SAT 28 JAN 23 - KEENS PARK RANGERS RESERVES V STAINES & LAMMAS (MIDDLESEX) U23 / RES

Saturday 14th January 2023 (1:15pm) – Surrey Junior Cup, Round Three (tie #47)

KEENS PARK RANGERS Reserves (1) 2 STAINES & LAMMAS (MIDDLESEX) Res/U23 (0) 2

(Staines & Lammas (Middlesex) Res/U23 won 5-4 on penalties)

The Blue Swans were handed a tough draw in their opening Surrey Cup tie, having drawn byes in the previous two rounds, being sent to Keens Park Rangers who top their league in which they both play.

In a strong cross-wind, Staines played down the slope at Pyrford Cricket Club, and might have taken a lead inside 2 minutes, only for Sankoh’s one-on-one chance to be denied by ‘keeper Looseley. However, a 13th minute corner was played to Ryan Wallis who volleyed Rangers into the lead. Wallis picked up a caution a minute later.

Additionally hampered by a shift in the wind at the start of the second half, Staines initially threatened, but were then caught on the break with Lucas Atkin firing into the corner on 48 minutes to make it 2-0. Looseley again denied Sankoh, this time with a one-handed diving save on 52 minutes, but KPR were now in the ascendancy: a clever Wallis shot hit the post on 54, and 5 minutes later they netted again but were adjudged offside. Kaba returned to the action on 66 and within seconds had a goalbound shot blocked after a good exchange with Sankoh. Appleton made a good recovery to deny McPhail on 77, but Staines thought they had a lifeline on 79 when Kaba went down after receiving a long throw, only for Mr Smith to wave away the penalty appeals.

When the lifeline did come, there were only 4 minutes left and n-one could have predicted the late turn around in fortunes, but Umran Sankoh perfectly directed his glancing header to a cross from the right to pull it back to 2-1. Falcão was yellow-carded for a foul on Harrison, but it was a foul on Kaba at the other end that enabled Staines to level the scores at 2-2, as Divin Kaba picked himself up and kept his composure to roll in the 89th minute spot-kick. It still needed a block on the line from Rangers’ injury time corner, but when the final whistle sounded it was all square and straight to penalties.

Staines started the contest, and the first four kicks by Z Halsey, Mitchell, Bamba, and Wallis were all successful. Looseley then saved vice-captain Sapsford’s kick, before Harrison continued KPR’s excellent sequence with one into the roof of the net. Both Sankoh and Watts had cause to flinch as the ‘keepers got a hand to each, but with both going in, ‘sudden death’ effectively began a kick early as KPR led 4-3. Mackinney did his bit by finding the bottom corner, before Appleton spectacularly pushed Masti’s effort onto the bar, to keep his side in the game.

Bath then saw his penalty saved, but Appleton pulled off an even better save from opposing ‘keeper Looseley to again keep Staines in the cup. Whelan put the visitors ahead, and when Appleton remarkably pulled off a third successive save, from Toone, it secured a breathtaking 5-4 victory.

S&LM:
1 Ben Appleton, 15 Zac Halsey (22 Mark Sangster 39), 17 Ansel Falcão (11 Harry Ackerley 37) [Bath 84], 12 Juvon Bath (18 Patrick Mackinney 37), 2 Daniel Bamba, 5 Mitchell Whelan © [Falcão 72], 19 Jason Sapsford (v-c), 8 Bobby Cooper [Z Halsey 90], 3 George Gilchrist [Kaba 66], 9 Umran Sankoh, 10 Divin Kaba (14 Daniel McNeice 39); unused sub: 16g Kieran Cane.

KPR:
1 Leighton Looseley, 2 Thomas Doyle, 6 Calum Toone, 12 Juan Canols Masti, 15 Josh Downes [MoM], 8 Ryan Mitchell, 4 Bruce McPhail, 16 Lucas Atkin, 11 Victor Hamilton (7 Dougal Chudley), 10 Sammy Bristow (14 Thomas 'Tom' Watts 57), 13 Ryan Wallis © [Bristow 80]; other subs: 9 Liam Harrison (on for ?); 17 James Crouch (unused); ref stated Wallis returned in final mins.

Ref: Steve Smith (Elmbridge); ARs: K Cane [0-HT] / Z Halsey [HT-50] / J Bath [50-72] / G Gilchrist [72-90] (SLMFC subs); L Harrison / ? (KPR subs); att: 36.