SAT 17 SEP 22 - FARLEIGH ROVERS v S&LMFC

FARLEIGH ROVERS (0) 1 STAINES & LAMMAS (MIDDLESEX) (3) 6

(Surrey Premier County League – Premier Division, 3pm)

The match today was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of Her Late Majesty, with S&L(M) also wearing black armbands.

This excellent result and performance lifted Paul Burgess’s side to the top of the table, in which they now have the only 100% record, They have now won 12 of their last 13 competitive games, stretching back to the end of January!

Staines took control early on, and felt they should have had a penalty for hands after just 7 minutes. Only a corner was given, but from this the ball found its way to Jamie Ross, whose low shot nestled into the bottom corner by way of a slight deflection. Farleigh’s best chance to level came when Kennedy was booked for a foul just outside the box on an onrushing striker, but Palmas curled the dangerous free-kick just over. The visitors capitalised a couple of minutes later when Ross’s superb solo run ended with him being tripped in the area, and Josh Hooks converted the spot-kick. A brilliant strike by skipper Richard Bond gave Staines a virtually unassailable 3-0 lead on 38 mins.

Tempers boiled over in the final seconds of the half, with a player from each side receiving a yellow card for adopting an aggressive attitude, and it was to be hoped that there would be no repeat of last season’s ill-tempered clash.

Thankfully the second half proceeded peacefully, and it took only 14 minutes for the visitors to increase their lead, Josh Stewart capping his fine run with a quality finish. It was Rovers’ Jack Hanmore who registered the next goal with a well-struck shot on 64 mins, but it took Staines only 2 minutes to restore their 4-goal cushion with a clever flick over ‘keeper Williams by Stewart. Williams then made the first of two excellent saves, flying across his goal to deny Betts following a Leeks pass in 71 mins. Just 60 seconds later a Canderton shot was blocked but Paul Baker followed up to smash home the rebound and complete the scoring.

Pomroy’s 87th min free kick drew another fine save from Williams, before Kennedy produced an equally good save at the other end to deny Hull a consolation deep into stoppage time.

S&L(M):
1 Cameron Kennedy, 2 Paul Baker, 3 Matthew Hogg, 4 Russell Canderton, 5 Paul Bartholomew, 6 Jason Robertson, 7 Richard Bond ©, 8 Tom Betts, 9 Josh Stewart, 10 Josh Hooks, 11 Jamie Ross; subs: 12 Ethan Leeks (for Hooks 60), 14 Adam Belahcene (for Betts 73), 26 John Pomroy (for Baker 75), 17 Bobby Cooper (for Robertson 82).

Farleigh Rovers:
1 Reece Williams, 2 Ryan Wilcox, 3 David Yusoof, 4 Mason Fitzgerald, 5 Jack Hanmore, 6 Owen Brabon, 7 Declan Kirk, 8 Rashan McDonald, 9 Nathan Hull, 10 Andreas Palmas ©, 11 Jevon Daley; subs (all used): 12 Luke Wilkshire, 14 Daniel Hull, 15 Finley Chase (for Brabon 39), 16 Jordan McFarlane (for Daley 67), 17 Terique Powell-Warren. [Red shirts (black sleeves & stripes); Black shorts & socks (red trim)].
Cautions: S&LM: Stewart (24’ kicked ball away), Kennedy (35’), Betts (45’), Bond (68’ foul); FR: Kirk (45’), Hanmore (90+5’ kicked ball away).

Ref: Terry Kirk (Horley); ARs: E Leeks / B Cooper (S&LM) / subs (FR); att: 70.