News Jan 09

			Wed 4 Feb 09 (7:30) - Capital League (West): Harrow Borough Reserves v Staines Town Reserves. This game was off as Harrow had a President's Cup Semi-Final fixture on the same night. Friday 30th January 2009 (7:45pm) – Ryman League, Premier Division HENDON (0) 0 STAINES TOWN (0) 2 By Steve Parsons. At Wembley FC, Vale Farm, Watford Road, Sudbury Following the loss of their ground earlier in the season, Hendon have led a nomadic existence, and they tried no less than 13 different venues to get this game played on the scheduled Saturday, without success. Faced with a swingeing fine, they asked Staines to reconsider their earlier reluctance to change to Friday or Sunday, and a players’ vote accepted the offer to play it at Wembley FC on the Friday night, to the delight of a clutch of groundhoppers. Despite Wembley’s descent into the Combined Counties League, Vale Farm has been considerably smartened up since Staines last paid a League visit there 10 seasons ago, and the pitch was in a good, firm, flat condition. Steve Cordery restored Howard Newton (a former Wembley player), Richard Butler, and Gareth Risbridger to the starting side, at the expense of Dean Tomas, Lewis Cook, and Marc Charles-Smith, giving them a formidably attacking line-up, with Scott Taylor, Butler, Leroy Griffiths, and H Newton all capable of finding the net. Hendon were without three players following their bruising weekend game with Wealdstone, and gave Peter Dean a début. On a bitterly cold, windy night, Staines attacked down the slope in the first half, and were thus defending the entrance / Fantasy Island end. Once again, Staines made most of the early running, and it seemed only a matter of time before they would score. However, Will Viner (who played a couple of pre-season games for Swans) made a good save to deny Taylor, Butler netted from an H Newton diagonal pass but was flagged offside, and Griffiths sent a great ball across the face of goal. Scarlett had his name taken for a foul on Dean, and was later followed by J Newton (trip). Although Hendon were able to get forward, they lacked a cutting edge, allowing Danny Gordon and his fellow defenders to defuse most situations. On 34 minutes, some great approach work by Griffiths set up a shooting chance for Taylor, and he let fly with some venom, but Viner proved equal to it. Then Gordon made a marauding raid and was tripped in the ‘D’, from where Griffiths thumbed a free kick into the wall. And just before the break, a flowing Taylor / Butler combination found H Newton in space, but he shot just the wrong side of the post. So the half ended with Staines frustrated to be going in with the scores all square. The second half was just 8 minutes old when Staines claimed their deserved goal, as André Scarlett won the ball in midfield and played a gloriously curled forward pass for Howard Newton to run onto, steady himself, and then stroke the ball beyond Viner. And while Hendon were still reeling, Staines added a killer second just 2 minutes later. Viner was favourite to get to a long Mark Leach backpass ahead of Taylor, but his control let him down, allowing Taylor to win possession, whereupon he unselfishly squared to Richard Butler who made no mistake in front of an unguarded net. With Staines now rampant, Risbridger rolled a shot just wide before coming off, and a hurtling Taylor run was halted by a foul challenge which saw Sam Collins cautioned. Dean did manage to find the sidenetting in a rare Hendon attack, but in the last 17 minutes or so the ‘home’ side began to exert some pressure. Wells confidently held onto a Collins free kick, and then saw McLaren go close with a header at the end of a decent move. With 6 minutes left, Dean did find the net, but Staines were spared a nervy finish by an offside flag. Viner made a good save with his feet to keep out Butler after a fine ball from Griffiths, but Hendon kept trying, and Ifura did enough to earn the NLP Man of the Match accolade from the hosts, in blocking a Lubomir Guentchev shot and a shot by Brian Haule (brother of Staines’ loaned out player, Davis Haule). The watching Dover scout would have seen a Staines side in good enough form to threaten any side in the League, although his club has such a huge gap at the top that it is debatable whether that nugget was worth his petrol. Staines thus extended their unbeaten League run to 