News Jan 10

			Basingstoke Town v Staines Town – 30 Jan 2010 Staines knew that a win on Saturday could take them as high as 3rd in the table, but they were thwarted by their first weather related Conference postponement. The pitch had been given approval by a local ref at 10:30, but by 1:20 the match referee, John Scott, was dissatisfied with a strip of frozen turf close to the dressing rooms, and called the match off. Monday 25th January 2010 (7:45pm) – Blue Square Conference (South) CHELMSFORD CITY (0) 0 STAINES TOWN (0) 0 By Steve Parsons. Following on from the Dorchester game, Staines were in action again just two days later, at a ground where they had suffered heavy defeats on their only two previous visits – the imposing surrounds of the Melbourne Athletic Stadium. This game was re-arranged from 9 Jan, when Chelmsford had an FA Trophy tie, and Staines were hoping that Saturday’s big clash with Oxford United in the next round might be uppermost in their thoughts, just as Swans had perhaps been distracted by thoughts of Stockport when these sides met a couple of years back. Strangely, City fielded two players with a soupçon of Staines experience – Marlon Patterson did pre-season at Wheatsheaf Lane without impressing but has been City’s Man of the Match in 3 recent games, and Ben Martin played a solitary match for the club. The evening was very cold, and the pitch somewhat bumpy from the field events, as Staines attacked the hammer net / entrance end in the first half. With Steve Cordery still nursing his side through something of an injury crisis (Sterling, Jackson, Risbridger, and Chaaban all still sidelined), he brought back to two Charlton loanees, Yado Mambo and Tamer Tuna, with Dean Thomas and Mazin Ahmad missing out. The game began in similar vein to Saturday, with the conditions contributing to an error strewn passage by both teams, but there was an early scare for the home side as Tuna ran onto a Darty Brown ball and almost bobbled it beyond ‘keeper Ashley Harrison. Play switched to the other end, where City – of rather their fans – saw a penalty appeal turned down, but then “ooh”ed as Matthew Lock crashed a 9th min shot against the bar from distance. As the sides settled down, Charles-Smith got through on goal thanks to a brave challenge in the middle, but an equally brave save by Harrison denied him. At the other end, a loose pass put Lewis Smith in a dangerous position, tempting Louis Wells out of his goalmouth, and the striker then centred for Anthony Cook to run on, and he would have scored but for a perfectly timed Marien Ifura challenge on the 6 yard line. The Clarets continued to look dangerous, and although Ricky Holmes’ 26th min corner initially came to nothing, he had the chance to play it back into the box, whence Smith almost forced it in. Staines countered with a thrusting Howard Newton run, which ended with him exchanging passes with Charles-Smith before André Scarlett curled his shot wide of the mark. The Wells’ goal had another escape as Lock shaved the bar following some neat work by Smith and a long pass by Holmes. The last 7 minutes of the half featured a flurry of Mr Atkin’s cards – the first and eventually most costly going to City’s Patterson for kicking the ball away after a foul. The came Newton, also for delaying the restart, and Mambo for a foul. In the dying seconds, Newton’s pass to Tuna saw him fire too close to Harrison. The second half began with Staines on the attack, Charles-Smith’s header forcing a save after Newton’s pass had been crossed in by Scarlett, but as Newton darted forward again after Ifura had released him from his own 54th minute throw in, he was caught late by Patterson, who received his marching orders for a second yellow card. This disrupted City’s plans, as Lock had to drop in at left back, and Staines applied the pressure through Tuna, Newton, and a powerful Scarlett free kick. However, this last was blocked by the wall, enabling Chelmsford to break in numbers, and they were relieved to concede only a corner. Holmes made space down the left flank and centred to Smith who seemed certain to score fro close range, but somehow put his shot straight into the grateful arms of Wells. Just 2 mins later, in the 67th, the home side were punished for that miss, when Staines scored what proved to be the only goal. Mambo launched a throw in towards the 18 yard box, where Ifura helped it on to Marc Charles-Smith, and turned before firing a low and hard shot that Harrison got a touch to but