Saturday 28th November 2009 (1:30pm) – FA Cup sponsored by E.On Second Round Proper [tie 20]

STAINES TOWN (0) 1 MILLWALL (0) 1

By Steve Parsons.

Probably the biggest day in the history of Staines Town FC dawned bright but chilly, as Steve Cordery’s team prepared to take on the might of Millwall – 10th in League One – at a packed Wheatsheaf Park. Three weeks of preparation culminated in a crowd swelled to 2753, housed on four temporary terraces, watching these sides 90 places apart in the pyramid. TV viewers in the US and beyond could watch the game live on Fox, and domestically it was the first feature in ITV’s highlight show on Saturday night. The club had gone to great lengths, taking advice from all quarters, to ensure the safety of all fans, given the reputation that always seems to accompany Millwall, but in truth the 750 or so Lions fans were impeccably behaved and added to a truly thrilling atmosphere at an immaculate Wheatsheaf Park. As Staines began by attacking the Penton Hook end, even the sun came out to brighten a chilly afternoon.

The Swans starting XI showed two changes from the previous weekend, Gordon and Brown being re-elected in place of the unfortunate Bourne and Scarlett. Millwall’s selection was not so clear-cut, however, as they had a couple of ineligible loan players, two injuries up front, and Schofield taken ill before kick-off.

Staines endured a nightmare opening two minutes, in which they could easily have found themselves down, if not out. Conceding possession from the kick-off, they had to survive two corners, a goalmouth scramble, and a dangerous long throw before they even crossed the halfway line, and it was only when Newton was tripped that they got the chance to draw breath and start afresh with Griffiths’ floated free-kick that was held by ‘keeper Forde. As they began to settle, a sturdy Risbridger tackle gave Chaaban the chance to make one of his wriggling runs, but Millwall snuffed out the half-chance with some no-nonsense defending. On 11 mins, Ifura effected a clearance that still necessitated Wells jumping to claim it, and as he did so he was impeded by Morison who was cautioned. Three mins later, Hackett won possession for the visitors and launched a ferocious shot that Wells did well to fingertip over the bar; the resulting corner was handled by Price who was also booked. Staines’ best early chance came on the quarter-hour mark, Risbridger seeing a goal-bound shot cleared for a corner, which Griffiths sent to the far post, where it was met by a powerful Ifura header, with Robinson just getting his knee to it on the line. This immediately set up a Millwall counter through Morison, but Jackson did well to chase back and cover. Wells flew across his area to palm away a Dunne shot, before Butler’s tireless running set Chaaban away for a one-on-one shot that Forde palmed over. There was a delay on the half hour when Millwall’s Frampton sustained a gashed hand in dispossessing Butler, and he had to be replaced by Smith. On the other flank, Brown harried Dunne into an error and provided Butler with a chance to test Forde from a tight angle, before Robinson became the third visitor cautioned when he clinically halted a flying Griffiths run following Butler’s clever overhead pass. Staines lost the ball however, and Robinson shot just wide. Millwall ended the half on the attack, with Wells stretched by Laird, while Hackett and Smith fired wide in the 3 additional minutes.

