Midweek Musings

Midweek activity this week commences on Monday evening with two Division One games at South Park whose Reserves entertained C.B. Hounslow United while, over at Cobham, hosts Worcester Park entertain Eversley & California under the floodlights at Downside Bridge Road.

A win for C.B. Hounslow United would assure them of a top three spot which, although they secured, it would be fair to say that, over the ninety minutes, they certainly had to work hard to secure their maximum points haul. When Aston Ventour got them off to a good start when he put them 1-0 up after five minutes, you felt, at this early stage, their pre-match desire would not be beyond capability. Fifteen minutes later, Nouka Agagbo doubled their advantage. Hosts South Park Res., despite being these couple goals in arrears, upped their work rate and were eventually rewarded just before the interval when Karl Parker pulled one back. Second half, despite a huge effort, the equalizer failed to arrive allowing their visitors one last chance in the final minute as they were awarded a penalty that Gavin Bamford slipped and tucked away to give them a 3-1 victory. Over at Cobham, hosts Worcester Park put a huge dent in the aspirations of higher level football for Eversley & California who, despite taking a 32nd minute lead through Matt Stamp, missed out on the points tally going down by the odd goal in five on the night. Within six minutes of second half play, James Robertson and Carl Chaney made it 2-1 to the home side (Worcester Park); however, on 78 minutes, Dan Milborrow made it all square again. Maximum points were obtained though in the 90th minute for 'Park' thanks to Max Fouracre bringing to an end a very entertaining encounter made possible thanks to Cobham Football Club who very kindly allowed Worcester Park to use their facilities for the evening.

Leading the way in a varied fixture programme on Tuesday, Hanworth Villa and Ashford Town went head-to-head in a Semi-Final Help For Heroes Middlesex Charity Cup encounter over at Rectory Meadows which, naturally, is where we start our look over events of the evening. In this the first Semi-Final of the competition, it was Hanworth Villa who secured their place in the Final against either Raynes Lane (Spartan South Midlands FL) or Cockfosters (Spartan South Midlands FL) thanks to a goal in each half from Kamaron English on 26 minutes followed by a Jack Buckle penalty on 52 minutes to decide this eagerly awaited contest against our two member sides over at Rectory Meadows on the night.

Next up, it was the second Semi-Final of our Cherry Red Records Premier Challenge Cup involving Farnham Town and Division One boys Cobham to see who Camberley Town would face in the Final early next month over at Windsor. Having already been eliminated in the same stage in their Division One contest recently, Cobham were hoping for better fortune this time around and certainly put in a very workmanlike performance on the night. However, a couple of Matt Glass goals and one from Tom Smith saw hosts Farnham Town go through by a 3-1 scoreline to again deny Cobham.

Despite falling behind to a eleventh minute goal,
visitors Camberley Town came away from Raynes Park Vale a very comfortable 7-1 winners thanks to goals from Matt Bunyan (2), Elijah Ogunseye (2), Dan Ford, Carl Garstang and a 40 yard lob from Dan Jewell to round this match off for the visitors. This result moves Camberley Town up into second spot leaving the top three sides, with four matches left, to decide the fate of the Premier Division title currently headed by Hartley Wintney who are seven points clear.

A very highly entertaining encounter took place over at AFC Hayes this same evening resulting in the home side running out winners by the odd goal in seven against Badshot Lea.

Over at Spelthorne Sports, Connor Moody gave the hosts an 18th minute lead only to concede four courtesy of Jack Mazzone (2), Charlie Postance and Matt Morris as visitors Knaphill chalked up a 4-1 victory. Redhill let slip a two goal lead to end up drawing 2-2 over at Westfield and Chessington & Hook United, despite conceding ground advantage, came away from Sutton Common Rovers with a 2-2 draw secured. Colliers Wood United completed their League programme for this season over at Cove in one of those games where first half fortune seemed to favour Colliers Wood as they took what looked a commanding 2-0 interval lead thanks to a converted Dale Marvell penalty and a Dan Harding goal a couple of minutes before the break. Second half though, with eighteen minutes left on the clock of the ninety, Jordan Chandler pulled one back to offer hope. This was then fulfilled three minutes from time as, courtesy of an own goal, they got themselves on level terms which was how things finished up on final whistle.

Off to Whitehill Lane, we head now for the South Park Reserves versus Farleigh Rovers encounter and, if it was goals you wanted, then this was certainly the place to be for the evening. Between the two sides, no fewer than nine goals were scored with 'Park' running out 5-4 winners on the night. Barely a minute had passed before Jack Guilford opened the scoring for the visitors - Guilford sadly suffered the fate of netting a hat-trick on the night yet still he ended up on the losing side as Ross Cortazi got 'Park' on level terms on the half hour mark. Karl Parker bagged two for the hosts plus single efforts, courtesy of Joe Brown and Dave Watts along with Bangera, kept the scoring machine ticking along throughout play and, come final whistle, South Park were just able to hold on to take maximum points in this remarkable encounter.

Four games on Thursday evening comprising of one Southern Combination Cup, Quarter-Final, tie over at Farnham Town who welcomed Camberley Town for the evening. For the winners of this tie, it would be a trip to Molesey (Isthmian FL) in the very near future. Goals from Marcus Cousins, on 58 minutes, and Nick Sowden, on 81 minutes, ensured it was Camberley Town who secured their passage through to a trip to Walton Road having notched up a 2-0 victory over at West Street.

In addition to this cup match, three Premier Division matches took place and, for our first call, we pop in at Redhill where high flying Ashford Town were the visitors to Kiln Brow. Bayley Mummery gave the 'Ash Trees' a first half lead thanks to his goal on seventeen minutes. Second half, three further goals came their way via Brad Wainwright on 69 and 87 minutes with Jack Beadle squeezing one in on 72 minutes to wrap up a comfortable 4-0 victory. Knaphill were the top scorers on the evening following their trip to Young’s Drive where Badshot Lea awaited. Matt Morris gave the 'Knappers' an 8th minute lead which they held on to until the 44th minute at which point Ryan Stephens pulled the home side back on level terms. Second half goals from Jimmy Norman (60 minutes), Scott Costello (62 minutes), Yassa Kabuye (69 minutes) and Jack Mazzone nine minutes from time wrapped up a comprehensive 5-1 victory. Our final game of the evening took place over at Woking Park for the switched venue encounter involving Chessington & Hook United and Westfield which ended up 0-0.

To complete our Midweek Round-Up, Friday evening we called in at Frimley Green who, on the night, welcomed Sheerwater for a Division One game which was also their final home match for this season also. Roscoe White gave the 'Sheers' the lead on eighteen minutes in this entertaining encounter; however, the lead lasted only eleven minutes before Louis Paget squared things. A Tom Davis direct free kick on 52 minutes restored the lead for the visitors; however, on 76 minutes, Robbie Wilson stretched their lead further. Dan Perks on 85 minutes pulled one back for the hosts to make for a frantic last few minutes. It was not to be though for Frimley Green as Sheerwater held on to secure the maximum points haul on the evening.

In what has been a really busy week out and about, it would be very wrong of me not to offer huge thanks to Alan Pearce - Match Secretary at Worcester Park, Nick Thatcher - Secretary of South Park Reserves and, finally, Mark O'Grady - Secretary of Frimley Green for providing much welcome and hugely appreciated news from their midweek games which, per usual, I am delighted to include in our Musings.