Sunday 27th January 2008 (2pm) – London & SE Women’s Regional Lg Div 1 (Lon)

STAINES TOWN Women (1) 2

GARSTON Ladies (1) 1

Staines returned to form with a hard-earned win over Garston at Wheatsheaf Park on a sunny Sunday afternoon, on a day which saw the return – only as a spectator at this point – of Eddy Koff.  It also marked a return to some of the team’s best form, and, with a little more luck in front of goal they might have won by a more comfortable scoreline.  Staines had plenty of possession, and were playing well, but at the other end, Karrin French-Wollen had to pull off a couple of fine saves to deny Carly Johnston and Gemma Curtis.  Caroline Tenenbaum seemed to handle when under pressure from Lou Richards, but it was on the referee’s blind side, and no penalty resulted.  However, Mr Brundish did spot a handball by Jo Sharp a few minutes later, only for Lucy McNeil to send her 21st minute spot-kick wide of the mark.  Seven minutes later, Garston went ahead, with a firm, low shot from Christy Brewer which squirmed under the ‘keeper’s dive.  However, Staines put that set-back behind them on 35 minutes, when a great strike from Lisa Samuel made it 1-1, the deflection off Vikki Duffy helping to deceive ‘keeper Jade Cook.  Tremendous work on the left by Jo Ginger and Samuel in the first minute of the second half resulted in the ball coming across the area, where Lou Richards slammed the ball home from 12 yards for 2-1.  Staines piled on the pressure for most of the half, with the best chances coming from Ginger, who hit the bar, and Hannah Fitzpatrick, who drew a good save from Cook after Jenni Friar did well to keep the ball in play and get a cross in.  At the other end, Brewer was playing as a lone forward for much of the time, but required close monitoring by Sharon Heaven and her fellow defenders, until she was somewhat surprisingly subbed 17 minutes from time.  Pleasingly, too, the game was played in a fine spirit by both teams, after a somewhat bad-tempered encounter in the away game in Watford.

Staines: Karrin French-Wollen, Lynsey York, Jenni Friar, Julie Newell, Sharon Heaven ©, Nat Parsons, Lou Richards (Tasha Lodder 88), Lucy McNeil, Jo Ginger (Angela Tunnicliffe 72), Sam Oliver (Hannah Fitzpatrick 60), Lisa Samuel; unused Anne Hutchinson, Sarah Clutterbuck.

Garston: Jade Cook, Jo Sharp, Alice Cheng, Caroline Tenenbaum, Sam Roads, Kelly Spencer, Carly Johnson, Gemma Curtis, Vikki Duffy, Amanda Webb, Christy Brewer (Lauren Atkins 73).

Ref – Scott Brundish (Ashford); ARs Marco Bianco (Chertsey / STFC), Colin Sills (Watford / GLFC). Att 44.

Saturday 26th January 2008 (3pm) – Ryman League Premier Division

HASTINGS UNITED (0) 2   STAINES TOWN (0) 0

By Steve Parsons.

Staines went down to a disappointing defeat at the hands of 21st placed Hastings on Saturday, and in doing so slipped to 6th themselves, out of the play-off positions for the first time this year.  Steve Cordery was offering no excuses for his side’s disappointing performance down in Kent, although he could have pointed to the opposition being fired up to end a run of 6 games without a win by the appointment of a new manager Tony Dolby, and to the very uneven and soft playing surface.  In addition, he lost target man Mark Nwokeji to an injury in the warm-up, giving Marc Charles-Smith a late call-up to the starting team, with the other changes from midweek being the switching of Adam Thompson for the injured Jon McDonald, and recalling Victor Asombang for Ramon Calliste.  There was a place on the bench for newcomer Kerem Bashkal, a midfielder who was released by Waltham Forest following 6 years at Crystal Palace: Bashkal, 23, had impressed in his Reserve début on Thursday.  On a chilly day at the Pilot Field, Staines wore white and red and attacked the entrance end, with the wind in their faces, in the first half.