The second half saw both teams play with rather more confidence and openness, despite Millwall withdrawing their awkward striker, Price, at the break. After Butler had a promising shot, Millwall sent two efforts across the goalmouth, whilst both Ifura and Sterling were forced into saving tackles. Staines won a free kick when Butler was clattered challenging for a poor Forde clearance, and Griffiths touched it to Chaaban, 30 yards out, only for the wall to block his drive. It rebounded to Griffiths, whose shot hit the remnants of the wall for a corner, from which Newton stretched Forde. But Staines fell behind on 69 minutes, when Hackett sent over a corner from the right, reaching Paul Robinson at the back post, and his looping header looked as routine as the ones that Wells had been claiming with ease all year, yet somehow it eluded him and dropped in under the bar. Staines tried hard to respond: Risbridger skied a half chance from Newton’s pass, Chaaban was closed down from Butler’s pass, and a lovely Staines move begun at the back by Gordon ended with Forde tested by his own right-back, leading to a Lions counter and a saved Hackett drive. Just as Mr Cordery seemed ready to pitch on a sub or two, Staines were awarded a penalty, after Butler was nudged in the back by Robinson, who also clipped his heels. Wells could not bear to watch, but Ali Chaaban was cool as ever, blasting in the 79th min equaliser. The spring returned to Swans’ step, Griffiths setting up Butler, but they could not neglect their defensive duties either, Wells brilliantly saving Martin’s volley, before Jackson snuffed out Grimes’ follow-up. Grimes had two more decent chances, Wells saved from Grabban, and gratefully claimed a Martin cross. Staines had their chance to win it on 88 mins, as Risbridger’s shot on the turn was struck sweetly, but saved by Forde. During the nervous extra 3 mins, there were chances for Sterling and Grabban at opposite ends, and bookings for Chaaban (foul on Ford) and Grimes (dissent), but the game ended in an honourable draw.

Match sponsor Mick Walsh (David Andrews Construction) gave the Man of the Match bubbly to Wells; Butler got the NLP accolade, with Risbridger only just behind on both polls.

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

Millwall: Forde, Dunne, Frampton (Smith 32), Robinson ©, Ward, Laird, Abdou, Hackett, Martin, Price (Grabban HT), Morison (Grimes 68); unused Sullivan (g), Bolder, Schofield, Fuseini.

Att: 2,753

Saturday 21st November 2009 (3:00pm) – FA Carlsberg Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round

BASHLEY (1) 2 STAINES TOWN (0) 1

By Steve Parsons.

Exempt until the final qualifying round, Staines then made a speedy exit from the FA Trophy, on a day when Manager Steve Cordery would have had his work cut out to focus players’ minds on the ‘only’ the second most important national cup competition. He rang the changes in the starting eleven, restoring five players to the side who had been left out for one reason or another against Welling. One of those missing was David Woozley, who on the Thursday was amicably transferred to Carshalton, where he was guaranteed a regular starting spot. Also absent was Danny Gordon, and the Club extended its congratulations to him and Martine for their wedding that very afternoon. Not only were the players changed, but so was the kit, reverting to last year’s white & red ‘away’ strip because of the clash with The Bash gold, and the fact that a new white & blue one had to be ordered after the existing one had been specially embroidered for the Shrewsbury trip and presented to the players. The progressive New Forest village club – whom Staines had visited only once before some 11 years ago – included former Swan Pete Castle in their defence. The club aim to join Staines in the Conference South next term, and are well placed in the Zamaretto [Southern] League Premier Division, despite the village’s tiny population of little over 200. Coincidentally, there were 268 fans at The Recreation Ground, bolstered by a merry crew from sponsors The Merlot Club. The weather was truly dreadful, having rained most of the morning and it came down in monsoon style during the game, so it was a credit to the host club that the game took place at all.

Staines made a poor start to the game, and were outplayed by the home side for the first half hour or so. The only goal of this period came in the 10th minute, and was a spectacular strike. There seemed no immediate danger when Knight and Gamble combined in midfield and shuttled the ball through to Chris Mason, but the rangy midfielder took a couple of steps and let fly with a tremendous 25 yard + strike that flew unstoppably into the top corner of the net. Five minutes later, Wells was forced into a diving save to deny Ferrett, following a Mason corner. And on the half hour, Staines were stretched again when Ferrett plopped a free kick from out near the corner flag into the box, where it pinged around for several seconds before finally being cleared. But in the final 15 minutes of the half, Staines finally began to get a toehold in the game, with Mason having to chase back to make a saving tackle after Chaaban had won the ball in midfield and surged into the Bashley box. Griffiths had his name taken for a late tackle, but Staines thought they had equalised in the 36th minute, when a high ball was lofted into the box, and defender Parnell collided with ’keeper Elm, leaving Butler the relatively straightforward task of steadying himself and guiding the ball into the net. However, the celebration was short-lived, as referee Rushton ruled that Butler had caused the collision by pushing the defender. As Staines cranked up the pressure, Elms got down well to save a Butler drive, and Chaaban almost punished a weak clearance from the home ‘keeper, but the half ended with the home side still leading 1-0.

