Epsom & Ewell League U13s Premier Division
Woodmansterne Hyde 1 v 0 Merstham U13s 'A'
19th October 2008

This week Merstham travelled to bottom of the table Woodmansterne Hyde. The opposition were without a win so far this season but this did not stop them from giving their all. Playing with only ten men to start, Woodmansterne soaked up the early Merstham pressure but really didn't create too much of their own doing. Merstham seemed to be extremely lack lustre and at times looked like they wanted to gift Woodmansterne with the odd chance.

A halftime 'Hairdryer didn't seem to make much difference and Woodmansterne seemed to have the desire to win a lot more than Merstham. With the Merstham defence being kept busy only Ross Thomas prevented Woodmansterne from scoring. Eventually he was beaten and Merstham squandered several chances to equalise. At the final whistle there was only one team who deserved the win and it wasn't Merstham.

The post match inquest was honest as several Merstham players admitted they went into the game thinking it would be a stroll but the opposition wouldn't let it happen. Merstham's passing was short, inaccurate and the commitment just wasn't there. We need to step up from this and get back to the way we were playing a couple of weeks ago.

Merstham M.O.M.  Ross Thomas

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Epsom & Ewell League U13s League Cup
Queens Park 0 v 4 Merstham U13s 'A'
12th October 2008

Merstham U13s ‘A’ took a break from league action this week and made the trip to Division one team, Queens Park for Round One of the League Cup. Currently in second place in their Division and a week after a 10-0 victory, Queens Park fancied their chances in causing an upset.

Playing on a small pitch which at times looked overcrowded, Merstham immediately took the game to the opposition. Tom Blade & Macauley Geddes were tormenting Queens Parks’ left side, creating chances for Abbas Oduncu & Dominic Fernee and likewise Jack Hoskin and Liam Galvin on the opposite flank and Merstham were unlucky not to score early on. When they did find the back of the net, it was disallowed for a dubious offside. Another passing move between Blade & Geddes resulted in a superb cross from Blade who found Fernee in the box to finish with a powerful header and make it 1-0. With Charlie Woodford and Richard Brocklesby in complete control in midfield Merstham were on the attack constantly and the introduction of Ismail Tekyibek gave Merstham a bit more bite. His strong tackle and subsequent through ball to Blade enabled Blade to finish past the outstretched keeper with a low drive to make it 2-0 at halftime.

With a couple of changes made, Merstham looked to increase their lead. Merstham keeper Ross Thomas had been a spectator for most of the first half and did well  to stop a high lob with the sun in his eyes. At the other end Merstham failed to increase their lead after several chances went wide or the wrong options taken when bearing down on goal. With Ryan Finn battling up front against a Queens Park defender who must have been twice his height, Merstham deserved to increase their advantage. After the reintroduction of Oduncu and with Josh Carpenter continuing his superb form Merstham got a third after a slide rule pass from Oduncu found Fernee with only the keeper to beat and this time he finished with composure. The centre backs of Luke Major and Luke Noble were having a stroll in the late summer sun and were never troubled. With a minute left on the clock TJ Sullivan found Josh Carpenter on the edge of the box and his rasping shot gave the keeper no chance as it ripped into the top corner to make it 4-0.

A comprehensive win which with better finishing could have been a lot more. Playing some exquisite football at times, Merstham were safely into Round Two. Thanks to all the parents whose support lifted the boys and hopefully they will enjoy more games like this in the coming weeks.

Merstham M.O.M.  Ismail Tekyibek

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Epsom & Ewell League U13s Premier Division
Merstham 'A' 5 v 0 Ashtead Colts
5th October 2008

This week’s U13s ‘A’ fixture was home against last season’s Division One Runners Up so it was not going to be an easy game.

