Epsom & Ewell League U9s
Hygiene Cleaning Cup
Horsley 'B' 2 v 1 Merstham U9s 'A'
 15th November 2008

Merstham got off to the best possible start with a goal after 15 seconds from Sam Hall following a neat passing move involving Guy Appleby and Tommy Butler. Horsley were unfazed by the early breakthrough and showed plenty of movement threatening the Merstham goal. After two minutes Merstham’s new goalkeeper Oliver Spires was called into action and made a fine point blank save from a full-blooded shot from Horsley. However after three minutes Horsley were level. A corner was defended with another great save from Oliver Spires and the ball was cleared but only as far as a Horsley attacker who broke through and gave the goal keeper no chance 1-1. The first half flowed end to end with Merstham going close to scoring with shots from Sam Hall, Guy Appleby and Ethan Speller. Ethan Speller hit a volley from a corner which went wide. The captain, Christian Gurdin, was working hard up and down the pitch trying to make a breakthrough but Horsley were giving as good as they got and went close several times from a succession of corners. Meanwhile ‘Man of the Match’ Oliver Spires was kept very busy in goal. Towards the end of the first half Sam Hall went close and Freddy Lawrence making a rare foray from defence into attack had a great strike on target. But at half time the score remained 1-1.

The second half continued the end to end excitement. In the first minute Sam Hall and Mark Hopkins both had shots which were well saved by the Horsley goal keeper who was having a great game. After two minutes Guy Appleby slipped a through ball to Sam Hall but again the Horsley goal keeper kept his goal secure. Then just three minutes into the second half the ball was bouncing around in the Merstham box and it ran loose to a Horsley forward on the edge of the box and he made no mistake smashing the ball into the back of the net. Merstham showed great determination to get back into the game and Mark Hopkins went close in the 30^th minute. After 37 minutes Horsley gained a corner and could have made it 3-1 when the ball flashed across the goal line but there was no-one there to touch it into the net – a let off for Merstham. Two minutes later Merstham should have equalized with a great shot from Sam Hall. But once again the Horsley goal keeper was up to the challenge and pulled off a fantastic save. Merstham never gave up with further chances falling to Mark Hopkins, Tommy Butler, Ethan Speller and Guy Appleby but Horsley’s defence held firm and gained a deserved win in what was a terrific cup match.

Peter Appleby

Epsom & Ewell League U9s Division Three
Chessington Sports 2 v 5 Merstham U9s 'A'
 1st November 2008

Merstham kicked off into the cold icy wind and after three minutes Jack Freeman did well to keep the ball out when Chessington lobbed the ball over Ethan Speller who played the first half in goal. After five minutes Mark Hopkins, on his debut, played a neat through ball to Sam Hall and two minutes later he had a good shot on goal himself. But after eight minutes Chessington broke through the Merstham defence and Ethan Speller had no chance with the shot which flashed into the net. Just Three minutes later Merstham and were two down when Chessington lobbed the ball over the defence and the attacker, with only the goalkeeper to beat, rifled the ball into the net. Merstham looked in disarray but one minute later they got back into the match following a great individual goal by Sam Hall who went round defenders as if they weren’t there. After 15 minutes Merstham were level when Christian Gurdin played Sam Hall through and Sam dispatched the ball into the back of the net. Then only a minute later Sam Hall got his hat trick and Merstham’s third with another mesmerising dribble round the Chessington defence and placed the ball with his left foot into the back of the net. Chessington was determined to get back into the match and had two good chances after 21 minutes. The second chance looked to be a certain goal until Ethan Speller pulled off a remarkable point blank save to turn the ball round the post. At half time the score remained 3-2 to the visitors.

With the wind behind them in the second half Merstham started strongly and in the first minute Ethan Speller, now playing in attack, almost scored following a through ball from Sam Hall. Two minutes later the Hall-Speller combination should have made it four. But after a further five minutes Merstham’s pressure was rewarded when Sam Hall fired a great shot from the edge of the box into the back of the net. Further chances fell to Merstham and a great cross from Guy Appleby almost led to Merstham’s fifth. Merstham was now applying sustained pressure on Chessington and Guy Appleby was placing some dangerous corners into the box but Chessington were defending resolutely. 13 minutes into the second half Chessington, in a rare attack, were denied a third goal by an excellent save from second half goalkeeper Freddy Lawrence. Two minutes later Merstham put the game out of reach when ‘Lad of the Match’ Sam Hall’s driven cross towards the near post was stabbed into the net by Ethan Speller for Merstham’s fifth goal. In the last ten minutes Merstham pulled Christian Gurdin and Guy Appleby into defence and they ensured that Chessington never looked like scoring.