The rain was even worse at the start of the second half, but Staines were swiftly out of the blocks, and Newton darted forward and essayed a chip over the advancing Elms, who was just able to stretch up an arm as he spread himself, denying Newton his first goal since the four he scored in the opening three weeks of the season. Staines were now making light of the conditions with some good approach work, but still suffering with some wayward finishes, as both Chaaban and Butler’s efforts posed greater threat to the clubhouse roof-tiles than the back of the net. Chaaban picked up a booking for a foul on Knight, quickly followed by a foul on Butler which earned Bashley’s Parnell a yellow card. Parnell then made a saving contribution to block Ifura’s free header from a Newton corner, but in the 65th minute, Staines deservedly drew level. Newton dispossessed Ferrett and played a superbly weighted diagonal ball from midfield out to Leroy Griffiths, and he advanced and sent a perfectly weighted chip shot over Elms and into the net. Bashley tried to respond quickly, but Wells was equal to Mason’s drive, and Jackson made an important block, and Staines seemed to have weathered the storm, especially when Chaaban wriggled free and drew a good save from Elms. With the Millwall preparations now underway, Wheatsheaf Lane was spared a Tuesday replay when Bashley grabbed a controversial winner with 5 minutes left. A stiff challenge on the halfway line, that on another day might have brought opprobrium for the raised studs went unpunished, and the ball was driven forwards towards Mark Gamble, who coolly shot low past Wells for the winner. Staines surged forwards from the kick-off, trying to keep their Trophy involvement going, but were thwarted by an offside flag, and when Risbridger won an 89th minute corner, Griffiths’ flag-kick was almost headed beyond his own ‘keeper by Bashley Man of the Match Parnell. Risbridger was booked for throwing the ball away after conceding a foul deep into stoppage time, which will see him sit out the Basingstoke game, before the final whistle brought delight to the home fans.

Bashley: Elm, Castle, Ferrett, Middleton, Parnell ©, Knowles, Kelly, Mason, Maxwell (Tarr 63), Gamble, Knight. : Gazzard, Prodomo (g), McCarthy, Riley.

Staines: Wells, Jackson, Sterling, Bourne, Ifura, Scarlett, Newton, Risbridger, Griffiths, Butler (Onochie 67), Chaaban. : Ahmad, D Brown, Taylor, Kamara.

Ref: MT Rushton (Wilts); ARs JJ Fortescue & G Barter (both Dorset). Tie 25. Att: 268.

Saturday 14th November 2009 (3:00pm) – Blue Square Conference South

WELLING UNITED (1) 3 STAINES TOWN (0) 0

By Steve Parsons.

Staines Town’s first visit to Park View Road coincided with the appointment of new Player-Manager Jamie Day by the home club. However, for a long time it looked as though Mr Day might have to wait for his baptism, as a torrential storm lashed this part of Kent, rendering the pitch covered in puddles. But hard work by the groundstaff allowed the ref to pass it fit at 2:15. Steve Cordery protected the four who were on the suspension tightrope (Ifura, Risbridger, Jackson, and Newton), and also left Taylor and Chaaban on the bench, meaning that Sterling and Butler were added to the previous Tuesday’s starting eleven. The wind blew hard, but thankfully the rain abated for the duration, as Swans attacked the Park View Road end of the ground in the first half, taking advantage of the slope.

Just 3 minutes into the match, Staines created what would turn out to be one of their best openings of the afternoon, Griffiths timing his run well to beat the offside, but then shooting just wide with only the ‘keeper Mitten to beat. And they were punished for this when Welling went ahead on 9 minutes. Staines failed to cut out the through ball to Tommy Whitnell after a swift move down the right, and the striker made no mistake with the awkwardly bobbling ball. Wells had to be agile to prevent Protheroe from adding to the scoreline from some distance soon afterwards, but then it was the turn of Mitten to excel in the other goal, spreading himself well to deny Scarlett after a good move had set the Swans midfielder on his own some 8 yards out after just 19 minutes. Both sides struggled to complete their passes and throws in the wind, and one such error allowed Fazackerley to set up Stone, but he blasted over, as did Clarke soon afterwards.