Played in monsoon conditions from the kick-off, both teams should be commended for putting on a display of excellent football in awful conditions. Merstham immediately put Ashtead under pressure and had several chances early on but their finishing let them down as the Ashtead keeper made some easy saves. Ashtead’s exceptionally large strike force put Merstham's centre backs, Lukes Noble & Major under pressure but the Merstham pair saw them off with ease. With five minutes to go until half time Merstham broke the deadlock when a shot from Tom Blade was parried by Ashtead's keeper and following up like every good striker should, Ryan Finn tapped home the opener. Merstham made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time when the combination of Jack Hoskin & Dominic Fernee sent Finn through and he finished with aplomb.

The half time break enabled the boys to get under some shelter from the incessant rain and make a couple of substitutions. The introduction of Josh Carpenter seemed to put a bit more spark into the game and fine work down the right flank between Fernee and Macauley Geddes resulted in a cross from Fernee for Carpenter to volley home. Carpenter was now in full flow and narrowly missed increasing the lead with a couple of great shots. Eventually he bagged his second with a low drive. He then turned provider we a pinpoint cross picked out Ismail Tekyibek whose header gave the keeper no chance and made it 5-0. At the other end, Merstham keeper Ross Thomas made a fantastic save to keep a clean sheet. Charlie Woodford was in total control of the midfield and the rest of the team could take a leaf out of his book for his commitment and desire and more so his vocal support of his team mates.

One of Merstham's best performances in awful conditions. Praise must also go to Referee Ryan Elsey who took conditions into account to allow a flowing game of football.

Merstham M.O.M.  Josh Carpenter

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Epsom & Ewell League U13s Premier Division
AFC Ewell 2 v 0 Merstham 'A'
28th September 2008

Merstham U13s ‘A’ were this week away at AFC Ewell in a top of the table clash. Last season’s fixtures between the two evenly matched sides were close, so we were looking forward to some good football. Merstham were forced to make a late change to the starting line-up due to Luke Noble's illness. Richard Brocklesby was asked to start at centre back and proved to be more than capable of filling Luke's boots.

The opening 15 minutes saw Merstham attacking down the slope and, but for Ewell's excellent keeper, should have been a couple of goals up. In what proved to be a very one sided half, Merstham's keeper, Ross Thomas only had three touches of the ball in 35 minutes! Merstham totally outplayed the opposition and a shot from Ismail Tekyibek spooned off a defender and was followed up by Dominic Fernee who headed over the bar from close range. Abbas Odoncu and Fernee were mesmerising Ewell's defence and were unlucky to have a goal ruled out after playing Tom Blade in who was judged to be offside. With half-time reached at 0-0 Merstham were full of confidence and eager for the second half.

With Ryan Finn and Jack Hoskin coming on Merstham were looking to break the deadlock. Ewell on the other hand was receiving the 'hairdryer' treatment from their manager and this obviously spurred them on for the second half, as they came out all guns blazing. Merstham’s midfield led by Charlie Woodford soaked up the pressure and Merstham were on top again. A slight lapse in concentration was all Ewell needed and from their first proper shot in 50 minutes gave them a 1-0 lead. Merstham were not ready to throw in the towel and with full-backs Liam Galvin & Macauley Geddes constantly overlapping, Merstham looked for an equaliser. Luke Noble came on for ten minutes, and although feeling ill battled on bravely and his thunderous 35 yard volley almost caught Ewell out. Pushing on for the equaliser resulted in Merstham being stretched at the back and a counter attack from Ewell proved to be the sucker punch and with probably only their fourth shot in the game made it 2-0. Macauley Geddes had a blistering 40 yard shot crash off the bar late on but the final whistle came resulting in a 2-0 defeat.

Merstham M.O.M.  Richard Brocklesby

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Epsom & Ewell League U13s Premier Division
Merstham 'A' 5 v 3 Roundshaw Colts 'B'
21st September 2008

Merstham U13s ‘A’ 1st home game of the season against promoted Division One champs Roundshaw ‘B’ was greeted with relish as defeat to the same side in last season’s cup was hard to swallow. Ex Roundshaw player Macauley Geddes was Merstham's skipper for the day, and was keen to show why he left Roundshaw for Merstham.

