SAT 20 AUG 22 - ICKENHAM v S&LMFC

ICKENHAM (0) 0 STAINES & LAMMAS (MIDDLESEX) (0) 3

The final 1st Team pre-season friendly paired them with newly promoted Ickenham FC of the Middlesex County League Division 1 SW [step 9] in what proved an excellent work-out for both sides. A most unusual venue, the dressing rooms were at the Brunel University Sports Complex, Hillingdon, UB8 3PW, from where it was a 900 metre walk to the far south-east corner pitch at Pield Heath Playing Fields / Philpot's Farm Open Space (SE corner pitch), Pield Heath Road, Cowley Peachey, Middlesex, by Clarkes Drive, UB8 3UL – a pitch unusually marked out in blue lines!

The late arrival of the referee pushed the kick-off back from the scheduled 2pm. Hogg was welcomed back after an injury, but Staines were still without at least half-a-dozen players, which made the win all the more pleasing. Both teams completed well, in very warm conditions on a hard-baked pitch, but neither could get on the scoresheet before the break.

With the breeze at their backs, Staines almost broke the deadlock soon after the restart, with Robertson crashing a shot against the upright. The opener quickly followed, on 47 mins, as Ross picked out Umran Sankoh, who marked his senior début with some deft control and an unstoppable shot from 15 yards. Leeks shot just wide soon afterwards, but the lead was doubled on 59 mins when Luke Halsey powerfully headed home a Ross corner. After two assists, Jamie Ross got on the scoresheet himself, when he curled in a free-kick following a 76th minute trip on Ackerley just outside the box.

S&LM:
1 Cameron Kennedy; 19 Paul Baker, 3 Luke Halsey, 5 Matt Hogg, 6 Josh Stewart; 15 Jason Robertson, 7 Richard Bond ©, 16 Bobby Cooper, 8 Jamie Ross; 9 Umran Sankoh, 17 Ethan Leeks; subs coming on: 14 John Pomroy, 10 Josh Hooks, 18 Harry Ackerley, 1 Jacob Fuller (g).

Ref: Mohamed Shahib Shahel (Harrow); ARs: Harry Ackerley / Jacob Fuller / Paul Baker (SLM); #27 &c (IFC); att: 25.