Staines’ hopes of getting something from this game were abruptly dashed when they conceded two goals in the opening 6 minutes of the second period. Woozley’s 48th minute foul on Stone might have been just inside the box, but referee Michael George gave the defender the benefit of the doubt in awarding the free kick just outside. Deane drilled the free kick low and hard, Wells threw himself at it to block, but Lee Clarke was following it in to score on the rebound. There was more bad luck for David Woozley, as he inadvertently diverted the ball into his own goal when attempting to prevent Stone’s cross from reaching Whitnell, following a good passing move on Welling’s right. A momentary flashpoint involving Kamara and Welling’s Deane saw these two yellow carded, and they would soon be followed by Chaaban (late challenge) after he had replaced the recently-cautioned Darty Brown. Deane in fact produced a great run for the home side, eventually letting fly with a great shot that was met by an even better save by Wells. Sterling picked up a knock, but when Ahmad came off the bench, it was Bourne who was withdrawn. As the game fizzled out in the wet conditions, there was a yellow card to Wings’ new Player-Manager for a foul, and he then had to oversee the substitution of the injured Protheroe very late on. Staines thus slipped to 13th in the table, but remained 2 points clear of Welling, with a game in hand.

Staines: Wells, Kamara, Sterling, Gordon ©, Woozley, Scarlett, Bourne (Ahmad 63), Thomas, Butler (Taylor 79), Griffiths, Brown (Chaaban 66); unused Risbridger, Newton.

Welling: Mitten, Protheroe © (Bakare 88), Deane, Day, Sambrook, Andrews, Finn, Clarke, Stone (Hobbs 66), Whitnell, Fazackerley (Hurrell 81); unused Bennett (g), Gaisie.

Ref: Mike George (Dilham, Norfolk); ARs Mike Cottee (Hornchurch), James Macey (Bexley), who was a late replacement for a third ‘Mike’, Smith. Att: 452.

Tuesday 10th November 2009 (7:45pm) – Blue Square Conference South

STAINES TOWN (0) 1 BATH CITY (0) 1

By Steve Parsons.

These two clubs had achieved remarkable away wins over League opposition at the weekend, so it must have been hard for the two managers to motivate them to get back to the business of League football. And so it appeared for much of this lacklustre game, although Staines could at least point to the fact that they had made six changes, with four players omitted in order to avoid cautions that would have led to them missing the Millwall game, and Ifura additionally resting a groin strain. This match, quickly rescheduled from 24 October, was played on a cool and misty evening, with Staines attacking the Penton Hook end in the first half, after observing a minute’s silence, marking the passing of Life Member Harry Trim at the age of 93.

The match had barely started when there was an interruption, as Bath skipper Jim Rollo was unfortunately hit in the face with the ball, and not long afterwards they lost fellow defender Jones to an early injury. In between, Staines constructed a good move that ended in Robinson saving with his legs from Thomas. On the whole, neither side seemed able to maintain the concentration, but the better chances were going Staines’ way: Chaaban drove a free kick wide; Griffiths was baulked just outside the box by Rollo (who was booked) but Chaaban put the resultant 36th min free kick just over, and a Kamara cross was headed by Newton, with a defender diverting it for a rare corner. The half ended with a good move involving Griffiths, Chaaban, and Thomas feeding Taylor, whose shot was saved by Robinson. Tempers briefly flared in the tunnel as the players left the field, but this was out of character for a generally well-disciplined game.