9 games, and took them onto 50 points, equalling their best ever at this stage of an Isthmian season. More good news for Staines was that Darti Brown came on for a cameo appearance in the final seconds, after a 4 month lay-off through injury: he had successfully come through 45 minutes of Wednesday’s Reserve game. Staines: Wells, J Newton, Sargent, D Gordon ©, H Newton, Butler, Scarlett, Risbridger (Thomas 68), Ifura, Griffiths (Brown 90), Taylor (Cook 79); unused Courtnage (gk), Asombang. Hendon: Viner, Burgess ©, Collins, Leach, Parker, Busby, Bent (Maclaren 72), O’Leary, Garner (Haule HT), Dean, Byfield (L Guentchev 72); unused Vargas. Ref: A Coggins (Bicester, Oxon); ARs K Bushnell & D Leach (both Witney, Oxon); Att 181. Thu 29 Jan 09 (7:30) – Ryman Youth League (NW): AFC Wimbledon Youths v Staines Town Academy. This match was called off as the main pitch at Banstead Athletic FC was waterlogged. Wed 28 Jan 09 - Capital League (West) Wednesday 28th January 2009 (7:45pm) – Capital League Western Division WINGATE & FINCHLEY Reserves (4) 6 STAINES TOWN Reserves (0) 0 By Steve Parsons. A depleted Reserve side slumped to their biggest defeat since September ’03, when meeting a strong Wingate side on a chilly evening. With the players on loan at Walton Casuals not available, it was a largely inexperienced side that travelled, although Darti Brown made his comeback after 4 months out injured, was made captain, and came through somewhat tired but without further problems. An Aussie trialist, Matt Sims, let us down, but Steve Beeks sent a replacement from the Stanmore / Wealdstone academy, Mark Howell, ex Headstone FC and a former Middlesex u16 rep. From the word ‘go’, the home side were quick and strong, and they went ahead after just 3? mins, through a powerful Jake Furman shot. Ex Swan Rickelle Christian made a rash challenge on 10 mins and received the only yellow card of the game. At this stage, Staines could still have got back in the game, Ricardo Kimfumu going just wide following a powerful run and shot by Dean Fenton. But James Courtnage had to make a good save at the feet of Chase, and the same player headed against the bar. However, in between, on 23 mins, a Berry cross was powerfully headed in by Chris Bangura for 2-0. Fenton twice went close for Staines with a header and a shot, but when a Chase low shot nestled into the net in 34 mins, the game was as good as over. A great strike by Furman made it four 5 mins before the interval, in which Staines made two subs, including the introduction of Courtnage’s brother Rob, who has been playing for Met Police (Bushey). Staines were much more positive after the break, both Jamie Read and Fenton hitting the side netting, and Fenton having another decent shot saved by Horton. However, José Espinoza hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner (72 mins) to make it 5-0, and, after Courtnage had made a great double save to deny Marcel Jones, it was he who rounded off a neat move to score the sixth in stoppage time. Staines – 1 James Courtnage, 2 Ben Nicholson (15 Rob Courtnage HT), 3 Marvin Farrell, 4 Luke Elliott, 5 Fabion Grosvenor, 6 Jamie Read, 7 Dean Fenton, 8 Darti Brown © (14 Mark Howell HT), 9 Victor Asombang, 10 Ricardo Kimfumu (12 Jemelle Hudson 70), 11 Kieran Kiffin; unused 16 Sam Nicholson, 17 Chris Wainwright. Wingate – 1 Callum Horton, 2 Rickelle Christian* (12 Dan Cole 64), 3 Anthony Limbrick, 4 Tom Inch (15 Leon Fisher* 67), 5 Michael Sacks ©, 6 Leon Skinner, 7 Chris Bangura, 8 Jake Furman, 9 Chris Chase (16 Marcel Jones 60), 10 José Espinoza, 11 Jimmie Berry; unused 14 Amarildo Rizoli. * = ex Staines Town. Ref: Steven Conway (Edgware); ARs Peter Jago (Muswell Hill N10), Steve Bodell (Enfield); Att 31. Tuesday 27th January 2009 (7:45pm) – Isthmian League Cup, Round Four STAINES TOWN (2) 5 NORTHWOOD (0) 2 After extra time: 2-2 at 90 minutes by Steve Parsons. Following the county cup exit, Staines are left in just one cup competition, and they progressed to the Quarter-Finals at the expense of a very hard-working Northwood side, who are handily placed in Division 1 (North). Although there were four team changes, Steve Cordery was certainly not treating the competition lightly, and the absences of McDonald (injured) and Gareth Risbridger (one match suspension) were unavoidable. Howard Newton and Richard Butler were used as subs, with the four coming