The first half was poor fayre for the spectators, as neither side could make a lot of headway on the treacherous surface.  Shaun Allaway made one decent save, rising to claim a high ball, whilst the visitors also had an Ade Olorunda header which went wide, and a shot from Sam Adams which was blocked.  Ade Olorunde dipped a volley just over the bar, Staines made their first decent chance thanks to a 41st minute run by Howard Newton, letting fly with a powerful enough shot, but one which was dealt with comfortably by Lee Worgan.  Probably the best move of the half was the one fashioned by the home side in its closing minute, Danny Spice’s long throw being helped on by A Olorunde for Russell Eldridge to meet with a diving header, but Allaway dived to his left to save.

The home side moved in front within a minute of the restart, as Eldridge advanced down the flank and received a wall pass back from Adams, before crossing for Ade Olorunda to hit a low, first-time shot low and into the net from an angle.  For a while it seemed as this would be the wake-up that Staines needed, as the very next attack saw a Gareth Risbridger shot blocked and H Newton’s follow-up going inches wide, before another good move ended with a powerful Risbridger drive which deflected into the ‘keeper’s hands.  A foul by Antonio Gonella levelled the bookings count in what was generally a sporting encounter.  Hastings might have extended their lead on the hour, when they carved out a good chance which ended in an Adams shot hitting the crossbar.  Allaway was soon in action again, saving a scrambled effort by Carey. Staines were undone again by another darting run by Antonio Gonella, whose cross was met by A Olorunda, and superbly saved from close range by Allaway.  Staines introduced Clarke, and then Bashkal for his début, and the latter earned a dangerous free kick in the ‘D’, but Clarke’s set-piece thumped into the wall.  Staines supporters with long memories remembered their famous last minute equaliser at this very stadium (albeit against a different Hastings United) in 1984 in what was – until recently – their best FA Cup run, so hopes began to rise as they got forward in the closing period.  Danny Gordon had decent claims for a penalty overlooked as he seemed to be flattened while waiting for a hanging Clarke free kick to arrive on the edge of the 6 yard box, and H Newton again went close with an angled shot.  It went for a corner in the 89th minute, but this was dealt with by the Hastings defence, who then quickly switched play to the other end through Adams and Carey.  The latter harried Marcel Nugent into a back pass which fell short of Allaway, and Danny Leach – with fresh legs having only replaced the injured A Olorunda 3 minutes earlier – darted in and rolled in United’s second.   

Staines: Allaway, Thompson, Nugent, Gordon, Flitter ©, Risbridger, Cook, Toppin (Bashkal 76), H Newton, Charles-Smith, Asombang (Clarke 61); unused Nwokeji, Sargent, Courtnage (gk).

Hastings: Worgan, Spice, Elford ©, Whyborne, Russell, Eldridge, Gonella, T Olorunda, A Olorunde (Leach 86), Adams, Carey; unused Sawyer, Paine, Franklin, Seitsonen (gk).

Ref: MT McCoy (Kent); ARs DL Eaton & B Erguven (both E Sussex); Attendance 422.

Thursday 24th January 2008 (7:30pm) – Capital League Western Division

STAINES TOWN Reserves (1) 1

HARROW BOROUGH Reserves (1) 3

The trilogy of Reserve games against Harrow ended in defeat, in what was Staines’ first League game at Wheatsheaf Lane so far this season!  The side was managed by Chris Wainwright as Trent Phillips was on honeymoon, and included two trialists from the Roehampton academy – Hungarian fullback / midfielder Károly Szalai (24, ex Marton, Videoton Fehervár, Siófok), and 21 year-old French winger Baky Konaté (ex RC Paris, PSG).  The other newcomer was Kerem Bashkal, 23, a London born midfielder with experience at Crystal Palace and Waltham Forest, and it was he who was added to Ryman forms after the game.  The game also provided a welcome platform for several senior players to test their injuries: Leigh Mason came through 90 minutes, and Dave Sargent was still looking strong when he was withdrawn as a late precaution 20 minutes from time, but Dwain Clarke managed only 45 minutes, and André Scarlett a little less than this following a knock on his knee.  Unfortunately, with sub Nick White hurting his ankle while warming up, Staines again finished the game with a man short through no fault of their own.  Myles Ajayi broke away on his own to fire Harrow into an 8th minute lead, but Staines came back strongly and looked the better side throughout the first half.  However, it was not until the 45th minute that Dwain Clarke notched the equaliser, reacting quickly to a loose Otira backpass and forcing the ball beyond Ross.  James McShane came on for his return game after signing from East Stirling (having been in their squad to face Rangers in the Scottish FA Cup), but it was Harrow who shaded the second half.  Having just missed a glorious chance, Charlie Hill put them ahead with a difficult dipping shot on 62 mins, and Mark Sutherland made sure when capitalising on a defensive error on 73 mins.