From the opening minutes Merstham, playing a 3-5-2 formation, attacked the opposition and were unlucky not to open the scoring after a fine move between Dominic Fernee, Tom Blade and Ryan Finn resulted in a near miss.  After six minutes Merstham opened the scoring after the same three players combined to put Ryan Finn in front of goal to make it 1-0.The second came a few minutes later when Dominic Fernee was put through by Tom Blade and, for the second week running, Fernee produced an exquisite lob to make it 2-0. Blade made it 3-0 with a low drive and on the stroke of half time hit the post and missed the rebound. Roundshaw’s route one style, which may hurt some teams, was being stifled by the reliably consistent Merstham defence of Luke Noble, Liam Galvin and Macauley Geddes. 3-0 at the break and the boys took a deserved drink in the surprisingly warm late September sun.

With Roundshaw down to ten due to injury, the second half should have been a breeze for Merstham. Unfortunately it wasn't and the ten 'Men' of Roundshaw put pressure on the Merstham goal from the restart and only the agility of 'keeper Ross Thomas kept them at bay. A tangle of legs in the box gave Roundshaw a penalty which they duly dispatched to make it 3-1. At the other end a great run by Josh Carpenter, put Tom Blade in to round the keeper to make it 4-1. A few minutes later, Merstham were awarded a penalty of their own and Blade stepped up for his first Merstham hat trick. After three retakes, for encroaching, he finally dispatched it for 5-1. From this point Merstham relaxed and maybe became a little too relaxed as Roundshaw's route one ball caught them out as they got a second. A defensive header over Merstham's keeper looked like making it 5-3 but tireless running from Charlie Woodford cleared the ball off the line. Roundshaw eventually got a third and with ten minutes to go hit the post and bar. Merstham, although two goals up looked far from comfortable and the final whistle was greeted with a sigh of relief.

Merstham M.O.M.  Dominic Fernee

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Epsom & Ewell League U13s Premier Division
NPL 4 v 4 Merstham 'A'
14^th September 2008

Merstham U13s ‘A’ returned to league action after a break of five months with an away game at NPL. Last season’s games with the opposition resulted in a combined total of 16 goals in two matches with Merstham losing both matches! With the addition of five new players since last season, Merstham were looking to start the season on a high.

Merstham had much of the play from the start and some superb one touch football between Macaulay, Geddes, Tom Blade and Dominic Fernee almost resulted in an early goal. At the other end, new keeper Ross Thomas was in fine form keeping out NPL's busy strikers along with some fine defensive tackling from Luke Noble and some equally fine defending from Liam Galvin. After a long period of pressure, Merstham opened the scoring after Abbas Oduncu put Dominic Fernee through and an exquisite lob over the keeper put Merstham 1-0 up. They soon doubled their lead when Tom Blade sent Charlie Woodford wide right and from the right hand side of the penalty area his shot for the far corner of the goal. A change to the back line due to an injury to Luke Major seemed to misshape the previously tight defensive line and on the stroke of half time NPL made it 2-1.

With changes at the break Merstham continued to press and were rewarded with a 3rd after some hard work from Ismail Tekbiyik found Ryan Finn whose fine ball found Josh Carpenter who slotted home. NPL managed to get one back which seemed to spur them on and before long made it 3-3. As in previous encounters Merstham let slip a lead and even the tireless Luke Noble couldn't stop NPL taking the lead at 4-3.  Throwing caution to the wind Merstham went three at the back to try and salvage something from a game which they had looked like comfortably winning and with a minute to go a break out from Dominic Fernee found Abbas Oduncu whose pin-point pass found Ryan Finn who calmly slotted home past the oncoming keeper for 4-4.

Once again, a high scoring game against NPL, but one that Merstham should have finished off in the first half.

Merstham M.O.M.  Luke Noble

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