could not keep out. Chelmsford tried to get back, with a Lock free kick curling wide following Brown’s foul, before Scarlett and Lock had their names taken for a tussle. The game really opened out in the last 10 minutes (plus 4 extra), as Scarlett volleyed over following a corner and Tuna was denied by a fine challenge by Cooper, whilst City – needing a win to go second – pushed forward too, Cook spurning a decent chance. Sub Taylor might have wrapped it up, but Harrison saved his point blank shot after finding space for Griffiths’ pass, and the same player was denied by an offside flag in the final moments. This remarkable win for Staines saw them move up to 6th place. Staines: Wells, Mambo, Kamara, Gordon ©, Ifura, Scarlett, Newton, D Brown, Griffiths, Tuna (Taylor 85), Charles-Smith; unused: Thomas, King, Arthur, Ahmad. Chelmsford: Harrison, Clark, Patterson [SO 54], B Martin, Haines (Cooper 79), Berquez © (Haswell 66), J Martin, Cook, Lock, Smith, Holmes; unused Batchford, J Brown, Horwood (g). Ref: Marc Whaley (Eggbuckland, Plymouth, Devon); ARs: Alan I Raggett (Locking, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset), Andrew J Quin (Thornbury, Plymouth, Devon); Att 418. Saturday 23rd January 2010 (3:00pm) – Blue Square Conference (South) DORCHESTER TOWN (0) 2 STAINES TOWN (1) 2 By Steve Parsons. Staines made a first ever visit to Dorchester’s impressive Jewson Stadium in Weymouth Avenue, built some 20 years ago under the guidance of Prince Charles, on whose land it stands. Steve Cordery made just one change, with Marc Charles-Smith gaining the striker’s berth ahead of Scott Taylor. He also selected a bench of five players all of whom started in the Youths at Wheatsheaf Lane – three recently (Alfie Arthur, Hyun-Jin Lee and James King) and two not quite so recently (Taylor and Trent Phillips). It was Dorchester’s first game under new player / caretaker manager Ashley Vickers, and their first competitive action in 3 weeks, during which time they had dispensed with the services of former Arsenal man, Ian Selley (whose brother Martin was an ex Swan). They also recalled journeyman ‘keeper Simon Evans to cover for an injury crisis. On a cool and blustery afternoon, Staines attacked the end in front of the tastefully designed Tesco store in the first half. It was a day for Charles-Smith to celebrate, for – having spent so long sidelined with his jaw injury – he bounced back with his first two goals of the season. The match was preceded by a minute’s silence, in remembrance both of Albert Miller (long serving Secretary of the home club) and Phil Ledger (Woking and Conference main board administrator), both of whom sadly passed away in recent days. Staines were under the cosh for a long spell at the start of the second half, and it was not until Howard Newton’s 26th minute effort flew just wide from a Griffiths cross, that they had an attack worth the name. At the other end, James Coutts fluffed a decent chance, while Groves misdirected a header, while Griffiths and Charles-Smith did not make the most of their half-chances for Staines. Scarlett was booked for a 35th minute late challenge, before Evans failed to deal with a 40th minute Ahmad cross, only for Newton to be bundled off the ball at the far post. Ahmad got another shot on target, but the half seemed destined to end scoreless, until a stoppage time cross by Howard Newton deceived Vickers, and Marc Charles-Smith gleefully tucked the ball into the bottom corner of the net to give Staines an interval lead. For some reason after such a low-key half, there was a brief flare up in the tunnel, apparently involving Vickers and Brown, while Griffiths and Newton discussed with the ref what they felt to be a foul in the 40th minute opening. Normal service was resumed in the second half, and the quality improved markedly. Vickers slid a 51st minute shot wide, 2 minutes before Maz Ahmad crossed for Maz Ifura to head just off target. Ahmad saw a shot deflect for a corner, and Charles-Smith gave chase to a ball that dropped tantalisingly between him and the ‘keeper, worryingly emerging from the collision momentarily holding his jaw. But all was well, and in the 63rd minute, Charles-Smith superbly controlled Ahmad’s well-timed through-ball, and waltzed round Evans before rolling the ball home. But Staines then fell victim to a momentary lapse, conceding within a minute: Moss crossed from the left, and it was met by a powerful Nick Crittenden header that even Well’s touch could not keep out of