Friday 31/7/09 Staines Town 0 Fulham X1 1 A strong Fulham eleven consisting of no fewer than three full internationals visited Wheatsheaf Park last night for the final friendly before the new Blue Square season kicks off and were pushed very close by Staines before coming away with victory. Despite getting a hand to the ball, Louis Wells was unlucky to see Fulham's effort rebound off a post and into the net just before half time to seal victory for the Cottagers, but an encouraging display never the less to round off a successful pre-season campaign. We now look ahead to next Saturday's opener away to Weston-Super-mare in good shape. Full report to come. Wednesday 29/7/09
Burnham 1 Staines Town 2 Bedfont 0 Staines Town X1 1 The Swans played two friendlies last night and came away with victory in both games. The first team defeated a strong Burnham outfit with Marien Ifura getting on the scoresheet along with an own goal. Meanwhile, Martyn Spong and Chris Wainwright sent a Staines X1 down the A30 to Bedfont along with a couple of first teamers, one of those being Scott Taylor who finished clinically to secure the other win. Fulham will be the visitors to Wheatsheaf Park this Friday with reduced admission prices of £7 and £3 respectively
Saturday 25/7/09 Walton Casuals 1 Staines Town 1 Staines made another short journey into Surrey to take on Ryman Division One South side Walton Casuals for this pre-season friendly. The Swans opened the scoring inside the first five minutes with a sublime curling effort from Scott Taylor, but despite Staines dominating the entire match, the 'Stags' hit back with probably their only shot on target to equalise ironically via Richard Orlu who is in fact a Staines player!
Monday 20/7/09 Extra fixture added Stuart Moore reports.. With a requirement to give more players ninety minutes, Swans manager Steve Cordery has arranged an additional STFC XI fixture at neighbours Staines Lammas on Thursday, 23rd July (kick-off at 7pm.) With a senior fixture the night before at Imber Court versus the Met Police, it is envisaged that the Swans will field a more experimental side down at the little Laleham Village ground 24hrs later in order that Cords may have one last good look at those players still seeking to make an impression and earn a deal here with the the Swans.
Reduced admission "The Club has decided to reduce admission prices for our final Home friendly fixture to be played at Wheatsheaf Park on Friday, 31st July when we entertain a Fulham XI. Entry prices on the gate will now be: £7 adults £3 OAPS and kids £4 students with proof. We now know the game will be just 24hrs after Fulham kick-off their Europa League campaign with an away tie (most probably in Helsinki,) and so we hope to see a few fans of the west London club down to watch the game, assuming they haven't travelled to Finland. Also, in that it's the school holidays and a Friday night, we're hoping the reduced admission will tempt down more families and kids etc..."
Borehamwood 0 Staines Town 1 Another good workout for the Swans against an improved Boreham Wood side, however the Swans were always the better side on an excellent surface at Meadow Park. Howard Newton scored the games only goal, late in the first half - an excellent finish on the end of the games best move, with spotter's passes from Gareth and Deano setting H up. Must mention one superb point-blank save from Courts' late on also. Report to follow.Tuesday 14th July 2009 (7.45pm) – Friendly
CHERTSEY TOWN (0) STAINES TOWN (0) 1 By Stuart Moore The Swans strolled to what was, on paper, the narrowest of victories in this pre-season friendly at neighbours Chertsey Town. However, in truth, the Combined Counties League side rarely threatened aside of two first-half opportunities and, indeed, in the second period Swans ‘keeper James Courtnage was a virtual spectator, as he patrolled a lonely penalty area and collected the odd back-pass. On a pitch that was in particularly poor condition, the visiting Swans did all they could to try and keep possession throughout, with the main threat on their game being the bobble of the ball off such an uneven surface. The Surrey side were coming into the game on the back of an opening 7-0 pres-season victory, with Staines Lammas having been roundly