Staines: Chris Davies; Károly Szalai, Leigh Mason, Dave Sargent, Richard Orlu, André Scarlett © (Michael Marren 40), Chris ‘Ted’ Day, Kerem Bashkal, Lyle Taylor, Dwain Clarke (James McShane HT), Baky Konaté; unused Nick White.

Harrow: Gary Ross, Francis Otira (Rob Parillon HT) Tariq Goode-McLeish, Lee Brockett, Leon Henderson, Nathan Knox ©, Kevin Wynter, Mark Sutherland, Charlie Hill (Tiago Martins 68), Myles Ajayi (Steve Brockett 57), AJ Lewis; unused Stuart Crawford.

Ref: Roy Pardoe (Windsor); ARs Paul Maskell (Epsom), Stephen Bodell (Enfield); Att 24.

Tuesday 22nd January 2008 (7:45pm) – Middlesex Senior Cup Quarter-Final

STAINES TOWN (0) 2   HENDON (2) 3

After a momentous season of cup football, Staines Town bade farewell to their last knock-out competition for the season, narrowly losing this Round 3 tie against the side currently in second place in the Ryman League Premier Division.  Steve Cordery’s side showed four changes from the last outing 10 days earlier (since when there have been two postponements), with Shaun Allaway and Danny Gordon getting over slight knocks, and Howard Newton and former Liverpool and Manchester United prodigy given starts up front.  Meanwhile, James Courtnage (slight injury), Adam Thompson, Marc-Charles Smith and Victor Asombang earned well earned rests on the bench.  Hendon also had not played for 10 days, but had endured a run of 3 defeats, coinciding with the loss of marksman Wayne O’Sullivan.  However, like Swans, they put out a strong team for this match.

Following a cagey first 9 minutes, the visitors quickly moved into the lead when Brian Haule got on the end of an incisive, receiving from his brother Davis and turning sharply before shooting past Allaway.  Soon afterwards, Busby flashed a shot just wide for Hendon, but then Staines came back into it, with Gareth Risbridger almost getting on the end of a spill from Hendon ’keeper Luke Blackmore, Lewis Cook had a shot parried and then Marc Leach cleared just ahead of Mark Nwokeji who was closing in on the rebound.  Howard Newton was looking lively on the right flank, and provided a cross from which Calliste flashed a header wide.  However, following an ill-tempered few minutes, Davis Haule’s 31st minute darting run into the box, and Matt Flitter was adjudged to have pulled his shirt, for which the punishment was a booking for the Staines captain, and a penalty for the visitors.  However, Allaway spectacularly dived to push David Haule’s spot kick round the post.  The caution count was levelled shortly before half time, when Casey Maclaren went into Matt Downey’s book for a late challenge.  However, Hendon made it 2-0 in the closing moments of the half, James Burgess finding James Busby some 30 yards out, and he was given the space to shoot for goal, the ball taking an awkward bounce just in front of Allaway before nestling into the corner of the net.

Staines were in fine form at the start of the second half, despite being forced into a change when Jon McDonald was unable to continue after sustained a heavy challenge.  Four minutes after the restart, an Adrian Toppin effort was hustled out for a corner, which Lewis Cook too, Toppin’s shot was aimed towards goal, and Ramon Calliste poked it over the line from close range.  Staines were level less than 2 minutes later, another ball in from the right being diverted in by a clever flick from Mark Nwokeji to deceive Blackmore.  The introduction of Asombang for the tiring Calliste offered Swans a more potent target, and Cook was unlucky when his powerful drive was pushed for a corner by Blackmore.  The game then flowed from end to end, as each side strove for a place in the semi-finals, with MacLaren rattling the inside of Allaway’s upright, before Cook had another shot touched for a corner, this from a free-kick inside the ‘D’ after Page had been cautioned for the foul.  Hendon made a double sub, before Nwokeji limped off with a leg injury.  Lubomir Guentchev (one of two sons of the famous Bontcho to play in this game) had a shot saved by Allaway, who did enough to divert the rebound away from B Haule, but with 8 minutes to go, Hendon scored the decisive winning goal.  A move on the left involving Parker, Busby and L Guentchev, ended with a pinpoint pass to substitute Belal Aiteouakrim, who sidefooted home from close range.  Asombang was cautioned for dissent late in the game, and Allaway pulled off a great save to deny Iavor Guentchev a fourth Hendon goal deep in stoppage time.  Hendon will now visit Northwood, who beat Edgware 3-1 on the same night.

