Gordon ©, Ifura, Scarlett, Kamara, D Brown, Butler, Griffiths, Taylor; unused: Ahmad, Phillips (g), Charles-Smith, Lee, Courtnage (g).

Newport: Thompson, Bignot, Collins, Turk, Warren ©, Cochlin, Coutts (Morgan 71), Rogers, Reid, Foley, Henry; unused Giles, Peters, Hartrick, Blackburn.

Ref: Kevin L Morris (Hereford); ARs Roger V Smith (Cheltenham), Alan I Raggett (Locking, nr Weston-super-Mare); Att: 1460.

Wednesday 9th December 2009 (7:45pm) – Football Association Challenge cup sponsored by E.On Second Round Proper Replay (tie 20)

MILLWALL (1) 4 STAINES TOWN (0) 0

By Steve Parsons.

Staines reaped the rewards of their hard work 10 days earlier, with this chance to play in front of 3452 at Millwall’s superb ‘New Den’ in Bermondsey. No less than 6 coach-loads of Swans fans, many with tickets kindly paid by Chairman Alan Boon, swelled the Staines contingent to 500 massed in the North Stand behind the goal that their favourites defended in the first half of a relatively mild evening. Steve Cordery selected the same team as contested the first game, with Risbridger having completed his suspension. Millwall, whose manager Kenny Jackett was at home with ’flu’, were able to bring back Lewis Grabban for his first start since August, and Schofield and Smith were also added to the side which drew at Wheatsheaf Park, with Martin, Ward, and the awkward Price missing out. The game had been moved back from the Tuesday, so that it could be screened live on the FA’s website, and it was also covered live on BBC radio.

The white-shirted visitors were pushed onto the back foot from the start, but all Millwall had to show for it was a 6th minute caution for Robinson for his foul on Butler. There was a worry for Staines when Gareth Risbridger went down after an 11th minute clash of heads but he was cleared to resume after treatment. Jimmy Abdou’s darting run for Millwall on 26 minutes was ended when he went down right on the edge of the box, but referee Tierney waved play-on, and after soaking up the pressure for 15 minutes, Staines then began to create some openings of their own. A trip on Ali Chaaban gave Simon Jackson the chance to send the ball into the box from a free-kick that was strangely delayed by an exchange of words between Darty Brown and the ref. The kick was beaten away, however, and Millwall responded with a Marc Laird drive that took a deflection and went out for a corner. A neat move involving Danny Gordon, Howard Newton, and Risbridger ended with ‘keeper David Forde touching away a Chaaban drive for Swans’ first corner, on 25 minutes. Risbridger then needed to be quick on his feet at the other end, chasing back to help the ball back towards Louis Wells after Grabban had won the ball cheaply in midfield and made a purposeful run. Next it was Brown’s turn to make an important defensive interception, following a free kick out on the left for a foul on Grabban that saw Brown’s name taken. Chris Hackett put a chance wide for the home side, but then limped out of the game, to be replaced by birthday boy Ashley Grimes, who is the son of the former Manchester United player of the same name. He was immediately involved, flicking the ball on to Steve Morison who jinked along the by-line, but Gordon was able to get a toe in and send the ball out for a corner. Staines were coming under heavy pressure again towards the end of the half, Wells saving well from Morison, and Alan Dunne seeing a shot deflected for a corner, which Staines were pleased came to nothing as the ref spotted some pushing in the box. However, this was only a brief reprieve, as a long ball by Jack Smith was neatly helped on by Danny Schofield to Steve Morison, who controlled well in space, and made no mistake with a low shot from the edge of the box. In the remaining minutes of the half, extended by 2 additional ones, Wells had to make a great save from Grabban after Schofield’s clever free kick, and Swans also survived a scramble, as well as seeing Grimes gain possession from a misplaced pass and again test Wells. But there were chances at the other end, too, with Chaaban working David Forde from 15 yards, and Howard Newton sending over a corner, which in fact led to a Lions break that was finally halted by the hard-working Leroy Griffiths.