back into the starting line-up being Dave Sargent (a former Northwood man), Lewis Cook, Marc Charles-Smith, and Scott Taylor. Northwood were likewise at full strength, and a good game ensued to cheer the small crowd who braved the cold evening. The pitch was in excellent condition, and Staines attacked the houses end in the first period of both normal and extra time. Apart from an early Anthony Paige header that Louis Wells saved, Staines grabbed the initiative from the start, with Lewis Cook going close, and it was no surprise when they opened the scoring on 19 minutes. Lewis Cook sent in a telling far-post cross from the left and Scott Taylor arrived to powerfully head home. As the home side kept up the pressure, it looked as though they would coast to a straightforward victory when Taylor doubled the lead on 32 minutes, Dean Thomas pumping the ball into the box, where defender Bradley Hewitt hesitated, and Taylor capitalised, stretching out his foot to guide the ball beyond Mitch Swain. However, Staines were then perhaps guilty of sitting back, and they didn’t heed Northwood’s warning a few minutes later, when Kyle Matthews was a fraction away from making contact with a sizzling Michael Gordon cross. With 5 minutes to go until half time, The Woods did pull one back, when M Gordon gave Hugo Figueiredo a ball to run onto, and he sent an accurate shot just inside the post. Thomas’s header came close to restoring Swans two-goal advantage before the interval, but during the two added minutes, M Gordon had a half chance to equalise. Thirteen minutes into the second half, the visitors did indeed equalise, Kyle Matthews reacting quickest to fire into the bottom corner of the net, after Wells had parried an M Gordon shot. There were tentative appeals for a home penalty following a challenge on Cook, and more substantial ones when Taylor went down, there were a flurry of substitutions, and a highly entertaining period in which either team could have grabbed the advantage. The Staines defence reacted quickly when Rob Ursell threatened inside the box, and then a shot by Cook tested Swain. In the 89th minute, André Scarlett saw a shot blocked on the line. In stoppage time, Wells made a superb save at the feet of Ursell, and then Staines got forward again, Thomas sending a shot across the goalmouth deep into stoppage time. But with the score standing at 2-2, the tie went into extra time. With some of the legs tiring at this stage, it was the turn of the substitutes to shine, as Butler carved out a couple of half chances, before Howard Newton put Staines back in front on 104 minutes with an unstoppable shot. In the final period, Northwood had to commit to attack, and this left room for Taylor to nearly complete his hat-trick before coming off, and for Leroy Griffiths to terrorise the visiting defence, first closing down a defender, and then hassling ‘keeper Swain to make a hasty clearance, which struck his shins and rebounded back into the net for a 109th minute clincher. To their credit, Northwood kept going, and Michael Peacock had the best of a series of shots. However, after such an entertaining evening, the game ended in unfortunate circumstances, when H Newton battled his way into the box and beat Swain with a low drive, only for defender Bradley Hewitt handled on the line. Referee Matt Foley felt he had no option but to dismiss the defender, and Dave Sargent confidently converted the spot kick. The competition has been delayed by bad weather, so Staines must now await the draw to discover their Quarter-Final opponents, in a competition in which they have never been beyond the semi-finals. Staines: Wells, J Newton, D Sargent, D Gordon ©, Scarlett, D Thomas, Cook (Butler 80), Charles-Smith (H Newton 62), Ifura, Griffiths, Taylor (Fenton 108); unused Courtnage (gk), Asombang. Northwood: Swain, Holland (Power 83), Tackley, Burgess ©, Peacock, Hewitt, M Gordon, Page (Christian 69), Figueiredo (Brown 90+1), Ursell, Matthews; unused Pearce (gk), Hunt. Ref: M Foley (Reading); ARs A Roberts (Surbiton), V Penfold (Addlestone); Att 117 Saturday 24th January 2009 (3pm) – Ryman League Premier Division STAINES TOWN (1) 2 RAMSGATE (0) 0 By Steve Parsons. Staines earned an important three points, refusing to give ground to the relentless group of teams chasing them in the table. Following the disappointment of their midweek Cup defeat, Manager