Up front Tommy Butler and new boy Mark Hopkins worked hard, getting into space and continuing to create chances but at the end of the match the score remained 5 – 2 to the visitors – after a shaky start it was a comprehensive victory for Merstham.

Weather Conditions: Very cold, windy and damp

Peter Appleby

Epsom & Ewell League U9s Division Three
AFC Ewell 'A' 3 v 4 Merstham U9s 'A'
11th October 2008

Hat Trick Hero Hall Hits Winner in Seven Goal Thriller

Merstham got off to a terrific start in the first minute when the ball was moved from defence by Christian Gurdin who passed it to Sam Hall who then wasted no time in putting the ball in the back of the net to stun the home team. Ewell came back strongly and almost equalized from a good corner but strong Merstham defending from Freddy Lawrence kept Merstham in front. After four minutes Sam Hall almost made it two but his shot was blocked on the line by a defender. Two minutes later Sam Hall shot wide after a superb individual run. After eight minutes Merstham went two up after a great passing move which started in defence from Morgan Chatfield’s goal kick, Guy Appleby passed to Sam Hall who placed a through ball into the box for Ethan Speller to score Merstham’s second goal. Despite Merstham’s 2-0 advantage, Ewell always looked capable of scoring and applied intensive pressure on Merstham’s goal. Morgan Chatfield pulled off a stunning save after ten minutes and just two minutes later James Allison made a great saving tackle which gave Ewell a corner. From the corner the ball was heading for the net until Guy Appleby cleared off the line. The game continued to be of the highest quality from both teams and after 18 minutes Sam Hall did everything right but his goal bound shot hit the post and was cleared by a fortunate Ewell defence. In the 20th minute Ewell broke through the Merstham defence but Morgan Chatfield, who was on top form, pulled off a magnificent one on one save. Ewell continued to press forward and after 21 minutes got back into the game when the ball was driven into the box and despite some last ditch defending by Merstham they couldn’t keep the ball out and it was scrambled over the line by Ewell. Two minutes later Ewell was level when a great through ball to the Ewell attacker gave Morgan Chatfield no chance. Just before half time Ewell almost got a third goal from a free kick which was well defended. So after a thrilling first half the teams were level.

From the restart Guy Appleby went close when he tried to lob the goal keeper but his effort went over the bar. A minute later Ewell almost scored from a corner but the ball was cleared off the line by Guy Appleby. Then After 31 minutes Merstham regained the lead. James Allison placed a through ball to the feet of Sam Hall who made no mistake firing the ball into the net for his second and Merstham’s third. A minute later Ethan Speller could have got his second goal picking up a through ball from Guy Appleby but his shot was well saved by the Ewell goal keeper. Ewell responded with further attacking moves and both Jack Freeman and Freddy Lawrence were kept busy defending the Merstham goal. The game ebbed and flowed with chances at both ends. Ethan Speller made a good headed pass to Sam Hall who went close and a good passing move led to a pass from Ethan Speller to Christian Gurdin who did well and was unlucky not to score. Morgan Chatfield continued to pull off some fine saves and Tommy Butler worked hard in midfield getting the ball into some good scoring opportunities. The clock was ticking away and Ewell looked the more dangerous in the final minutes and after 48 minutes they broke down the Merstham defence to score the equalizer. But there was still more drama to follow – Sam Hall who had been substituted was brought back on to the pitch by the manager following Ewell’s equalizer and in the last minute of the game made a great run into the box and rifled the ball into the net to complete his hat trick and record a memorable win for Merstham.

Peter Appleby

Epsom & Ewell League U9s Division Three
Merstham U9s 'A' 6 v 1 Netherne Falcons 'C'
4th October 2008

Merstham was looking for its first win of the season and in the early skirmishes both sides had chances to take an early lead. James Allison’s shot was well saved by the Netherne goalkeeper and Netherne’s number 11 was clean through on two occasions but shot wide with only the goalkeeper to beat. Merstham had several corners which created good chances but none were converted. After 14 minutes Sam Hall broke the deadlock when he was put through by a well placed free kick taken by Guy Appleby. Two minutes later Netherne’s number 11 had another good opportunity to score when he broke through the Merstham defence but shot over the bar. After 17 minutes Jack Freeman went close with a shot and a minute later he was in the box to pick up a loose ball but could only find the side netting. Merstham went further ahead after 20 minutes when ‘Lad of the Match’ James Allison took a pass from Sam Hall inside the box, turned the defender and fired a rising shot into the roof of the net – a great goal. The scored remained 2-0 at half time break.