Staines: Allaway, Nugent, McDonald (Thompson HT), Gordon, Flitter ©, Risbridger, Cook, Toppin, Calliste (Asombang 52), Nwokeji (Charles-Smith 73), H Newton; unused Mason, Courtnage (gk).

Hendon: Blackmore, Parker ©, Massey, Leach, Page (Dyer 64), Burgess, L Guentchev, Busby, B Haule (I Guentchev 80), Maclaren, D Haule (Aiteouakrim 64); unused Hudson, Wilmot (gk).

Ref: M Downey; ARs I Jempeji, S Woodison; Attendance 106.

Saturday 12th January 2008 (3:00pm) – Ryman League Premier Division

CARSHALTON ATHLETIC (2) 3   STAINES TOWN (1) 3  

By Steve Parsons.

Carshalton Athletic and Staines Town served up a superb Saturday afternoon’s entertainment at a blustery War Memorial Sports Ground.  Staines twice found themselves two goals down, yet battled back to 3-3, hitting the woodwork twice on the way.  Steve Cordery started with the same eleven as in the previous two games, despite the return to fitness of Sean Allaway and Dwain Clarke, and was rewarded by a determined display.  Carshalton had won their three previous games, including a 5-0 thrashing of high flying Hendon, and demonstrated plenty of quality in this game.  The pitch was well prepared, but heavy after a lot of rain, and Staines played up the slope to wards the far end in the first half.

Carshalton began in exactly the style which had seen them thrash Hendon, putting Staines under heavy pressure from the kick-off, and their fans only had to wait until the 6th minute for them to go ahead, when two Staines players lost their footing when going for a long ball, but opponent Phil Ruggles showed excellent balance, to take the ball beyond the advancing James Courtnage and roll the ball home.  Ruggles was on target again six minutes later, sweeping the ball into the roof of the net following a cross from the impressive Rob Ursell on the right.  But it the home side thought they had killed the game off already, Staines had other ideas, and they reduced the arrears in the very next minute, Mark Nwokeji making no mistake with a close range header, following Lewis Cook’s cross.  The home side returned to the attack, and for a while laid siege to Courtnage’s goal, with some swift and flowing football.  However, Staines always look dangerous going forward, and manufactured three more excellent chances as the half wore on.  A long Jon McDonald throw was flicked just wide by Marc Charles-Smith.  A McDonald cross found Victor Asombang, who passed to Nwokeji, and his shot seemed certain to find the top corner, only for Liam Harwood to rise and glance it over the bar with a header.  Finally, a Cook corner was met by Nwokeji, whose effort came back off the cross bar.

Staines made a decent start to the second half, but just 4 minutes in, Carshalton made the most of their first real attack of the half to extend their lead, when Dean Carpenter’s run down the left ended with a cross which was fired home – via the fingertips of the diving Courtnage – by Rob Ursell for his maiden goal for the club.  Although Adrian Toppin forced a decent save from Aaron Howe (before collecting the game’s only yellow card, for a foul), Staines seemed to lose their way for a while, and The Robins again looked rampant.  However, Staines slowly found their form again, and the introduction of Howard Newton gave them fresh impetus.  Howe struggled to punch out a McDonald throw, but Gareth Risbridger’s follow-up was blocked, and Asombang saw his effort smothered on the line by the relieved Howe, who aggravated a thigh injury in the process, and continued with a heavy strapping, the home side having chosen to name only four subs, all of them outfielders.  However, he showed no ill effects when getting down well to turn an Asombang shot against the post, after H Newton had flicked on a Risbridger throw-in.  At the other end, Ursell was a constrant threat, holing the ball up well and always looking to cut in and threaten goal.  He drew a flying save from Courtnage when his drive was fingertipped round for a corner.  However, Staines pulled a goal back on 76 minutes, when Nwokeji found Asombang on the right wing, and he sent a low ball across the face of goal, noting the call from Cook, who stabbed in from close range.  Both teams made a substitutions, and Staines were pleased to see Ursell withdrawn.  However, time was running out, and there were only 4 minutes left on the clock when they gained the equaliser.  Joe Tabiri found Cook, who sent the ball across to Nwokeji, and although his drive was blocked on the line by the hands of both the ‘keeper and a defender, Howard Newton extricated himself from the goal-net and turned the ball back over the line.  In the remaining time, including 4 minutes of stoppage time, there were chances for both teams, notably when Ben Wright thumped a free kick into the wall after a foul just outside the ‘D’ by Adam Thompson.   However, it would have been unjust on either side to have lost the game, and everyone went home happy to share the spoils after a tremendous match.