Steve Cordery rang the changes, with the biggest surprise for Swans fans being the return of charismatic striker Leroy Griffiths after a 20 week absence, during which he has been playing for Othellos in the Cypriot League. With Gareth Risbridger making an earlier-than-expected return from his foot injury, it meant that Dave Sargent and Scott Taylor were on the bench. There had been concerns about the overnight frost, but the morning thaw meant that there was no need for an inspection, and Graham Gould’s pitch looked to be in fine condition on a bright afternoon. Staines attacked the Silver’s Farm end in the first half. Staines made a promising enough start, keeping Ramsgate pegged back for the first 10 minutes, but thereafter the play began to balance out, and neither side could claim a grip on proceedings. The visitors’ Andy Hadden made a decent run in the 14th minute, but seemed to run into a wall of defenders: however, Mr Maynard penalised André Scarlett, allowing Ryan Royston to have a go from a dangerously placed free-kick, drilling it just past the angle. Then Simon Pettit stole possession in the 18 yard box, and set up Jay May, who also shot just wide. Staines responded with two driven efforts by Dean Thomas and Leroy Griffiths, each of which was cheekily diverted by Richard Butler, around the half hour mark. Some great battling in midfield by Gareth Risbridger set up another chance for Butler, but again he fired fractionally past the post. Then Ramsgate were back on the attack, with May receiving a 35th minute pass inside the 6 yard box, but he turned and volleyed wide. However, the complexion of the half-time team-talks was radically changed when Staines took the lead just a minute before the interval. A terrific move involving Thomas, Howard Newton, Scarlett and Risbridger ended with the latter playing an incisive forward pass, which was expertly read by Leroy Griffiths, who ran onto it, and accurately slammed his first Wheatsheaf Park goal low into the bottom corner from 12 yards. When the sides came out for the second half, Staines could be forgiven for thinking that new dad Danny Gordon had forgotten to change ends, as he made an unaccustomed appearance in the opponents’ six yard box, prodding a Scarlett free kick into the arms of Rams ’keeper Jamie Turner. Visiting defender Royston collected a 51st minute yellow card for a trip on Butler on the edge of the box, as he chased down a telling Jake Newton long pass. The free kick was touched to Scarlett, whose low drive stung Turner’s hands, but the ’keeper was able to gather the rebound just as Thomas closed in on it. Staines were now rampant, and Marien Ifura sent a header just over, after Butler and Scarlett combined to win a corner which Griffiths sent to the far post on the hour. Two minutes later, H Newton was picked out and he swivelled and hit a low shot which unluckily came back off the foot of the post. Ramsgate made a double substitution, and then Staines gave away a free kick in a dangerous position, Ifura getting a yellow card for a trip on an opponent whom he felt had pushed him, but sub Steffan Ball fired the free kick wide. However, it was Staines’ other caution – for a foul by Jake Newton – which may be more significant, as he can now expect a suspension in a fortnight. On 75 minutes, Butler did well to almost wriggle beyond Turner, but in the end both he and the goalkeeper slithered to the ground, allowing Ben Laslett to clear his toe-poke towards goal. Then Scarlett whipped a cross which went fractionally beyond H Newton, and Griffiths’ cultured left foot started a good move involving H Newton and Scarlett. However, at only 1-0, Ramsgate still posed a danger, and sub Warren Schulz cut in but fired wide. Staines could start to celebrate when Richard Butler made it 2-0 on 82 minutes, receiving a long diagonal free-kick from Louis Wells, which Thomas touched on, and he threaded his shot into the bottom corner. Tom Tsangarides had a penalty appeal waved away when he went down in the opposite box, but Staines finished the game on the attack, with Butler and J Newton combining well to set up a Lewis Cook shot that was blocked by a defender. And, during the 4 additional minutes, sub Scott Taylor seemed to have timed his run to a Butler pass just right, firing into the net but having his celebration terminated by an offside flag. As the players