SAT 03 SEP 22 - S&LMFC v AFC ROYAL HOLLOWAY

STAINES & LAMMAS (MIDDLESEX) (3) 5 A F C ROYAL HOLLOWAY (2) 3

3:00 – Surrey Premier County League – Premier Division

In drying conditions, this exciting match kept another good crowd entertained, and ended with Staines taking maximum points from their opening two games. It took even less time than last week – just 2 minutes – for the home side to open the scoring, Josh Stewart finding the net.

With legendary manager Gordon Bartlett advising the visitors (and his son skippering them), it was no surprise that Holloway came back strongly, and they levelled on 11 minutes, and then shocked Staines by taking a 22nd min lead thanks to a powerful shot by Pat Gibbs. However, 10 minutes later it was all square again, Holloway ‘keeper Dan Roach being buffeted by a team-mate as they tried to deal with a Hooks corner, and ending up dropping the ball over his own goal line.

There was nothing Roach could do about Adam Belahcene’s great finish from an incisive through ball that put The Blue Swans 3-2 up 7 minutes before the interval. Staines also hit the bar once either side of half time, and really got into their stride in the second half, while the visitors relied on subs, four of whom had also played a part in the earlier game.

A foul on Betts allowed Josh Hooks to convert the 74th minute penalty to stretch the lead, and a good shot Tom Betts from outside the box made it 5-2 in the 81st. There was an 87th min consolation for the visitors when an 87th minute free-kick was played to Curt Watts who fired into the net.

S&LM Man of the Match: Josh Hooks received the award from Life-Member Micky Clarke.

S&LM:
1 Cameron Kennedy, 2 Paul Baker (14 Joe Green 75’), 3 Matthew Hogg (12 Luke Halsey 84’), 4 Russell Canderton ©, 5 Paul Bartholomew, 6 Jason Robertson, 7 Jamie Ross, 8 Tom Betts, 9 Josh Stewart, 10 Joshua Hooks, 11 Adam Belahcene (17 Umran Sankoh 81’); unused sub: 15 John Pomroy.

AFCRH:
16 Daniel Roach; 2 Curt Watts, 3 Matthew Newbury, 4 William (Billy) Moffat, 5 Dom Hague, 6 Chris O'Reilly, 7 Patrick Gibbs, 8 Craig Bartlett ©, 9 Joe Jelley, 10 David Howick, 11 Cameron Wilkinson; subs used: 12 Adam Norwood 59’, 13 Alex Evans 81’, 14 Finnian Brindley 77’ for Bartlett, 15 Robert Veasey 52’, 16 Marcin Kepski 88’.

[red & black striped shirts (white trim); black shorts & socks].

Cautions: Betts, Ross (S&LM); Gibbs (AFCRH).

Ref: Ashley Carley (Wimbledon); ARs: L Halsey / J Pomroy / A Belahcene (S&LM); ? (AFCRH); Att: 103. League position: 2nd.