Staines: Courtnage, Thompson, McDonald, Nugent, Flitter ©, Risbridger (Tabiri 80), Cook, Toppin, Charles-Smith (H Newton 51), Nwokeji, Asombang (Mason 80); unused Calliste, Gordon.

Carshalton: Howe, Cooper, Carpenter, Graves ©, Harwood, Evans, MacLeod, Quinton, Ruggles, Ursell (Wright 81), Johnson; unused Watts, Hamici, Wilson.

Ref: G Smith; ARs P Wilks & R Wilkins (all from Sussex); Attendance 351. 

This week's other reports

Wed 9th - Harrow Borough Reserves 1 Staines Town Reserves 1 (Capital League Western Div)

Sun 13th - Staines Town Women v Manford Way - abandoned after 18 minutes at 0-1 due to injury (London & SE WRL)

RESERVES

Staines Town Reserves fielded no fewer than five debutants for their Capital League match away to Harrow Borough on Wednesday, and were managed by James Courtnage.  They fell behind to a 2nd minute strike by Jamie Diston, but gradually gained the upper hand.  However, it was not until they had been reduced to 10 men through injury, that Howard Newton received a Danny Gordon flick on, and fired home a 90th minute equaliser, to make the final score 1-1.

WOMEN

The Women's team had a frustrating afternoon, when their London & SE Women's Regional League match at home to Manford Way had to be abandoned after only 18 minutes.  The Ilford-based visitors had gone ahead through Emma Townshend in only 2 minutes, but Staines were working their way back into the match, when Kelly Hazelwood, one of the Manford Way midfielders, went down in a challenge.  Although no foul was awarded, referee Stephen Rance stopped play when the ball went out of play, and the visiting trainer suspected a broken leg.  Not wishing to move the injured player, the sides had no option but to kick their heels while waiting for the ambulance, which then got stuck in thick mud when it arrived.  A second ambulance eventually arrived to carry the striken player to hospital, but by now the players from both sides - plus those of Feltham U16s who had been playing on the adjacent pitch - were involved in trying to free the first vehicle.  After an hour's stoppage, it became clear that the game would not be able to be played to a conclusion before darkness fell at 4:30, so the match was abandoned.

Natalie Parsons had been making her debut for Staines.

ACADEMY & COLLEGE SIDES

Rain caused the postponement of the Academy's home Ryman Youth League game v Croydon Athletic (Thursday) and Kingston College's friendly visit to Richmond on Friday.

Tuesday 8th January 2008 (7:45pm) – Ryman League Premier Division

STAINES TOWN (1) 3   BILLERICAY TOWN (1) 1

By Steve Parsons.

Staines overcame another tricky opponent in Billericay, who have somewhat underperformed so far this season, but are always capable of a good result.  The match was in some doubt during the day, due to heavy rain the previous night, but by the time Stephen Daly conducted a mid-afternoon inspection he was confident that the heavy area near the halfway line would not cause too many problems, and so it proved.  There was a very strong drying wind, blowing diagonally towards the main entrance at the Silver’s Farm End, and the rain did not return until the final 15 minutes.  Steve Cordery named an unchanged starting team from the weekend, but on the bench there were seats for the recovering Danny Gordon and Dave Sargent, as well as their new signing Ramon Calliste.  The latter is a newly signed 22 year-old Welsh U21 international, who was one of the very few players ever to transfer directly from Manchester United to Liverpool, after spending 5 years at Old Trafford, including an FA Youth Cup win, and who joins Staines after an injury hit season at Scunthorpe. Staines attacked the houses end in the first half.