came off, Reliance Securities Ltd’s Raj Unadkat presented the Man of the match bubbly to André Scarlett, on behalf of sponsors Thompson Directories. Staines: Wells, J Newton, Gordon ©, H Newton, Butler, Scarlett, Risbridger (Cook 84), McDonald, D Thomas, Ifura, Griffiths (Taylor 82+); unused Sargent, Fenton, Charles-Smith. Ramsgate: Turner, Walder, Wynter, Davis ©, Laslett, Royston, Brown, Hadden (Ball 64), May, Minshull (Tsangarides 64), Pettit (W Schulz 72); unused Ball, Eastwood. Ref: S Maynard (Reading); ARs J Balcombe & G Poynter (both Basingstoke); Att 288. Thursday 22nd January 2009 (2pm at Staines Lammas FC) ESFA National U18 Colleges’ Cup – Quarter-Final (tie 6003) KINGSTON COLLEGE / Staines Town Academy u18 (0) 3 QUEENS ACADEMY, Watford (1) 2 By Steve Parsons This game finally took place at Staines Lammas on Thursday afternoon, having been shifted from Tuesday to Thursday at Queens’ request. This was always going to be a very difficult game, against the holders of this prestigious national cup, but Kingston made it easy for their visitors in the first half, as they failed to rise to the occasion, slipping behind after 20 minutes and never threatening to get on terms – in fact, it could easily have been worse than just 0-1 at the break. However, Martyn Spong used the interval to urge the team to do itself justice, and that seemed to do the trick, as the team responded very well. Even to, it took until the 70th minute to get the vital equaliser, Hyun-Jin Lee’s swung in a wide free kick and Alfie Arthur rose to head home. The relief was palpable, and within 5 minutes, skipper Will Marlowe shot Kingston ahead, and this was followed by a Ryan Ford goal on 80 minutes, apparently making the game safe. But there was a sting in the tail, as Kingston over-elaborated, and Queens showed that they did not want to give up their trophy without a fight, pulling a goal back through an 87th minute header, to set up a nail-biting last few minutes. However, Kingston held firm to reach the semi-finals for the second time in four seasons, and will now entertain the powerful Hartpury College for the chance of a place in the final. That game will be at 2pm on Monday 9th Feb, at Staines Lammas FC. Team: 1 Danny Sonner, 2 Jon Vickers, 3 Fabion Grosvenor (16 Daniel Dunning 55), 4 Alfie Arthur, 5 Darren Millard, 6 Frazer Douglas (12 Hyun-Jin Lee HT), 7 James King, 8 Elliott Thompson, 9 Ryan Ford (14 Harvey Suika 85), 10 Will Marlowe (Aaron Gilbert 78), 11 Adam Nelson; unused sub 13 Ade Adeniyi; reserves 17 Azainia Brown, 18 Ricardo Gayle-Dixon. The English Schools’ Football Association Under 18 Colleges’ Trophy is open to all colleges across the country, and this season a total of 143 teams were entered, from Truro to Gateshead. The competition began with a Preliminary Round back in September, and since then, just four colleges have battled their way through six further rounds to reach the Semi-Finals. Kingston could not have asked for a tougher draw in the Quarters, having had to come from behind to defeat the holders, Queens Academy from Hertfordshire. However, they have an excellent record in this competition over the last few years – Saturday 17th January 2009 (3:00pm) – Ryman League, Premier Division DARTFORD (0) 0 STAINES TOWN (0) 0 By Steve Parsons Staines Town’s League campaign finally reached the halfway mark with this first ever visit to Dartford’s magnificent Princes Park stadium, peopled by 1148 fans. With the Kent side in fine form at the moment (6 wins and a defeat by leaders Dover in their last 7 league games), this was always going to be a difficult match, and Steve Cordery had to go into it without his captain, Danny Gordon, and lynchpin Gareth Risbridger. Gordon’s partner had given birth to a daughter (Olivia, 9lb 3oz) less than 48 hours earlier, and Risbridger was still suffering a knock sustained on Tuesday. However, Dartford were also without three players through suspension, including their captain and their top scorer; they included ex Swan Hussein Isa among their subs, although he was unused. On a cool and grey afternoon, Staines attacked the left hand end (as watched from the main stand) in the first half, on a decent playing surface; Dartford were playing their first home game in 6 weeks! Although the final result was a scoreless draw – Swans’ first in a League game for almost a year, and only their second in any