SAT 04 MAR 23 - STAINES & LAMMAS (MIDDLESEX) V A F C CUBO

Saturday 4th March 2023 (2pm) - Surrey Premier County League – Premier Division

STAINES & LAMMAS (MIDDLESEX) (1) 1 A F C CUBO (0) 0

A slew of cup fixtures and defeat by Worcester Park had seen Staines slip to 6th in the table, but this hard-earned and morale boosting victory over league leaders saw them rise to 4th, still with six games in hand over the Chiswick-based side. AFC Cubo were playing their 300th game in this competition, but some sterling defending prevented them from celebrating their 700th goal.

The home side, managed for the day by John Pomroy and Russ Canderton while Paul Burgess was unwell, took a 15th minute lead when Hooks received his corner kick back off the head of Gwynne-Porter, and hooked the ball back in for Paul Bartholomew to power in a header. There was a moment of controversy 7 minutes later, when Betts was pushed while running onto a through-ball, and the referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot. However, after a long delay and a discussion with the visiting club’s linesman, he came to the strange decision that the ball was out of play, and awarded a goal-kick instead.

Kennedy made an excellent saved from Price in the 26th min, and an even better one to keep the ball out after a stoppage-time corner was headed goalwards. Midway through the second half, Hogg was denied a potential ‘goal of the season’ when his amazing run and shot was kept out by Modi. In an increasingly confident closing period, a Hooks corner was just touched beyond the upright, and Ross also flashed a shot just wide.

Right on time, Stewart almost netted with a clever chip. At the final whistle, super supporter Dave ‘Mad Dog. Morgan (who once again travelled all the way from Ryde to attend) presented to Man of the Match award to ‘keeper Cam Kennedy.

S&LM:
1 Cameron Kennedy, 2 Paul Bartholomew, 3 Matt Hogg, 4 Russell Canderton, 5 Hamish Gwynne-Porter, 6 Jason Robertson [bkd 70], 7 Richard Bond ©, 8 Tom Betts (14 Josh Stewart 75), 9 Josh Hieke, 10 Josh Hooks (17 Ethan Leeks 85), 11 Jamie Ross; unused subs: 12 Paul Baker, 15 Luke Halsey, 18 George Bezer.

AFCC:
1 Shiv Modi, 2 Calum Forster, 3 Mitchell Seymour [bkd 45+3] (14 Calum Stratton HT), 4 Tom Shaw [bkd 65], 5 Matthew Laing ©, 6 Marcus Torr, 7 Sam Rees, 8 Charles Essam (12 Tim Jones 87), 9 Oliver Perkins (15 Jack Bain 75), 10 Oliver Price, 11 James Yates [baby blue shirts (black numbers); white shorts; baby blue socks].

Ref: Wayne Ingram (New Malden); ARs: G Bezer / E Leeks / L Halsey (S&LM subs), ? (AFCC subs); att: 72.