The visitors were first out of the blocks, and stunned Staines by taking an 8th minute lead.  Awarded a free kick out near their left hand touch line, former Hammer Lee Hodges’ crisply hit dead-ball took a big swerve on the wind, and flew in at James Courtnage’s far post from some 35 yards.  Mark Nwokeji tried to return the compliment at the other end a minute or two later, but his effort went inches wide, but it did give notice that Staines would not be taking this setback lightly.  Lewis Cook saw a free kick fingertipped for a corner, and another dangerous free kick from the edge of the box by Cook smacked into the wall and rebounded to Victor Asombang, whose follow up went too high.  Yet another corner came when Billericay’s FA Cup hero Wayne Semanshia just managed to deny the flying Cook, from which Adrian Toppin powering his header just over.  The goal that Staines - and Lewis Cook - richly deserved finally came on the half hour, when Marc Charles-Smith picked up the ball, cut in and laid it back to Nwokeji, who in turn laid it off for Cook, who arrived from the left and sent a fine low shot into the corner.  The visitors were forced into an early substitution, but almost conceded a second goal a couple of minutes before the break, as Nwokeji collected an Asombang through ball and beat ‘keeper Worster with his low drive, only to see it come back off the foot of the post.  The last kick of the half gave Hodges the chance to repeat his free kick trick, but this time he could not get it beyond the first man in the wall.  There was one booking midway through the half, for a foul by McDonald.

A poor clearance fell into the path of Matt Flitter at the start of the second half, but his low drive was just off target.  Staines continued to threaten, with Nwokeji only being denied by the close attention of two defenders, and Asombang and McDonald also making good use of the wind.  Gareth Risbridger had a shot blocked on the line on the hour, but he put Staines ahead two minutes later.  Another enormous Jon McDonald throw was flicked on, and required a great touch from the ‘keeper to divert it onto the crossbar, but as the ball fell, it was Gareth Risbridger who followed in to fire into the roof of the net.  Billericay’s Blewitt kicked the ball upfield in frustration, striking referee Matt McLaughlin, and went into the book, to be followed a couple of minutes later by Asombang for a foul on Hodges.  Howard Newton replaced Charles-Smith, and was soon surging forward.  He was fouled by Steve Heffer, but managed to get the ball forward for Victor Asombang to steal in and make it 3-1 with a great low finish.  With his playing of ‘advantage’ vindicated, Mr McLaughlin went back and cautioned the Billericay defender for the foul, soon adding the name of Collins for another foul.  The free kick from the latter led to Adrian Toppin heading inches wide.  As the rain came down in the final minutes, Calliste was brought on, and nearly made an immediate impact with a whipped cross which a defender had to put out for a corner.  The game ended 3-1, a comprehensive win for the home side who have now hopefully put the Christmas blues behind them.

Staines: Courtnage, Nugent (Gordon 82), McDonald, Thompson, Flitter ©, Risbridger, Cook, Toppin, Charles-Smith (H Newton 75), Nwokeji (Calliste 81), Asombang; unused Mason, Sargent.

Billericay: Worster, Semanshia, Collins, Alaire, Heffer, Dormer ©, Wood-Garness, Black (Marron 79), Burbridge (Blewitt 32), Shave, Hodges; unused Kerrigan, McSweeney, Buckfield.

Ref: M McLaughlin; ARs D Moran, B Lynch; Attendance 231.

STAINES TOWN (2) 2   RAMSGATE (0) 0

By Steve Parsons.

Staines Town began the new year with a much better result than that with which they signed off the old year.  Steve Cordery was forced into no less than five team changes, for a variety of reasons, welcoming back Jon McDonald (who has played just 90 minutes of Reserve football since sustaining an ankle injury in March), and giving a late début to one of his two young Friday signings.  André Scarlett was serving a one-match suspension for accumulating 5 bookings, Dave Sargent and Dean Thomas was nursing injured knees, while Dwain Clarke, Danny Gordon and Shaun Allaway were suffering with a ’flu’ bug.  Also back in the starting line-up alongside McDonald were James Courtnage, Marcel Nugent, Gareth Risbridger, and Victor Asombang.  Ramsgate can always be relied upon to present stiff opposition, and they brought a team filled with towering players to a chilly Wheatsheaf Lane, which was still soft in places following the previous day’s rain.  Staines attacked the houses end in the first half.