game this season (following the Hayes Cup tie) – there was no shortage of action to entertain the big crowd. It took only 3 minutes for a Scott Taylor shot to sting the palms of Darts ’keeper Andrew Young, and soon afterwards Adam Gross had to be sharp to keep a Howard Newton cross out of the way of the inrushing Marc Charles-Smith. But Staines did not have things all their own way, and when Brendan Cass stole in on a failed clearance, Louis Wells had to react sharply to keep him out, and also was strong in claiming the resulting corner. André Scarlett, captain for the day, swerved in a powerful shot from just outside the ‘D’, which flew inches past the upright. At the other end, Jake Newton (playing alongside Marien Ifura in the heart of the defence) got in a vital toe to force the dangerous Ryan Hayes away from goal. After a lengthy spell when both sets of forwards were largely snuffed out, Dartford finished the half strongly, with Wells holding a curling Hayes shot, and dealing with efforts by both Hayes and Danny dafter, while Butler collected the game’s only yellow card for impeding an opponent. Then Staines were forced into some hasty defending, after Jamie Coyle whipped a free-kick into the area. Dartford also made a positive start to the second half, but Staines quickly grabbed the initiative, and maintained the pressure for most of the remainder, largely silencing the crowd. Charles-Smith’s trickery won a couple of corners, Scarlett pinged another shot just wide, and saw another rasping drive blocked. On the hour, Young saved another Scarlett shot, and then launched a quick counter by Dartford, which ended with Walls saving from Hayes. A Scarlett corner was met by the head of Charles-Smith, sending the ball against the Dartford crossbar, and a McDonald long throw was met by H Newton whose effort was blocked. Sargent saw a shot blocked in the 6 yard box, and Charles-Smith shot just wide on the turn after another McDonald throw. At the other end, Hayes forced a corner for the opponents as his deflected shot gave Staines a timely warning, but it was one they heeded, with Sargent again delivering the ball into the box, where Ifura slammed another header against the bar, and Dartford desperately cleared the developing scramble in the 6 yard box. Rob Haworth found some space for Dartford, but again the unflappable Wells came off his line to claim with authority, and he was equally calm when steering Hayes wide. Having hit the woodwork twice, perhaps Staines’ best chance came in the 88th minute, when a super build-up between Taylor and Charles-Smith put Scarlett in space, but Young pulled off a fantastic save, and White effected the clearance. There were 3 additional minutes, but Dartford held out for a point. The home sponsors’ Man of the Match award went to Jamie Coyle, whilst Staines’ Howard Newton received the Non-League Paper’s accolade. Staines: Wells, J Newton, Sargent, H Newton, Butler (Cook 85), Scarlett ©, McDonald, D Thomas, Charles-Smith, Ifura, Taylor; unused Fenton, Courtnage (gk), Asombang, Maskell. Dartford: Young, Coyle, Gross, Flanagan, Guest ©, Osborne, Hayes, Dafter, Cass (Ward 84), Haworth, White; unused Isa, Efrakorho, Turay, Ibrahim. Ref: Ryan Atkin (Lewisham); ARs Bill Henderson & Grant Gray (both Hatfield); Att 1148. Wed 14 Jan 2009 (2pm) - English Colleges' League Knock-Out Cup Round 1 CHICHESTER COLLEGE (1) 1 KINGSTON COLLEGE / Staines Town Academy (0) 3 By Steve Parsons Kingston came from a goal behind at the break to win this cup tie at Lancing FC, having made a brace of substitutions at the mid point. Elliott Thompson brought them level, Ashley Lodge made it 2-1, and James McShane completed the scoring. The visitors ended the game with 10 men, as Alex Taylor, their final sub, came off with concussion 5 minutes after coming on. They will visit Mid Kent in the next round. Team: Danny Sonner; Ben Nicholson, Luke Elliott ©, Aaron Gilbert, Daniel Dunning; Jemelle Hudson (Ricardo Kimfumu HT), Sam Nicholson, Ashley Lodge, Raman Johal (Marvin Farrell HT); Elliott Thompson, James McShane (Alex Taylor 75); unused subs Rowan Kelly, Michael Dixon. Wednesday 14th January 2009 (7:30pm) - Capital League (Western Division) STAINES TOWN RESERVES (1) 1 HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN RESERVES (2) 4 By Steve Parsons A very young and tired Staines side had a setback in their quest for