The second half was rather more entertaining, and on the hour mark, Staines mounted the best move up to that point, as Griffiths and Thomas combined to set up Scarlett, who seemed to have skipped past ‘keeper Robinson, but just ran out of space to squeeze in his shot. Then Bath started to come into the picture, and although they put several shots wide of the mark, Mohamed tested Wells after intercepting a pass across the defence. And then, with 65 minutes played, it was City who went ahead. Hogg swung a free kick towards Holland, whose powerful headed was well saved by Wells, but the loose ball came back out to Kaid Mohamed, who made no mistake from close range. Staines pitched on a pair of substitutes, including Ahmad who was thus making his senior Swans début, and in fact his very first involvement, on 75 mins, was to touch a free kick, for a foul by the yellow-carded Jombatti, to André Scarlett and his driven low shot found its way beyond the wall and into the corner of the net. Staines might even have snatched the lead, when a Griffiths corner was headed into the net by Woozley, but it was disallowed for pushing. A third Bath caution was administered in the last minute when sub Coupe deliberately handled, but the visitors came close to grabbing all three points in stoppage time, as a good pass was played out to Badman, but he underhit his shot. Staines remain 10th in the table.

Staines: Wells, Kamara, Bourne, Gordon ©, Woozley, D Brown (Butler 70), Thomas, Taylor (Ahmad 70), Griffiths, Chaaban (Newton 81), Scarlett; unused Risbridger, Jackson.

Bath: Robinson, Jombatti (Pelecaci 79), Rollo ©, Jones (Coupe 14), Holland, Connolly, Simpson, Badman, Douglas (Perrott 56), Mohamed, Hogg; unused Browning (g), Evans.

Ref: T Robinson (Bognor); ARs L Pinto Nunes (Kingston), D Sotimirin (Brixton); STFC Mascot Rachel Boon. Att: 425.

Saturday 7th November 2009 (3:00pm) – FA Cup sponsored by E.On, First Round Proper (tie 27)

SHREWSBURY TOWN (0) 0 STAINES TOWN (1) 1

By Steve Parsons

Having travelled up to Shropshire the previous day, and stayed overnight in Whitchurch, Staines arrived for the big game with only one change to Steve Cordery’s starting eleven, as Leroy Griffiths came back into the side, while André Scarlett was the man to miss out. Elliot Onochie was unfortunately not available for selection, as he had had to go to the Middle East on urgent family business. For only their third appearance in the FA Cup competition proper, Staines had the honour of contesting the first FA Cup tie at Shrewsbury Town’s lovely “New Meadow” ProStar Stadium, and so were greeted by a huge ‘STFC’ in gold and blue seating in the stands. On a decent pitch on a chilly afternoon Staines attacked the North Stand end, populated by a couple of hundred of The Massive who kept up a barrage of support throughout the game, comparable to that of the home fans who made up the remainder of the 3539 attendance. The match was preceded by a minute’s silence for Remembrance Day.

The first 10 minutes of the game were riddled with errors, and Staines briefly appeared nervous on the big stage. But they suffered no more damage than an early yellow card for Darty Brown’s challenge on Labadie, and soon settled into their game. But there was a major scare for the visitors on 17 minutes, when Joss Labadie was put through, Louis Wells darted off his line and dived at his feet, and in an instant, the forward went to ground and his shot went inches wide. The home fans begged for a penalty, but the assistant referee calmly raised his flag for offside. But then, with 21 minutes gone, Staines scored what proved to be the only goal of the game, after Howard Newton received the ball from a misplaced Salop pass. Then followed a neat move involving Gareth Risbridger, who played the ball wide to Leroy Griffiths, and he in turn rolled it into the path of Ali Chaaban, whose quick feet took him beyond his marker before he threaded a low shot into the far corner of Chris Neal’s net. “Who needs Ali G when we’ve got Ali C?” chanted the Massive – a cry that even made it onto BBC Radio 5’s “606” show later that night! The home side were again appealing for a penalty 5 minutes later, but referee Darren Drysdale was unimpressed at Jake Robinson’s tumble after receiving from Kevin McIntyre. Wells reacted quickly to keep our Lewis Neal’s snap header, and Robinson headed over, but Staines grew in confidence once the feeling of being ahead sunk in, whilst the home side seemed to wilt after their early promise. Risbridger, Griffiths, and Chaaban all made menacing runs in and around the box, and Chaaban won a corner from a dangerous run close in. Shrewsbury tried to respond late in the half, but Wells easily dealt with Dave Hibbert’s low shot, and Marien Ifura made two towering defensive headers. Just before the game entered its one additional first half minute, Staines had a momentary chance of a second goal, when Simon Jackson’s deep free kick came towards Chaaban, but it was at an awkward height and the extrqa moment it took to control gave the home side the chance to effect a clearance.