The game began in lively fashion, with Staines threatening with some snappy runs by Mark Nwokeji, while Ramsgate’s Lee Minshull quickly proved to be a very lively opponent, and might have opened the scoring but for a timely intereption by Adam Thompson.  He was also on the receiving end of a couple of telling crosses, but fired one just over, and drew a good save from Courtnage.  However, Staines were also looking dangerous, and both Adrian Toppin and Risbridger sent volleys inches over the bar.  Despite his long lay-off, McDonald soon found his feet, breaking up a neat move between Minshull and Warren Schulz, before setting Nwokeji on his way for a speedy run leading to Staines briefly outnumbering the visiting defence, only for Andy Hadden to expertly marshal him out of harm’s way.  Staines threatened again when Dean Hill fouled Marc Charles-Smith just outside the box, and Nwokeji thumped the free kick into the wall.  The opening goal came on 36 minutes, when Toppin played a liberating diagonal pass to Lewis Cook on the left, and he whipped in a cross which was powerfully met by a close range header from Nwokeji, rising to send the ball beyond Paul Wilkerson.  Another free kick from a similar position just 4 minutes later, this time taken by Cook, gave Staines the chance to double their lead, when Minshull blocked the ball with his upper arm, leaving referee Paul Forrester no option but to award a penalty. However, Cook sent the spot-kick just wide of the post.  But Staines did not have to rue that miss for too long, as a second penalty was awarded to them just a minute later, when Marc Charles-Smith was hit by a two-footed lunge from Nick Davis, which saw the Margate defender given a straight red card.  Once everything had been settled down, Victor Asombang stepped up and stroked in the penalty, with 43 minutes on the clock.  No sooner had play restarted, than Michael Phillips continued his dissent and received a yellow card.  Staines could have snatched a third goal in the dying seconds of the half, as first Risbridger headed just over from a Cook cross, and then then a weak goal kick from the otherwise excellent Wilkerson fell straight to Nwokeji, but he was smartly closed down by two defenders.

The 10 men made a positive start to the second half, but Staines were in fine form at the back, with Matt Flitter looking solid in the middle, where he was partnered by Adam Thompson, who looked much more comfortable now that he was in his usual position, and had shaken off his ’flu’.  Meanwhile, Nugent had a fine game back in the right-back slot.  Risbridger committed a couple of fouls, which were punished by a yellow card and two dangerous free kicks taken by Phillips: Hadden and Stuart Vahid got on the end of them, but on both occasions, Courtnage was the equal of them.  At the other end, Asombang was playing with great fluency, and Staines were not afraid to shoot from a variety of positions.  Risbridger and Nwokeji went close with their efforts, while one long range drive from Toppin flew over the fence and impacted the hind quarters of the grazing pony, thereby disproving a certain old adage (and he didn’t even have a banjo). Howard Newton was introduced by the home side, and he was immediately a threat, setting up a good opening for Nwokeji, who darted into the box and then had reasonable appeals for a third penalty waved away after Hadden clipped his ankle.  Nwokeji went close to another headed goal following Cook’s corner, but it was well saved, and Wilkerson also did well to deny the same player after a great run by H Newton.  Joe Tabiri, one of a pair of 19 year-old Barnet academy players added to the squad 24 hours before, was brought on as a late substitute.  Both the newcomers have experience from Welwyn Garden City FC: Tabiri is a central midfielder, while Rickelle Christian is a right back.  Stoppage time was as lively as the opening minutes, with Newton going close at one end, and then Ramsgate stretching Staines at the other, a prolonged attack eventually ending with sub Ryan Hirooka poking the ball into the net but being denied by an offside flag.  The game ended with Staines climbing back up to 5th spot, having completed their second ‘double’ of the season.

Staines: Courtnage, Thompson, McDonald, Nugent, Flitter ©, Risbridger (Tabiri 85), Cook (Mason 85), Toppin, Charles-Smith, Nwokeji, Asombang (H Newton 73); unused Sargent, Allaway (gk).

Ramsgate: Wilkerson, Hadden, Hill, Davis [SO41], O Schulz, Laslett, Vahid (King 61), W Schulz © (Dolton 61), Minshull (Hirooka 52), S Ball, Phillips; unused Burton, Tanner.

Ref: P Forrester; ARs V Penfold, S Lovell; Attendance 273.