the Capital League title, when they went down to Northwood. Academy striker Jemelle Hudson got them off to a good start, shooting Staines ahead after 2 minutes, but a Robert Keen penalty for hands on 20 minutes evened things up, and a 44th minute defensive lapse allowed Lamine N'Dour to put the visitors ahead. Hemel completed the job in the second half, with a free header on the hour, and an 89th minute far post volley by Ryan Blake. Staines: James Courtnage ©, Sam Nicholson, Marvin Farrell (Daniel Dunning 30), Richard Orlu, Luke Elliott (Aaron Gilbert 55), James King, Nick White, Ashley Lodge, Luke Roodenburg, Jemelle Hudson (Ricardo Kimfumu 70), James McShane. Hemel: Nick Law, Ryan Sturges, Miles Beaven, Stuart Farrell, Ben Butler, Robert Kean ©, Sam Maude, Gareth Aldridge, Lee Simper, Ryan Blake, Lamine N’Dour; subs Jack Johnson, Ebi Sukore, Mick Stanbridge. Ref: Stephen Conway (Edgware); ARs James Bird (Downley), John Faithfull (Waltham Abbey). Wednesday 14th January 2009 (7:45pm) – Ryman Youth League (North West Division) CORINTHIAN-CASUALS Youths (1) 2 STAINES TOWN Academy (0) 3 By Steve Parsons Swans resources were spread thinly on Wednesday, and it almost cost the Academy side – currently top of the league – vital points against bottom team Casuals. After dominating the opening exchanges, they were punished for a foul throw, the home side slotting in through Domingo Sabugueiro. He almost added a second, but his shot deflected for a corner, before unfortunately coming off with a nasty injury just before the break. Hyun-Jin Lee fired just over for the visitors after Casuals failed to clear a corner, but then were fortunate not to concede again when a clearance struck a forward and the loose ball bounced just wide of Danny Sonner’s posts. Staines’ task was made even harder when the boys in the famous pink-and-blue made it 2-0 on 47 mins, George Mason heading home a Paul Moran corner. Referee Earl cautioned two players, Mason of the home side for time-wasting as they tried to maintain an unlikely lead, and Swans’ Thompson for hands. Staines started to look more dangerous as sub Will Marlowe came off the bench and linked up well with Adam Nelson, the latter seeing a shot cleared off the line, before Mason responded with a shot that stretched Sonner. Nelson’s great approach work led to a vital Staines goal on 56 mins, swept home by Will Marlowe to give them new hope. A great combination between Marlowe and Fabion Grosvenor was almost turned in by Ricardo Gayle-Dixon at the far post, but still Casuals were dangerous, Jack Whitehouse hitting the bar after possession was conceded to Lewis Jackson, with Alfie Arthur completing a vital clearance off the line. Staines were now getting on top, but it seemed they would never score, until – on 73 minutes – Alfie Arthur rose to head home a deep Nelson free-kick. Staines then had a penalty appeal waved away, and then survived a home free-kick that shaved the post. Staines finally snatched a vital winning goal on 82 minutes, when Nelson swept in a cross which was diverted into his own goal by defender Eliot Downham. Staines: Danny Sonner, Jon Vickers, Fabion Grosvenor, Alfie Arthur, Darren Millard, Frazer Douglas (Will Marlowe HT), Azainia Brown (Mitchell O’Connor-Toner 83), Hyun-Jin Lee, Harvey Suika (Ricardo Gayle-Dixon 57), Elliott Thompson ©, Adam Nelson; unused Ademola Adeniyi (gk). Cor-Cas: 13 Aaron Bufton, Paul Moran, 3 Lee Moran, 4 Pat Kirby ©, 5 Eliot Downham, 6 George Mason, 7 Lewis Jackson, 8 George Murphy, 9 Jack Whitehouse, 10 Aaron MacKenzie, 11 Domingo Sabugueiro (14 Ryan Augustine 44); subs Matthew Robinson, Timothy Jones, Mark Smith, Jamie Holloway (gk). Ref: Steve Earl (Mitcham, Surrey); ARs Rodney van Niekirk (Sutton, Surrey), Jim de Rennes (Claygate, Surrey). Att 47 (officially 44). Wed 14 Jan 2009 (2pm) - English Colleges' League Knock-Out Cup Round 1 CHICHESTER COLLEGE (1) 1 KINGSTON COLLEGE / Staines Town Academy (0) 3 By Steve Parsons Kingston came from a goal behind at the break to win this cup tie at Lancing FC, having made a brace of substitutions at the mid point. Elliott Thompson brought them level, Ashley Lodge made it 2-1, and James McShane completed the scoring. The visitors ended the game with 10 men, as Alex Taylor, their final sub, came off with concussion 5 minutes after coming on. They will visit Mid Kent in the next round. Team: Danny Sonner; Ben