the top corner. And in the 70th minute, Crittenden levelled (showing the style that earned him 3 appearances in Ruud Gullit’s Chelsea side) when he brought down a Coutts through-ball in style before guiding the ball beyond Wells. Vickers bounced up from an attack of cramp to fire a Coutts cross just wide, and Moss rushed a decent opportunity from a corner and sent the ball wide of Wells’ goal. Kevin Hill was warmly applauded by the home fans when he then replaced Vickers, having been injured for weeks. Charles-Smith and Crittenden both had chances to complete their hat-tricks, with the Staines man heading just too high, whilst Bowles headed too high from a Dorchester corner. Moss was booked for a foul, and in the 3rd of 4 added minutes, Jermyn caught Ifura in a high challenge which thankfully did not result in serious injury, he and the dissenting Kamara seeing yellow. Staines slipped to 9th place. Staines: Wells, Kamara, Thomas, Gordon ©, Ifura, Scarlett, Newton, D Brown, Charles-Smith, Griffiths, Ahmad; unused: Taylor, Arthur, Lee, King, Phillips (g). Dorchester: Evans, Critchell, Smeeton, Jermyn ©, Walker (K Hill 66), Vickers (Bowles 79), Crittenden, Coutts, Moss, Groves, Devlin; unused Emati-Emati, R Hill, Nodwell. Ref: Marc Whaley (Eggbuckland, Plymouth, Devon); ARs: Alan I Raggett (Locking, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset), Andrew J Quin (Thornbury, Plymouth, Devon); Att 418. Tuesday 19th January 2010 (7:45pm) – Middlesex Senior Cup, Quarter-Final [tie 17] – at Windsor & Eton FC BEDFONT GREEN (0) 0 STAINES TOWN (0) 1 By Steve Parsons. Staines met their near neighbours Bedfont Green for the first time ever at senior level, the match taking place at The Peacocks’ adopted home at Windsor & Eton FC’s Stag Meadow, having been iced off the previous week. That gave rise to a little confusion – one Staines player went by mistake to the more familiar opponents, Combined Counties League Bedfont FC (who play in the village itself), and whilst we were chuckling about that, an Ash United player turned up at Windsor expecting to be find Bedfont playing there! Thankfully, everyone got to their rightful places in time for the start. Steve Cordery recalled Marien Ifura, Mazin Ahmad, and Scott Taylor, at the expense of the injured Chaaban, and the Charlton pair who were ineligible. This demonstrated the club’s prioritising of this competition, in a bid to reach the final for the first time in 13 years with the Easter Monday showpiece taking place at Wheatsheaf Park. Bedfont Green included three players who were previously at Staines – notably captain Fergus Moore, and Billy Sentence; their Secretary, Stewart Cook, is the brother of former Women’s team player/manager Kate Cook (now doing the same job at BGFC). Staines attacked the far end of the ground on a very cold night, with the appearing reasonably flat but scarred in places. There are two divisions between these clubs, as Bedfont Green have risen rapidly through the Guildford & Woking, Surrey Intermediate, and Combined Counties League – some 10 divisions in as many years – and now play in the Zamaretto [Southern] League Div 1 S&W. And for long periods in this game, especially in the first half, the gap was emphasised by a dominant performance from the visitors, whose passing and moving were as sublime as their finishing was off-colour. Early on, Ahmad and Taylor both had shots deflected for corners, Ahmad then saw a shot fingertipped over, and André Scarlett forced a good save from Gary Ross, from a free kick for a Moore foul 25 yards out. A poorly timed Moore challenge by Moore on Ahmad on 23 minutes earned him a booking, with Griffiths also collecting one for his comments about the incident. After all that, Ahmad clipped the free kick just wide. On 32 mins, Danny Gordon cleverly chipped a through ball up to Ifura, who beat the offside and forced Ross to save with his legs, with Ahmad firing the rebound into the side-netting from a narrow angle. Ross again distinguished himself with a fine save from Taylor, this after Kamara’s delightful diagonal free kick to Ahmad who centred the ball. These three were involved again in Swans last major attack of the half, Ahmad’s cross dropping between the other two, who collided with each other and Ross, with Kamara needing treatment before resuming. At the end of the half, Staines had won 12 corners to none against, but the scores somehow remained level. There was a 48th min caution for Ross as he impeded Griffiths just outside the box