Staines’ difficult task was doubled when Millwall went 2-0 up just 4 minutes into the second period. Wells had already been called on to dive at Schofield’s feet, but he could do nothing about Jack Smith’s well-struck shot after he had been put clear by Morison. Staines then endured a difficult spell, with Grimes beating the offside and forcing Wells into a good save, Morison firing across the face of goal, and Butler getting his name taken for going down too easily in the box. André Scarlett came on for Brown and within 2 minutes his pass out to Simon Jackson led to the right-back’s cross floating in and bouncing on the Millwall crossbar. Despite Scarlett’s fresh legs and some good passing, Millwall still got forward frequently, Wells saving from Grimes at close range, then from Grabban’s follow-up. Scott Taylor’s introduction with 17 minutes to go was a popular move, as he began his pro career at Millwall after becoming Staines’ record sale some 15 years earlier. So at home was he at The den, that he almost let himself into the home players’ lounge when he arrived! Millwall’s Dunne was booked for dissent, but as Staines tried to push forward, there were increasing openings for the home side, and one of these was converted on 79 minutes, Alan Dunne bulleting in a header following Schofield’s corner from the left. Staines tried to hit straight back, Griffiths jumping with Forde who fumbled the high ball into the path of Newton, but his shot was blocked in the 6 yard box, before making way for Mazin Ahmad. Abdou’s late challenge on Chaaban brought him a yellow card but Staines lost possession from the free-kick giving Millwall a three-onto-two situation, entailing Wells saving from Grimes. There were 4 additional minutes at the end of the game, and Staines tried hard to get themselves on the scoresheet. Jackson battled into the box and forced a save, and from the corner, Chaaban’s shot was blocked. But Millwall broke again, Wells saving from Laird, and Sterling making a great tackle, but in the 92nd minute, Adam Bolder found Danny Schofield, who fired in a fourth. In the dying seconds, Ahmad and Taylor linked up well, with the former sending a shot just over the bar. Millwall will now entertain Championship side Derby County in Round 3, while Staines fans showed their appreciation for the side’s great effort in this competition, reaching Round 2 for the second time in 3 years to belie their generally poor record in this most famous of cup competitions.

Staines: Wells, Jackson, Sterling, Gordon ©, Ifura, D Brown (Scarlett 67), Newton (Ahmad 82), Risbridger (vice capt), Butler (Taylor 73), Chaaban, Griffiths; unused: Onochie, D Thomas, Courtnage (g), Kamara.

Millwall: Forde, Dunne, Robinson ©, Frampton, Smith, Hackett (Grimes 35), Laird, Abdou (Bolder 86), Schofield, Morison, Grabban; unused Price, Sullivan, Ward, Hughes-Mason, Fuseini.

Ref: Paul Tierney (Lancs); ARs John Busby (Oxon), Justin R Amey (Dorset); 4th Off Stuart Burt (Northants); Att: 3452.

Saturday 5th December 2009 (3:00pm) – Blue Square Conference (South)

STAINES TOWN (0) 0 BASINGSTOKE TOWN (0) 1

By Steve Parsons

Basingstoke made their first visit to Wheatsheaf Lane since 1996, as Staines attempted to halt a five-game winless run before taking on Millwall in their FA Cup replay. Steve Cordery resisted any temptation to rest players wholesale, the only changes from midweek being Darty Brown’s inclusion for the suspended Risbridger, and Ali Chaaban’s return, in place of Richard Butler. The pitch was in good condition despite a lot of rain in the previous 24 hours, and in fact more fell during the game, which began with Staines attacking the Penton Hook end on a cool, grey afternoon. The appointed referee had hurt his back the previous night in his work as a fireman, and so was replaced by Andy Newell.

It was to be a frustrating afternoon, however, for the Swans and the crowd swelled by fans eager to take advantage of the club’s coach-for-free deal for Wednesday’s game. They were on top for long periods of the game, retaining possession and stringing together some intricate passing moves, but they rarely tested ‘Stoke keeper Ross Kitteridge, and ended up 1-0 losers. After half and hour of Swans supremacy, the first real scoring chance went the visitors’ way, as Mitchell Bryant nicked an awkwardly bouncing ball and raced in on goal, but Louis Wells spread himself well to avert the danger. Then Howard Newton and Ali Chaaban clicked into gear, first combining together to set up a chance from which Mazin Ahmad might have opened his account, and then Newton almost rounded Kitteridge after Chaaban had exchanged passes with Leroy Griffiths. But Basingstoke will wonder how they did not go in one up, as Jide Ogunbote seemed a cert to score when he guided his 42nd minute close-range header towards the corner of the net, only for Wells to get incredible extension on his outstretched arm to push the ball away.

Ten minutes into the second half, and it was Staines’ turn to consider themselves unlucky, as Brown lifted the ball into the box, and Marien Ifura looped a header over Kitteridge, only to see it bounce agonisingly on the top of the crossbar and over. There was a 62nd minute warning for Staines, when the impressive David Pratt found space on the right and threaded over a low cross that wrongfooted Wells, who was pleased to see his skipper Danny Gordon backing up to effect the clearance from in front of goal. But just a minute later, things did not work out so well for Staines, a s a cross from the left was met by a diving, glancing header from Jide Ogunbote, which found its way into the corner of the net. In doing so, his head collided with Ifura, and went down requiring long treatment. Before he was eventually stretchered off in a groggy state, Staines had introduced Butler, and then Basingstoke subbed another player, before finally replacing the stricken striker before play resumed. Three visiting players found their way into the ref’s book within the space of 13 minutes: Bryant for dissent, Franks for a punishing tackle which left Sterling holding his ankle, and skipper Price for a trip. This last gave Staines a free-kick some 25 yards out, which sub Elliot Onochie took, only for the ball to clip a team-mate’s heels and fly just wide. Onochie was unlucky again when he dispossessed a defender only to see both his shot and Griffiths’ rebound blocked by Fraser Franks. No less than 8 minutes were added, mostly for the goalscorer’s injury, meaning that the game did not end until almost 5pm (it had kicked off a few minutes late, too). But although Onochie saw a 95th minute drive saved by Kitteridge following more neat passing in the box between Chaaban and Griffiths, it was not enough time for Staines to rescue a point.