In the second half Merstham’s goalkeeper Morgan Chatfield swapped shirts with Freddy Lawrence and played in a defensive role for the rest of the game making some important saving tackles. It was Freddy’s first shift in goal this season and he proved effective making some important saves. Christian Gurdin worked tirelessly in attack and defence and created some good opportunities for the Merstham attack. Four minutes into the second half Merstham made it 3-0 when the Netherne goalkeeper failed to hold a shot from Sam Hall and Ethan Speller was waiting to pounce on the loose ball and get his first goal of the season. Sam Hall could have made it 4-0 two minutes later, but couldn’t steer the ball into the net and seconds later Sam set up a chance for Tommy Butler who also shot wide. After 33 minutes Sam Hall worked his way into the box and laid on a pass for Ethan Speller who made no mistake in getting his second goal of the game. Netherne did not give up and after 35 minutes Freddy Lawrence pulled off a great save to deny them a goal. But after 39 minutes Netherne did score with the goal of the match. A free kick was awarded outside the box and a powerful dipping free kick gave Freddy Lawrence no chance. Merstham’s response was immediate and from the kick off Sam Hall picked up the ball in the box and his clinical finish made it 5-1. After 44 minutes Guy Appleby collected the ball in defence moved up over the half way line and slid a through ball to Sam Hall who fired it into the net to make it six and chalk up his first hat trick of the season. There were no further goals and Merstham ran out 6-1 winners and gained their first points of the season.

Weather Conditions: Dry and Sunny

Peter Appleby

Epsom & Ewell League U9s Division Three
Ashtead Colts 'B' U9s 2 v 1 Merstham U9s 'A'
27^th September 2008

Merstham started well with a number of good passing moves that gave scoring opportunities for Christian Gurdin and Sam Hall but against the run of play after eight minutes Ashtead took the lead with a shot from outside the box. Merstham was unfazed by this early set back and continued to press forward and after 13 minutes Sam Hall placed a great through ball to Ethan Speller who shot wide. Two minutes later Sam Hall passed to Guy Appleby who fired a shot which was heading for the net until it was kicked off the line by a desperate Ashtead defender. Another chance fell to Christian Gurdin after 19 minutes following a corner which was well worked into the box. A minute later Sam Hall placed a great ball into the box but Ethan Speller’s shot was saved by the Ashtead goalkeeper. Three minutes before half-time a passing move down the right wing involving James Allison, Guy Appleby and Tommy Butler resulted in a cross into the box which the Ashtead defender headed against his own post and was then able to clear to safety. Just before half-time another chance fell to Ethan Speller from a pass from Guy Appleby but the Ashtead goal keeper was having an inspired game and kept his team in the lead. When the half-time whistle blew it was hard to believe that Ashtead were in front.

Weather Conditions: Dry and foggy

Peter Appleby

Epsom & Ewell League U9s Division Three
Merstham U9s ‘A’ 2 v 3 South Park U9s ‘B’
13^th September 2008

Both teams started the season’s opening game brightly with attacks at both ends of the pitch. In the second minute Merstham took the lead with a well taken goal by summer signing Sam Hall on his debut, following a quick passing move from defence involving Guy Appleby and Ethan Speller, Two minutes later James Allison played Sam Hall through on goal but the goalkeeper made a good save. Morgan Chatfield kept Merstham in front with two excellent saves and after eleven minutes Ethan Speller had a good effort on goal saved by the South Park goal keeper. Merstham’s defence of Freddy Lawrence and Jack Freeman were playing well and South Park did not look like they would score but after 15 minutes a misunderstanding in defence allowed South Park to get on level terms. This equaliser lifted South Park and Morgan Chatfield pulled off a great point blank save when South Park looked certain to score. However after 21 minutes ‘Man of the Match’ Sam Hall restored Merstham’s lead picking up a pass from Guy Appleby and shooting into the back of the net. The lead was short lived when two minutes later South Park gained a throw in level with the box. From the throw in, the South Park player took the ball down to the line and drew the Merstham defence out of position before crossing the ball into the box where the unmarked South Park forward gave Morgan no chance to save and tucked the ball into the net. At half time the score remained 2-2.
The second half continued the way of the first with both teams having chances and good saves at both ends. Christian Gurdin was providing some good penetrating runs to set up scoring opportunities for the Merstham forwards but the South Park goalkeeper was a match for all the shots. Tommy Butler played well both defending and attacking. Jack Freeman went close with a speculative shot from his own half which the South Park goalkeeper just managed to prevent crossing the line. James Allison made a splendid contribution and must have covered every inch of the pitch performing defensive duties as well as getting forward to support the attack. Then after 41 minutes South Park took the lead with a shot from outside the box. Merstham pressed forward to get the equaliser but the South Park goalkeeper matched everything Merstham tried, including saving a penalty in the 46^th minute. Merstham showed great determination and applied sustained pressure on the South Park goal and in the final minute captain Guy Appleby looked certain to score but once again the South Park goalkeeper pulled off a fine save before the final whistle blew.        

Weather Conditions: Dry and sunny

Peter Appleby