Nicholson, Luke Elliott (c), Aaron Gilbert, Daniel Dunning; Jemelle Hudson (Ricardo Kimfumu HT), Sam Nicholson, Ashley Lodge, Raman Johal (Marvin Farrell HT); Elliott Thompson, James McShane (Alex Taylor 75); unused Rowan Kelly, Michael Dixon. Tuesday 13th January 2009 (7:45pm) – Isthmian League Cup, Round Three STAINES TOWN (1) 2 WEALDSTONE (0) 1 By Steve Parsons After extra time: score 1-1 at 90 minutes Steve Cordery’s men saw their first action in 17 days following a string of postponements, one of which was the earlier attempt to play this League Cup tie that fell foul of the frost a week earlier. The break had allowed time for both Dave Sargent and André Scarlett to recover from their injuries, with Marien Ifura missing out, and Harry Arter – whose loan from Charlton has been renewed – being in limbo as he has now transferred to Gillingham. Wealdstone have recently extended the loan of Davis Haule from Staines for a third month, but he was ineligible to play in this game. The evening was cool, and slightly misty, and Staines attacked the houses end in the first (and third) periods of play. When these sides met in the League, Stones won a match riddled with basic errors, but this time it was a high quality encounter, settled only in extra time after a tense opening 90 minutes yielded a goal apiece. A well-struck Danny Spendlove free kick from just outside the box gave Louis Wells in the Staines goal an early test, before Richard Butler reciprocated at the other end, Luke Woods unconvincingly turning his drive round for a corner. Butler was released again by a Howard Newton pass, but Marvin McCoy got in a vital touch with his toe. The visitors carved out a good opening on 28 minutes, but skipper James Gray launched himself at the ball using his hand, and was booked. But then Staines started to increase the tempo, with H Newton being unlucky to see a volley fly just over on the half hour, following a telling Lewis Cook free kick. Three minutes later, Richard Butler wriggled clear in the box and was tripped by Alan Massey, whereupon Mr James pointed to the penalty spot and Dave Sargent obliged. A late challenge by Jon McDonald saw the cautions tally levelled up. Staines came close to increasing their lead but an H Newton shot was blocked. Wealdstone made a very positive start to the second half, and it took them just 5 minutes to equalise, as Spendlove’s clever flick wrong-footed the home defence, allowing Greg Ngoyi the space to sidefoot the ball beyond Wells. In the 59th minute, Ngoyi made a powerful run and saw a shot deflected for a corner, before Butler threatened at the other end. A foul by McDonald gave the visitors a dangerous free kick, and – perhaps concerned about the possibility of a second card – Mr Cordery quickly withdrew him for Ifura; however, it was Risbridger who was cautioned soon afterwards for a late tackle. As the game entered its final 10 minutes of normal time, there were chances for both teams to snatch victory. Woods clung on to a Gareth Risbridger drive, and then Ngoyi turned smartly but shot just outside the upright. Extra time was only 17 seconds old when Scott Taylor scored the decisive goal, firing into the corner of the net on the turn, following a good run by André Scarlett and a shot by Butler which was parried. The sides cancelled each other out during the rest of the first extra period, but just after the restart Marc Charles-Smith’s surge was eventually cut off, and Butler drew another good save from Woods. Wealdstone went all out to at least force penalties in the last 4 minutes, but Sargent did well to close down Ngoyi after he made space in the “D”, and in the last minutes, Wells made a vital clearance off the toes of Spendlove. At the end of the game, Roger & Natalie Thompson presented the Supporters’ Man of the Match bubbly to Dave Sargent. Two days later, Staines learned that they would entertain Northwood in the last 16 at the end of the month. Staines: Wells, J Newton, Sargent, Gordon ©, H Newton, Butler, Scarlett, Risbridger (D Thomas 108), McDonald (Ifura 62), Cook (Charles-Smith 80), Taylor; unused Fenton, Asombang. Wealdstone: Woods, McCoy, Chappell, Locke, Massey, Ashe (O’Leary 87), Forbes (Flowaday 87), Hicks (Stevens 72), Gray ©, Ngoyi, Spendlove; unused Leggett, Jones. Ref: Ron G James (Bletchley); ARs S Davidson (Watford), L Marshallsay (Borehamwood); Att 194.