SAT 25 FEB 23 - INDIAN GYMKHANA V STAINES & LAMMAS (MIDDLESEX)

Saturday 25th February 2023 (1pm) – Middlesex Intermediate Cup Semi-final, tie #13

INDIAN GYMKHANA (0) 0 STAINES & LAMMAS (MIDDLESEX) (0) 2

Staines & Lammas (Middlesex) reached the final of the Middlesex Intermediate Cup for first time since 2009, with this narrow victory over the historic Indian Gymkhana Club, currently 4th in the Middlesex County League Premier Division, an equivalent league to the Surrey Premier. The hosts, formed in 1916, play at their own ground at Thornbury Avenue, Osterley – a venue at which Staines Town actually played a home Middlesex Senior League game in January 1947 when their own home at the time – the Laleham Rec(!) – was temporarily unavailable. Today’s match was attended by Jim Taylor (Past President and elder statesman of the Middlesex FA), and Chris Benn (MFA official photographer).

The game was keenly contested throughout, with Staines denied a 12th minute lead when Betts’ powerful shot was blocked by Taj. Gymkhana Manager Gurwinder Singh had his name taken for dissent on 25 mins, followed 10 mins later by Owuadey for a foul.

Having played against the wind for the first half, the visitors were hoping for that advantage after the break, but a change came in the erstwhile bright weather becoming sleety, and the wind switching across the pitch. Stewart headed a 55th min Hooks cross just wide of the mark, and a minute later Hogg was booked for a foul on Owuadey. A flailing arm from Dhaliwal saw the home player cautioned on 68 mins.

The deadlock was broken just 2 minutes later, when Josh Hieke whipped the ball over from the left and it clipped defender Taj before nestling into the far bottom corner of the net. Kennedy was soon called upon to preserve the lead with a fingertip save, but it remained tight until 4 minutes into additional time. Bezer worked the ball into the box, where it was handled by a defender; referee Dan Harvey pointed to the spot, whereupon Gymkhana skipper Taj made a comment to him which saw him ordered off, before Josh Hooks stepped up to convert the spot-kick and send

The Blue Swans through to the Final, to be played on 26 April at North Greenford. They will face North London side Bush Hill Rangers, who also achieved a 2-0 ‘away’ win, although their tie against Cranford-based Ava FC was actually switched to their own ground. Staines meanwhile dropped to 6th in the table after another weekend’s absence from league fixtures.

S&LM:
1 Cameron Kennedy, 2 Matt Hogg, 3 Luke Halsey (14 Paul Bartholomew 62), 4 Russell Canderton, 5 Hamish Gwynne-Porter ©, 6 Jason Robertson, 7 Jamie Ross, 8 Tom Betts, 9 Josh Hieke (12 George Bezer 85), 10 Josh Hooks, 11 Josh Stewart (15 Ethan Leeks 62); unused: 17 John Pomroy.

IG:
1 Bilal Khan, 5 Karanjeet Pal, 19 Mohmin Zaheed, 2 Hammad Taj ©, 3 Jeyasiva Sivapathasundaram, 8 Gurpreet Bansal, 7 Suraj Sharma, 16 Aaron Alleyne-Anstey (10 Harmeet Dhaliwal 53), 14 Isaiah Chase, 9 Alexander Owuadey, 18 Israel Kabengele (11 Nauman Quraishy 81); other used sub: 6 Parwinder Kang (85 for ?); unused sub: 12 Amanjit Chaggar. [yellow shirts (green trim); green shorts; yellow socks].

Ref: Daniel Harvey (Ashford, Middlesex); ARs: Ali-Matour (Sunbury-on-Thames), Adrian Farrelly (Hanworth); att: 57.