thrashed on the same pitch three days earlier. The Swans, of course, had beaten a strong League One squad from Brentford on the same afternoon. So with both sides full of confidence seemingly, but struggling to contain the pitch, the Swans had the first opportunity when Richard Butler moved beyond his marker when receiving a deep thru’ ball and instead of seeking to control and run, he hit a 35 yard lob which the Curfews ‘keeper Stone could only watch as it breezed just past the angle of post and crossbar. At the other end, however, just four minutes later and the game still settling down, home team skipper Bamford’s headed effort from a deep right-wing cross was parried at close-range from Courtnage, before he grabbed it again following a fortunate bounce. Bamford, one of three brothers in the squad was (in his accustomed way) putting himself about with some bullish challenges on Onochie and Risbridger….but more of them later! Playing wide on the left again, triallist Chris Bourne was seeing plenty of ‘out balls’ and with one, he sharply turned and shot to test the ‘keeper before Butler again saw an effort spurned, this time as Stone saved smartly down to his left. Still offering some resistance at this time though, the Curfews best chance came from an unfortunate defensive error when Marc Cumberbatch failed to control a horribly bouncing throughball and former AFC Wimbledon striker Steve Goddard raced through to shoot wide, however as he fell on the hard surface, he badly injured his right shoulder – an injury that was to see him finally withdrawn from action just before the break, whilst clearly still in some discomfort. With some generally ‘unfriendly’ challenges still apparent, Referee Readett from Virginia Water decided to take action in the 38th minute when he dismissed midfielder Gavin Bamford for a clear elbow into Elliot Onochie’s forehead as they challenged aerially. Much to the protests of the home side, no replacement was allowed and so the home side’s challenge was made all the more harder, having to play out over almost an hour with a man down. The last chance of the half fell to the visiting Swans when Marlon Patterson (seeking to earn himself a deal,) smartly turned and flicked a cross for Butler to head for goal, but again Stone was equal to the effort and the score board remained untroubled at the break. Continuing with only ten men, despite a request from the home side to restore parity with an extra substitute, the Curfews really struggled to make any impact in a second half dominated by the Swans who tried to keep possession and control of the game. Steve Cordery made six of his seven subs at the break and all played their part in what became a decidedly one-sided effort as play continuously moved towards the far goal. Early efforts from Patterson and Taylor missed the target, but then in a short passage of play around the hour mark, the Swans had the ball in the net twice, only to be thwarted by an assistant referee’s flag for offside. First Marien Ifura, still up for a corner got his head on the end of a Delando Smith cross and then Marc Charles-Smith’s half-volleyed finish also failed to register. Soon after, young Academy graduate James King entered the fray, replacing captain Scarlett and he quickly showed why Manager Steve Cordery is looking forward to blooding him in the senior squad in the coming season. Some busy midfield play culminated in King finding the back of the net before a further off-side decision stifled his celebration, but the youngster did register, with the only goal of the game on 82 minutes, his sharp and controlled finish from the angle of the penalty box found its way into the far, bottom corner to give the scoreline at least some little credibility. Further efforts from Patterson, the tricky Taylor and Patterson almost doubled the score before the game ended. Staines: James Courtnage, Simon Jackson, Dave Sargent (Delando Smith HT), Marc Cumberbatch (Marien Ifura HT) Dave, Woozley (Lee Kersey HT), Andre Scarlett © (James King 58), Marlon Patterson, Gareth Risbridger (Dean Thomas HT), Richard Butler (Scott Taylor HT), Elliott Onochie (Marc Charles-Smith HT), Chris Bourne
