SAT 28 JAN 23 - AFC SPELTHORNE SPORTS V STAINES & LAMMAS (MIDDLESEX)

AFC SPELTHORNE SPORTS (0) 0 STAINES & LAMMAS (MIDDLESEX) (0) 3

Although AFC are, in all but name, the reserve side of Spelthorne Sports and play on the unenclosed “pitch 2” behind the main ground along the Staines Road West, this derby cup match attracted a larger crowd than the senior game on the main pitch.

The quarter-final started at a high pace, with Staines engineering three excellent chances in the opening 5 minutes, and Spelthorne responded with two corners, before play settled down before settling down to finish scoreless at half time. Play opened out again following a flurry of interval substitutions, and the opener came on 53 minutes, following a Hogg corner. Three times Lammas forwards forced it goalwards, and each was blocked, before Paul Bartholomew forced it over the line. The game was fractious at times, and Spelthorne had three players cautioned, Oakes (38’), S Murphy 53 for a foul), and J Murphy (81).

A second goal came on 61 minutes, Josh Hieke receiving a through ball and showing great composure to roll it home; the home linesman flagged it offside, but Mr Andrews overruled him. His replacement was similarly overruled 5 minutes later when he raised his flag after a Hooks shot came back off the bar and Bartholomew forced in his second of the match. Four minutes later the controversy switched to the other end: the Staines linesman’s offside flag was this time overruled, and then, following a challenge between Canderton and Oyenekan, the home side were awarded a penalty.

However, Kennedy maintained his side’s clean sheet by saving Hall’s kick. Both Gwynne-Porter and Hogg were withdrawn following injuries late on, but Paul Burgess was delighted with his side’s progress to the County Cup semi-final, in which, two days later, they were drawn to visit Indian Gymkhana.

S&LM:
1 Cameron Kennedy; 2 Matt Hogg [Leeks 84], 3 Luke Halsey (17 Paul Bartholomew HT), 4 Russell Canderton, 5 Hamish Gwynne-Porter [L Halsey 77], 6 Jason Robertson (12 Josh Stewart HT), 7 Richard Bond ©, 8 Tom Betts (14 Paul Baker HT), 9 Josh Hieke [Betts 79], 10 Ethan Leeks [Robertson 79], 11 Josh Hooks; unused sub: 15 John Pomroy.

[all red; navy trim on shirts & shorts; white no’s on shirts].

AFCSS:
1 Daniel 'Dan' Trisnan, 2 Grant Kelly, 3 Josh Murphy (17 Alex Dixon HT), 4 Max Macleod [J Murphy 80 bkd 81], 5 James Sutherland, 6 Aaron Oakes [bkd 38] (12 Darren Butler 51), 15 Matthew Butler, 8 Spencer Murphy [bkd 53] (7 Stuart Reynolds 63), 9 Jason Sheehan (16 Joseph Phillips 75), 10 Oliver Brian-Kerr (14 Temiloluwa Oyenekan HT), 11 Tom Hall [Brian-Kerr 75]

[sky blue shirts (navy trim); navy blue shorts & socks].

Ref: Paul Andrews (Feltham, Middlesex); ARs: J Stewart / J Robertson / E Leeks / J Hieke (S&LM subs); ? / ? / A Oakes [bkd & SO 70] / Callum MacKay [AFCSS]; att: 67.