just as he prepared to lift the ball goalwards, and Ahmad’s free kick was blocked by the wall. But then the home side enjoyed something of a resurgence, Louis Wells diving to turn a Craig White shot round for a corner, which in turn reached Ronayne Benjamin, his shot too resulting in a corner. Both teams introduced subs, and the flow reverted Staines’ way, as Howard Newton twice saw shots rebound for corners, and Ifura had one blocked on the line. There was an unfortunate incident involving Tom McCarthy, who was a junior with Staines Town some years ago – he came on as a 56th min sub, but was himself subbed just 7 minutes later with what was at first feared to be a broken ankle. Thankfully, the injury did not prove quite so bad, but he was still facing a month or so on the sidelines. Staines worked perhaps their clearest opening so far in the 68th minute, Ahmad picking out Newton, who found Griffiths in space, and he cut back and lifted the ball over Ross ... but onto the roof of the net. Grant tried to respond for Bedfont Green, but went just wide, before an Ahmad free kick was punched out for a corner, from which Griffiths found Ifura’s head before going just wide. In a disjointed passage 10 minutes or so from time, there were two home cautions for fouls (Grant and Merritt), followed by a substitution, without play restarting between each! Newton had a header saved on the ground following a Griffiths cross, but Wells had to make a couple of saves late on, as the home side won several corners, and Miner went close. In the 88th minute, Staines had another chance to win it, Griffiths playing a through ball that gave Thomas and Newton a two-on-one chance, but when Moore went in on late on Griffiths, referee Daly blew too soon instead of allowing advantage; Brown was booked for his complaints. The match was 50 seconds into stoppage time, and the small crowd resigned to another half hour in the cold, when Staines grabbed a winner that was richly deserved, but cruel on Bedfont Green who had defended so well for so long. Ahmad took another corner low towards the near post, and it was full-back Michael Kamara who emerged from the crowd to force the ball over the line, his first goal for the club. There was barely time for the game to restart. Staines had to wait a week for Enfield Town to defeat AFC Hayes to know their opponents in the Semi-Final. Meanwhile, two Richard Butler goals helped Bromley to win 3-2 and displace them from their 7th place. Staines: Wells, Kamara, Thomas, Gordon ©, Ifura, D Brown, Newton, Scarlett, Griffiths, Taylor (Charles-Smith 67), Ahmad; unused: King, Arthur, Lee, Phillips (g). Bedfont G: Ross, Major, Grant, Moore ©, Ward, Benjamin (McCarthy 56, Merritt 63), Sentence (McLeish 80), White, Miner, Hart, Henry; unused Samuel, Morley. Ref: Steve Daly (Stanwellmoor); ARs Ian Skull (Feltham), Steve Woodison (Ashford); MCFA Rep Pip Axtell (Ruislip) Off att: 104. Saturday 16th January 2010 (3:00pm) – Blue Square Conference (South) STAINES TOWN (0) 2 LEWES (1) 1 By Steve Parsons. It had been 15 days since Staines last played, as their fixtures at Chelmsford (9 Jan) and Bedfont Green (12 Jan) had been postponed, due to City’s FA Trophy commitments, and a waterlogged pitch respectively. This meant that Steve Cordery had to do without Marien Ifura, whose one game ban for 5 yellow cards was effective from the first game played on or after 2 Jan. Steve Cordery took the opportunity to introduce the two 18-tear old Charlton Athletic loan players, big Yado Mambo (who has previous loans at Welling and Dover) in the centre of defence, and nippy forward Tamer Tuna (it’s pronounced ‘Tameer’, and he is a Turkish youth international). Dom Sterling unfortunately broke his hand in the second Hampton game, and the other vacancy was caused by Butler’s departure to Bromley. On a cold afternoon, Staines enjoyed plenty of flowing possession in the early minutes, threatening to overrun their Sussex opponents. The visitors’ cause was not helped when their centre back Pearson was spotted pulling Ali Chaaban’s shirt on 13 minutes, giving Staines a dangerous free kick just outside the box. Leroy Griffiths took it, and it required a panicky clearance over their own bar to keep the game scoreless. Tuna settled in very quickly, and on the quarter hour he ran onto a super Griffiths pass, forcing a defender into a stretching tackle to concede only a corner. But Lewes countered with a surging wing run from David Wheeler, which was only halted by a crunching