Saturday 11th July 2009 (3:00pm) – Friendly STAINES TOWN (0) 1 BRENTFORD (0) 0 By Steve Parsons.. Staines were able to entertain their Football League neighbours on a perfect pitch, in a game which was the first for each team since celebrating their promotion at the end of 2008/9. Both teams included some unfamiliar names, with Swans’ first Conference signing, David Woozley, being joined by Marlon Patterson (ex Histon) and Chris Bourne (ex Heybridge). Staines fielded most of last years heroes, although Louis Wells was unavailable for this game, so James Courtnage kept goal, with Academy product Danny Sonner coming in for the final stages. Both teams changed their whole side in the second half, allowing Brentford to unveil new signings Weston, Foster, Strevens, and Legge. Local football fans again attended this now-traditional fixture in good numbers, despite a day which was cool and misty with drizzle. Staines also wore their brand new Nike kit, emblazoned with the name of their new main sponsors, AT&T (GB) Ltd. The game was preceded by “three cheers” for Staines chairman Alan Boon, who remains ill in St Peter’s Hospital, followed by a rousing chorus from the ‘Massive’. Attacking the houses end in the first half, and playing against a gusty breeze, Staines were pushed back in the opening minutes, but then broke to great effect when a diagonal ball from Dean Thomas reached Howard Newton, whose powerful drive was turned around for a corner by former Ipswich ’keeper Lewis Price, a Welsh international. But Courtnage did well to tip Moses Ademola’s snapshot over the bar, and also did well to grab a Bentley Graham drive. Scott Taylor tested Price after a good ball from Elliot Onochie, only for Brentford to hit back with Marien Ifura making a telling clearance, Nathan Elder seeing a drive blocked by Danny Gordon, and Sam Wood skidding a shot just wide. Staines’ best moment of the first half almost gave them the lead on 36 minutes, when a ball down the line by Gordon picked out Scott Taylor, who lofted a deft lob over Price, but the wind eased it just past the far post. Onochie and Taylor exchanged passes neatly in the opposition box, but the half ended with the visitors threatening, as Elder put a header wide following Karleigh Osborne’s cross wide. Just 90 seconds after the new-look sides took the field for the second half, Staines scored the only goal of the game, after Patterson won a corner. Leroy Griffiths sent the kick towards the far post, where Marc Cumberbatch forced home his first goal in Swans colours. Cumberbatch in fact gave a high octane performance which earned him the NLP Man of the Match accolade, chasing back to make several important interventions in his usual defensive role. Ben Strevens looked Brentford’s most effective forward in the second half, having one effort blocked by Cumberbatch, another just clearing the bar following a Kevin O’Connor corner, and creating two other half chances which came to nothing. At the other end, André Scarlett fizzed a drive just past the post, as the game continued to flow from end to end. Sonner made his senior début late in the game, and dealt well with David Hunt’s drive following a Stevens free-kick, and then had to endure a few minutes when Staines’ defence was depleted while Richard Orlu was treated for a facial injury. However, the game ended 1-0, and provided many useful pointers for both managers for the more serious battles to come. Staines: James Courtnage (Danny Sonner 82), Marien Ifura (Lee Kersey HT), David Sargent (Chris Bourne HT), Danny Gordon © (Richard Orlu 65), David Woozley (Marc Cumberbatch HT), Dean Thomas (André Scarlett HT), Howard Newton (Gareth Risbridger HT), Darty Brown (Marc Charles-Smith HT), Scott Taylor (Leroy Griffiths HT), Elliot Onochie (Richard Butler HT), Marlow Patterson. Brentford: Lewis Price (Craig Holloway HT), Karleigh Osborne (Danny Foster HT), Ryan Dickson (Ryan Blake HT), Marcus Bean (Kevin O’Connor HT), Mark Phillips © (Alan Bennett © HT), Fraser Franks (Leon Legge HT), Sam Saunders (James McClusky HT), Bentley Graham (David Hunt HT), Nathan Elder (Ben Strevens HT), Moses Ademola (Marvin Williams HT), Sam Wood (Myles Weston); unused Lewis Ferral, Jeff Banks-Smith. Ref: Jarnail ‘John’ Singh (Cranford, Middlesex); ARs David Belbin (Staines, Mx), Isaac Jempeji (Alperton, Mx); STFC Mascots Josie Moore & Dean Williams. Att 1198.