An early foul by Risbridger on Labadie gave McIntyre and Neal the opportunity to combine over a dangerously placed dead-ball, but it was hammered straight into Staines’ defensive wall – a moment that set the pattern for the rest of the half. Another spate of errors occurred, with Neal putting a Shrewsbury corner straight out of play, and even the unflappable Louis Wells underhitting a goal-kick, but Staines were soon back in possession and started to look comfortable. Hibbert’s next effort for Shrewsbury was blocked by Griffiths, after a good combination in the corner involving Neal, Cansdell Sherriff, and McIntyre ended in Labadie heading the ball back across the box. Brown got a talking-to from the calm Mr Drysdale, but soon after Labadie was replaced by Jake Simpson (son of Manager Paul), the home fans started to feel that this was not to be their day, and a chorus of booing broke out – in sharp contrast to the non-stop encouragement from the Staines Massive. Ifura made a perfectly-timed tackle when another Shrewsbury sub, Bright, worked a good shooting position. Jackson was fouled by Hibbert, who had his name taken, and that Staines man limped off to be replaced by Scarlett. The pace of Swans’ next substitution clearly upset the matchday announcer, who remarked that Thomas would replace Butler ‘eventually’, but, after Hibbert had headed a Hooman cross just over at one end, it was Thomas who might have wrapped things up for the visitors, if he could have controlled his header after Ifura had nodded back a deep Griffiths corner. Taylor came on as Chaaban had run himself into the ground – hardly a defensive substitution – and Swans continued to look the more likely side to score, with a Newton corner causing panic in the box, as both Sterling’s overhead kick and Thomas’s drive were blocked. Simpson played another good ball into the Staines box, but the defence continued to do the basic things well, and even with 5 added minutes, were not unduly perturbed. The final whistle sparked jubilant scenes and generous applause from the home fans, while the fv and radio crews queued up to interview members of the Staines team on this historic victory. As well as scoring the first FA Cup goal at the ProStar Stadium, Staines became the first non-League team to knock Shrewsbury out of the Cup on their own patch, after 11 other sides had tried and failed.

Staines: Wells, Jackson (Scarlett 70), Sterling, Gordon ©, Ifura, D Brown, Newton, Risbridger, Butler (Thomas 74), Griffiths, Chaaban (Taylor 83); unused Woozley, Kamara, Courtnage (gk), Bourne.

Shrewsbury: C Neal, Coughlan ©, Langmead, Hibbert, Robinson (Bright HT), Murray, Hooman (Elder 77), Neal, Cansdell-Sherriff, Labadie (Simpson 63), McIntyre; unused Leslie, Gray, Arestidou (gk), Richards.

Ref: Darren Drysdale (Lincs.); ARs Chris Kavenagh & Peter Gooch (both Lancs.), 4th Off: Andy Hutchinson (Ches.). STFC Mascot Harley Yates. Att: 3539.

The long journey home and a late night celebration for some of the party was just the start of an exciting week for Staines Town. Highlights were shown on ITV later that night, and on the Sunday the cameras were back at the ground to film reaction to the Second Round draw (screened later), in which Staines were in the very last pairing, at home to Millwall or AFC Wimbledon. The League One side won that tie on the Monday, and Staines Town officials set about trying to secure the tie for Wheatsheaf Park. The romance of the cup was preserved when, after several meetings with the local authority, police, fire, FA, and Millwall, that decision was ratified on Friday. Meanwhile, a Thursday training session and more interviews were filmed on the Thursday.