Kamara tackle which, to the visitors’ consternation, brought no stiffer punishment than a free-kick. However, it was still rather against the run of play when the dangerous Jean-Michel Sigere put Lewes ahead on 24 minutes. Danny Royce swung over a dangerous free-kick, and Sigere emerged from a crowd of players in the box to extend a boot and sent the ball beyond Louis Wells. Five minutes later, Wells had to be at his best to keep out a Royce strike and prevent Lewes from going 2-0 up. The last 10 minutes of the half saw Staines pressing hard for an equaliser. A Sigere trip on Chaaban led to Scarlett playing a free-kick to Griffiths, who worked the ball across for Tuna to see a volley fingertipped over the bar. Griffiths’ corner was beaten away, but he pumped it back in again, and again Tuna was inches away from levelling. Chaaban fed Howard Newton who turned swiftly and shot a fraction wide. The roles were then reversed as Newton put Chaaban away, but the Staines man took a heavy knock to his knee as he tried to sidestep ‘keeper Rikki Banks. Lewes responded with Wells thwarting Sigere close-in, but Staines fans were keeping a worried eye on physio’ Gareth Workman’s work on Chaaban, who was eventually declared 8unfit to continue, to be replaced for the final moments by Mazin Ahmad. Try as they might, Staines could not score in the 3 extra minutes at the end of the first half. However, it was a different matter in the second, with Staines pouring forward, Ahmad firing just over, before getting their reward in the 52nd minute. If it was Tuna of the two newcomers who seemed to have had the greater impact, and in fact had the shot that was deflected for the vital corner, it was Yado Mambo who scored the all-important goal, showing great strength in the box to force the ball past Banks from 6 yards. Scarlett had taken that flag-kick, and both Griffiths and Tuna saw shots rebounding back into the mêlée before Mambo’s finish. And before Lewes had adjusted to being level, Staines made it a ‘double whammy’, bagging the winning goal just 90 seconds later. Newton broke away down the flank and saw his shot beaten away by Banks towards Tuna, whose chip and was also saved by the ‘keeper, but it fell once more to Howard Newton who steered it home. The Rooks were hastened into three substitutions, whilst Darty Brown had his name taken for a late challenge on 71 mins. The visitors tried to hit back, with Peauroux’s drive taking two deflections before fizzing for a corner, which Royce played to Barness, only for the skipper to fire wide. Sub Hopkinson won a corner which was teasingly swung in by Royce, only for Wells to take with aplomb. Tuna was withdrawn to be replaced by Taylor, but was soon to pick up the Swans Man of the Match accolade, whilst Alfie Arthur’s made a late appearance for his Conference début shortly before the additional 4 minutes were signalled. He and his fellow defenders were kept busy during those minutes, as Lewes strove hard for a goal, Hopkinson’s crossing looking particularly effective. He forced a brave punch from Wells, who then blocked from Walder, and deep into additional time, Hopkinson won another corner that even tempted ‘keeper Banks into the attack. But Staines were able to avenge, with interest, the points they dropped at The dripping pan early in the season, and moved up to 7th in the table. Staines: Wells, Kamara (Arthur 89), D Thomas, Gordon ©, Mambo, Scarlett, Newton, D Brown, Tuna (Taylor 77), Chaaban (Ahmad 44), Griffiths; unused: Charles-Smith, King. Lewes: Banks, Barness ©, Sutton, Pearson, Peauroux, Breach, Wheeler (Hopkinson 77), Keehan (Walder 57), Sigere (Ramsay 68), Louis, Royce; Timms, Rivers. Ref: Mark Pottage (Holbrook, near Wincanton, Somerset); ARs Adam J Fricker (Bath, Avon), Stacey Woodley (Bulford, Wiltshire); Att: 407. The Staines mascot was young Ben Sully, the grandson of Tony Sully, who played for the club in the 1950s and ’60s. New Year’s Day Monday 1st January 2010 (3:00pm) – Blue Square Conference (South) STAINES TOWN (2) 4 HAMPTON & RICHMOND BOROUGH (0) 0 By Steve Parsons. Having scored the biggest victory in their short Conference career at Hampton less than a week earlier, Staines extended that record in fine style on a cold but bright afternoon at Wheatsheaf Park. Looking after the team in Steve Cordery’s absence, Craig Maskell made two changes with Ali Chaaban recalled for Scott Taylor, and Dean Thomas coming in because Marien Ifura was struggling with an ankle injury. André Scarlett operated