Staines: Wells, Jackson (Thomas 82), Sterling, Gordon ©, Ifura, D Brown, Newton (Onochie 82), Ahmad (Butler 63), Scarlett, Chaaban, Griffiths; u: Kamara, Taylor.

Basingstoke: Kitteridge, Price ©, Finlay (Warner 64), Franks, Mitchell, Laidler, Ogunbote (Jones 67), Williamson, Pratt, Bryant (Downes 72), Hankin; Stephens, Akwuegbu.

Ref: AJ Newell (N Yate, Avon); ARs E Moore (Bucks), JE Livingston (Oxon); Att: 483.

Tuesday 1st December 2009 (7:45pm) – Blue Square Conference (South)

STAINES TOWN (0) 0 DOVER ATHLETIC (0) 0

By Steve Parsons.

The tv gantry remained, the Silver’s Farm netting was still down, and the legacy of the new crash barriers will stay for good, but after the excitement of Saturday’s FA Cup tie, Wheatsheaf Lane returned to a degree of normality on a chilly Tuesday night, where second placed Dover (and fellow promotion winners from last season), Dover, were the visitors. Steve Cordery made two changes to the side which had faced Millwall – André Scarlett coming back for Darty Brown, and Mazin Ahmad getting his first start as Ali Chaaban rested a slight knock picked up on Saturday. The usual pre-match and half-time diet of recorded chart music was augmented by a festive contribution from the local Salvation Army, and the members of the brass band joined ‘The Massive’ in the stand during the first half, delighting them by adding some genuine musical talent to the enthusiasm of the fans. On a very cold night, Staines began by attacking the Penton Hook end.

The visitors began the game on the attack, while Staines collected an early yellow card for a 9th minute late challenge by Sterling. A few minutes later, and Dover corner from the right was sent hanging over the goalmouth, but Shaun Welford rose and headed it wide of the target. Louis Wells then had to hold a dangerous strike from the unmarked Tom Wynter, after he had been picked out by Nicky Southall following another corner. But Wells then initiated an attack, which saw the tide start to turn in Staines’ favour. Dover ‘keeper John Whitehouse had to come off his line smartly to grab the ball ahead of Leroy Griffiths, and although Sam Moore tested Wells with a 20 yarder, Staines looking more dangerous. Scarlett pulled a ball back for Dominic Sterling, who saw a rare shot saved by Whitehouse’s legs, and seconds later, Ahmad centred to Richard Butler, who tried to swivel and shoot in one movement on the edge of the 6 yard box. Wells got down well to save from Welford after a skilful run, but the half ended with Ahmad seeing a cross nodded just over the bar.

Staines were the stronger side throughout the second half, although there was a half chance for the visitors when Southall curled a free kick just over following a Gareth Risbridger foul just outside the box. Elliot Onochie, who had replaced Butler early in the half, headed just wide after the shaky Whitehouse failed to hold a Griffiths cross. There was a caution for each side, as Moore grabbed Scarlett around the shoulders, and then Risbridger was penalised for persistent infringement. Ten minutes from time, Griffiths laid the ball back to Newton from a corner, and he hit a viciously dipping shot that Whitehouse fingertipped over for a corner. Then Scott Taylor controlled Scarlett’s long pass and cut into the box, winning a corner from which Newton stretched the ‘keeper, and in the last minute Onochie hared down the touchline before cutting the ball back for a Newton shot that was cleared virtually off the line by Jake Leberl.

Staines: Wells, Jackson, Sterling, Gordon ©, Ifura, Scarlett, Newton, Risbridger, Butler (Onochie 50), Ahmad (Taylor 71), Griffiths; u: Kamara, Thomas, Courtnage (g).

Dover: Whitehouse, Fish, Wynter (Walder 80), Hill (Gore HT), Leberl, Moore, Southall ©, Rogers, Welford (Browning 59), Collin, Birchall; unused Hughes, Hook (g).

Ref: DK Rock (Hatfield); ARs M Sennett (Hayes), ID Kitchen (Chertsey); Att: 473.