SAT 19 NOV 22 - S&LMFC v BATTERSEA IRONSIDES FIRST

STAINES & LAMMAS (MIDDLESEX) (2) 3 BATTERSEA IRONSIDES (0) 1

Paul Burgess’ team went back to the top of the table with this hard-fought win over Battersea Ironsides. Despite the chilly weather, it was still gratifying to see over 100 fans lining the ground.

Ironsides were expected to provide stiff opposition, and so it proved, but the home side were given an early boost when a 12th minute foul by Macallan on Ross saw the visiting defender booked (and then sin-binned for his protests), and Lammas awarded a penalty which Josh Hooks confidently netted. Hooks was on target again just 6 minutes later, expertly controlling Canderton’s ball from the back and firing home. An audacious angled shot by Heike came back off the bar, while the only club with “onside” in its name found the net at the other end but the strike was ruled offside! Heike again went close as an excellent half for Staines drew to a close, and when Wilson threatened for Battersea in the 34th he was cautioned for a foul on Kennedy.

Battersea made a couple of changes early in the second half, and were rejuvenated, while – as in the previous two outings – The Blue Swans looked a little laboured at times. Anderson of Ironsides was booked for a foul. With 11 minutes left, the lead was cut to 2-1 as Dalton-Stone picked out Rashane Wilson who arrowed his shot into the bottom corner of Kennedy’s net. The visitors then committed to attack, but inevitably this left gaps at the back, and when with 3 minutes left it left skipper Bond released Hooks he found the corner of the net for his and Staines’ decisive third goal. In the final minute, Stewart was booked for time-wasting.

The Man of the Match award, presented by acting Club Welfare Officer Paul Wright, unsurprisingly went to hat-trick hero Josh Hooks.

S&LM:
16 Cameron Kennedy, 2 Matt Hogg, 3 Luke Halsey (15 Josh Stewart), 4 Russell Canderton, 5 Hamish Gwynne-Porter, 6 Jason Robertson (12 Tom Betts 78), 7 Richard Bond ©, 8 Jamie Ross, 9 Josh Hieke, 10 Josh Hooks, 11 Thomas Marshall (14 Ethan Leeks); unused subs: 17 John Pomroy, 18 Paul Baker.

BI:
1 Jack Brewer, 2 Owen Dearn, 3 Thomas Williams [MoM], 4 Oliver Macallan [bkd & sinbin 9], 5 Robert McMahon © (14 Jake Cullingham 64), 6 Alex Murphy (12 Thomas Anderson 56 (bkd 69)), 7 Marlon Perrin, 8 Freddie Beale, 9 Rashane Wilson (bkd 34), 10 Milos Frost [MoM], 11 Henry Dalton-Stone; unused sub: 15 Lewis Cardew.

[green & white striped shirts (black numbers); green shortsd (white piping); green socks].

Ref: Mark Kelly (Windlesham); ARs: E Leeks / J Pomroy (S&LM subs); L Cardew (BI sub); att: 108.