Thursday 9/7/09 Updates from Stuart Moore and Steve Parsons.... Friendlies The Club were disappointed to receive the news direct from Carshalton Athletic manager Hayden Bird, that the scheduled pre-season game there set for Tuesday, 28th July has had to be postponed. The announcement came from the Surrey club due to an issue with the pitch there at the War Memorial Sports Ground. By way of a contingency/fall-back plan, we have made contact with Burnham FC with a view to bringing forward the currently scheduled game from Saturday, 1st August to Tuesday 28th July....confirmation/details to follow. On the same night (Tuesday, 28th July) however, Steve Cordery will be running the rule over the last or our triallists and potential first-team squad members in a game that has been arranged at Bedfont FC (kick-off 7.30pm). Of course, the Club from under the LHR flightpath are now managed by former Chelsea and Sheffield United striker Neil Shipperley. In the draw for the Middlesex Senior Cup, the Swans have been handed a very tough ask with a trip to Conference 'new-boys' Hayes and Yeading United in the 'tie of the second round'. The match is due to be played at the Church Road Ground on Tuesday, 8th December. The Board of the Football Conference after they met on 6th July extend this message to all member clubs: “We remain upbeat in our efforts to secure a new broadcast partner. Though realistically no one should need reminding how difficult it is in the financial world at this time, the Football Conference continues to explore all possible avenues through our contacts”RESERVE / TRIALISTS XI Thursday 9th July 2009 (7:15pm) – friendly at Stockley Park – att 13 (2 ? 40 mins)
AFC HAYES (0) 4 STAINES TOWN XI (0) 0 Steve Cordery and Trent Phillips took the opportunity to cast an eye over some trialists and applicants, when they lined up against an AFC Hayes side under new management, who used their entire First and Reserve team squad. Like Staines, AFC Hayes also changed most of their side at half time, but also took the unusual step of changing their strip – from red to white! The game was played on a basic park pitch – the first one over the footbridge – at Chestnut Avenue, West Drayton, just a few yards from Uxbridge FC. The 15 Staines trialists were joined by four of last year’s squad (Sonner, Orlu, A Brown, Severino), and a former Reserve (Grimm), swelling the numbers sufficiently that Lee Kersey and David Sargent – who also travelled – were not called upon. After a shaky start, the makeshift Staines side held firm, and the game was very even, up until the moment that they made their last batch of substitutions early in the second half. This required some players to move out of position, especially in defence, and it immediately showed as Craig Tomkins (56m) and Adamson Ajayi (57m) snatched two quick goals. The home side looked much more lively up front thereafter, and Michael Burton capitalised on a 70th minute mistake to make it 3-0, before Ajayi grabbed his second on 79 minutes. Staines: 17 Danny Sonner, 2 Delando Smith (9 Edson Pascoal 52), 3 Alex Umeh (3 Said Mueller 30), 4 Richard Orlu ©, 5 Jackson Ohakam (7 Alistair John 58), 6 Curtis Tunstall (12 Azainia Brown HT), 7 Jake Girt (17 Mark Reynolds HT), 8 Roy Byron (11 Kafel Brown 52), 9 Jay Murray (14 Uzo Monago HT), 10 Shane Wyllie (16 Enrico Grimm HT), 11 Paolo Ferrari (15 Ariosto Severino HT). AFC Hayes: Rob Pearce, Howard Hall, Lee Gritt, Liam Fowler, Callum Mansell, Dan Murphy ©, John Powles, Nathan Munroe, Danilson Vicente, Marcel Jones. Theo Aherne; subs Kevin Ayodele, Danny Singh, Charles Ahene, Shane Campbell, Darren Butler, Vince Anozie, Adamson Ajayi, Michael Burton, Craig Tomkins. Referee: Kyle Kirkbride (Uxbridge); assts – AFC Hayes players.
Friday 3/7/09 The wonder of Weston first up for Cords’ boys Sam Elliott reports... Manager Steve Cordery says it all seems more real now after the Blue Square South fixtures were released this morning.The Swans make one of the longest trips of the season on the first day – Staines will play Weston-super-Mare on August 8 at the Woodspring Stadium. They will then take in two home games, on the next Tuesday against Dorchester and then Havant & Waterlooville four days later. Boxing day sees a visit to local foes Hampton & Richmond, who then come to Wheatsheaf Park on New Year’s Day with bumper crowds already predicted. The last day of the season is like the first – a long away trip to the coast, this time to old Ryman Premier rivals Dover Athletic. Cords said: “Well, this is where we’ve been wanting to play our football for the last few years and it suddenly seems so much more real now, we can’t wait! “We will go into the first five or six matches blind anyway. We don’t know that much about this division yet but we’re keen to learn and I’m sure we will – we might see some strange early results but we will settle down in time. “It’s good to get perhaps the longest trip out of the way early on and on a Saturday, not a cold Tuesday evening. Weston know the Conference South and what the league is all about. It is going to be a great test for us but the first day results can be funny sometimes. “We desperately wanted to be in the Conference and now we are. We’re counting down the days and I’m certain the fans are as well.” Staines kick start their pre-season campaign next Saturday when League One Brentford come to town – tickets are available on the door so don’t miss the July 11 curtain raiser.
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