at right back, Michael Kamara switched to the left, with Dominic Sterling moving in to partner Danny Gordon in the centre of defence, and there was a place on the bench for Richard Orlu, who is now also on loan at Harrow. Matchday sponsors were the Staines Massive (supporters’ club), and the matchball was sponsored by Dave Millard and Tony Carroll, two ex players who travelled up from the Isle of Wight and Wiltshire respectively, accompanied by another 60s Swan, Tony Caruana. The match was watched by an excellent crowd of 871 – Staines’ best so far at home in their new league. The game was just 5 minutes old when Dave Tarpey – who had started this game after giving Staines some problems as a sub on Boxing Day – sent over a deep cross that was headed only just wide by the unmarked Orlando Jeffrey at the back post. Then a cut-back from Michael-Lee Charles reached Tarpey, but he shot rather too close to Louis Wells in the Staines goal. But after these two early scares, the home defence quickly settled down, as Staines began to take control. Howard Newton and Richard Butler combined well in one move, and Staines went ahead on 19 minutes. Richard Butler made ground on the right, advanced the ball to Chaaban, whose cross was helped on by Leroy Griffiths to Dean Thomas, who had time to fire low into the bottom corner beyond ex-Swan Matt Lovett. Kamara did well to preserve Staines’ lead just 3 minutes later, when he cleared off the line from Charles, the Hampton man having controlled a long Beckford pass and threaded the ball beyond Wells. But Staines were soon flowing forward again, Thomas finding Butler whose sublime back-heel opened play up for Newton to find Griffiths, who unfortunately underhit his shot. Chaaban bounced back from a 35th minute yellow card for dissent (after he seemed to have been fouled) to fire a shot just wide of the post, but Hampton might have got back on terms 2 minutes before the break, after a free kick for a foul on Karl Beckford, some 10 yards outside the box. Tarpey stepped up to take it, but was unable to keep his shot down, and it rebounded back off one of the netting supports at the Silver’s Farm end. Incidentally, the netting had to be removed for the cameras’ benefit just before the Millwall game, and has not yet been replaced owing to being damaged. Instead it was Staines who added a second goal in first half stoppage time, when a decent Lake / Dundas / Charles move for the visitors broke down, and was cleared upfield. Jeffrey was hesitant, but Chaaban was not, as he ghosted past him, and then eluded Lovett, before threading the ball past the covering defender to double the lead. With Yaku replacing Dundas at the break, Hampton seemed to have steadied their ship to begin the second half, and Tarpey was unlucky with a flashing drive that went just wide. But Staines made absolutely sure when they scored a third goal on 69 minutes, direct from a free kick 5 yards beyond the ‘D’. Chaaban had been flying forward, only to be unceremonially halted by Scarborough (who was duly booked), but Chaaban wreaked his revenge with the deadball, creaming it past the sidestepping Scarlett, past the shaky wall, and past the ‘keeper, who seemed to be suffering mobility problems after an earlier collision. And Chaaban’s day was complete when he secured a hat-trick to start the new year off in style on 74 minutes, stealing a weak backpass and advancing to the edge of the box before netting clinically. He was then withdrawn to warm applause, and later collected the Staines Massive’s Man of the Match award from Chris Harberd and Natalie Thompson. Newton and Butler were also subbed late on, the latter making what would transpire to be his final Staines appearance before his shock departure to Bromley. Lawrence Yaku looked likely to reduce the arrears, but stumbled as he tried to round Wells, and in the end it was Staines who posed the greatest threat for another goal, with Scarlett’s good work setting up a shot for Griffiths that Lovett saved, and Darty Brown shooting just too high. Staines: Wells, Kamara, Sterling, Gordon ©, D Thomas, D Brown, Newton (Ahmad 76), Scarlett, Butler (Charles-Smith 80), Chaaban (Taylor 75), Griffiths; unused: Arthur, Orlu. Mascot Harley Yates. Hampton: Lovett, Fernandes, Tarpey, Jeffery, Scarborough (Inman 78), Collier, Lake ©, Charles (Yaku HT), Dundas, Beckford (Quashie 82), Matthews; unused R Thomas, Schoburth. Ref: C Breakspear (Walton-o-T); ARs G Weston (Harlow), L Pinto Nunes (Kingston-u-T); Att: 871.