Merstham made it two months unbeaten with a narrow victory over Eastbourne Town in a match full of drama. A brace from Kevin Lock and goals from Matt Francis and Gavin Gordon secured the points for Mick Sullivan’s men who have only lost one game in their last ten home matches. The Moatsiders have averaged nearly three goals a game in their previous five league outings, and could have scored many against Eastbourne in a tie which saw both sides squander numerous chances.

Merstham were by far the better side in the first half, and Gavin Gordon was the first to test Town ‘keeper Russ Tanner when his well placed header was tipped round the post in the seventh minute. Chris Boulter nodded the resulting corner wide as the hosts looked to get an early goal. Twenty year old striker Liam Baitup then went close for the visitors with a speculative thirty yard drive that cleared the bar by a matter of inches. The Moatsiders were looking lively and a brilliant run by Michael Morgan provided Mark Simmons with a chance which was scooped wide. In the seventeenth minute Simmons’ twenty five yard drive was fumbled by Tanner into the path of Gavin Gordon, but he could only fire straight at the former Lewes custodian. Only a minute later Merstham did indeed find an opening goal, as Kevin Lock burst through the defence and fired home to claim his ninth league goal of the season. Town responded immediately, and Peter Cooper rounded Merstham stand-in goalkeeper Chris Roberts before seeing his angled shot headed off the line by Boulter. Kevin Lock had a goal controversially disallowed in the twenty fourth minute after he tucked in Simmons cross from a seemingly onside position. The Moatsiders were dominating and were restricting the visitors to rare ventures outside their own half. Lock had two chances to extend the lead when he saw his right footed shot headed away by Steve Hunt in the thirty eighth minute and then shortly after, when he cut in from the left and forced Tanner into a decent stop. Eastbourne’s equaliser was no doubt against the run of play when it arrived in the forty second minute - Liam Baitup sending over a superb cross from the left side of the box which was met perfectly by Jamie Salvidge. Despite the disappointment of conceding so close to half time the hosts pushed on and got an immediate goal when Kevin Lock held up a long pass from defence before teeing up Gavin Gordon who smashed the ball in off the cross bar. It was the perfect response from Merstham, and made sure they went in at the interval deservedly ahead.

The Moatsiders took only four minutes to add to their tally in the second half when Lock bagged his second strike after getting on the end of Gordon’s flick and beating two defenders before firing across Tanner and into the net. The twenty six year old could have completed his hat trick when he volleyed Michael Morgan’s raking pass wide of the far post in the fifty third minute. It did not matter, as Matt Francis capped another fine display by holding off a number of Town defenders before coolly tucking the ball away for his second league goal of the season. Despite the three goal cushion Merstham continued to press and Morgan volleyed Gordon’s cross wide in the fifty seventh minute. Mick Sullivan decided to make a few changes with his side seemingly in control as he withdrew Francis, Lock and Morgan, but the plan almost backfired as Eastbourne mounted a superb fight back. The introduction of Steve Dallaway sparked the Saffrons side into life, and in the seventy second minute a slip by Merstham right back Joe Hill let in Peter Cooper whose cross was swept into the net by James Norwood for his seventh goal of the season. The visitors players and fans alike realised they could get something out of the game, and skipper Danny Simmonds went close from distance before Dallaway combined with fellow substitute Liam McCann before seeing his shot rattle off the bar. However, when Merstham were awarded a penalty in the eighty second minute after Nick Greenhouse was felled by Paul Richardson, it seemed the hosts would put the game beyond doubt. It was not to be, as Tanner produced a splendid stop to deny skipper Craig Vernon from the spot and seconds later the situation got worse as Cooper, who was having a fine game, scored a sensational goal which thundered in off the woodwork from thirty five yards out. More drama was to follow with just one minute to go as Vernon was dismissed for seemingly kneeing in the face Cooper as the Eastbourne player was on the floor. Tempers flared and the situation took a while to settle down, but with one man more the visitors were determined to try and rescue a point. Salvidge had a goal disallowed for shirt pulling and it took a super human effort from the Merstham players, in particular Chris Boulter, to deny Eastbourne an equaliser. In the last of the six minutes added on Simmons fired narrowly over as the Moatsiders hung on in a nervy finale.

Sittingbourne’s draw with Ashford mean that Merstham remain in eighth place but after the late drama at the Moatside the three points gained today will be happily taken by Mick Sullivan’s men and their fans. The Moatsiders face Combined Counties side Chertsey Town in the Surrey Senior Cup quarter final this coming Tuesday before a potentially tricky trip to Wey Court to face fellow playoff chasers Godalming Town on Saturday.

Merstham maintained their unbeaten start to 2009 with a goalless draw at home to high-flying Fleet Town which, despite the scoreline, was an entertaining affair. The hosts were the better side in a game which saw both teams miss good opportunities, but the Moatsiders will be happy with a point against the Blues who have only lost one game in their last twenty one league matches. Jon Dale came in for Mark Simmons in central midfield, and Kwabena Agyei replaced Gavin Gordon upfront as Mick Sullivan looked to shuffle his pack.

The game took a few minutes to get going and the opening stages were cagey, with the midfield dominating possession. In the sixth minute after receiving Nathan Smart’s free kick, Fleet’s Tom Bird’s cross bobbled around in the Merstham box but was cleared, and on the counter attack Michael Morgan played through Kevin Lock who could only fire straight at Fleet goalkeeper Dave Smalley. It took until the nineteenth minute for another chance of note. Again Morgan involved as the twenty six year old fed Kwabena Agyei who tussled with the Fleet defence before firing in a twenty yard shot which Smalley saved. One minute later David Smith provided a flash of magic as the winger went on a mazy run, carrying the ball from his own half and going past three Fleet players before unleashing a powerful drive which the Blues stopper did very well to tip round the post. From the resulting corner, Chris Boulter headed narrowly over the bar. The Moatsiders were dominating, and Morgan and Lock combined after some sloppy Fleet defending to test Smalley again, this time the thirty two year old stopper denying the Merstham striker low to his right. It was Lock who had the best chance of the half in the thirty fourth minute. Agyei flicked on Craig Vernon’s long ball and the twenty six year old rounded Smalley with his first touch, but pulled his shot wide from what was a difficult angle. The Calthorpe Park side began to look livelier as half time approached, and former Godalming Town striker Mark Anderson fired a close ranger header straight at Ian Chatfield after getting on the end of Bird’s free kick. Fleet’s Jamie McClurg had a goal ruled out for offside in the forty first minute, and Chris Boulter headed over the bar after a clever free kick worked by Morgan and Lock had caught the Blues defence napping. The away side nearly nicked a goal in first half stoppage time as top scorer Anderson headed Phil John’s miscued shot just over the bar.

The second half began much like the first, and it took until the fiftieth minute for Merstham to create a decent opening as Smalley made a good save from Michael Morgan, after Kevin Lock and Dean Gunner had worked the ball into the Fleet box. Nathan Smart then cut in from the right for Fleet, but Chatfield was equal to low shot. In the fifty fifth minute Smalley had to be at his best as he got a touch on Kevin Lock’s goal bound effort which sailed just wide of the far post, after the striker was played through by Smith. Chris Boulter, who was solid in central defence all night, headed over Morgan’s resulting corner. Fleet too had their chances, and Phil John’s trickery created space for a cross which Anderson nodded into the arms of Chatfield. A scrappy period of play ensued in which Merstham’s James Hancock and Fleet’s Nathan Smart received yellow cards, both after heavy challenges. Substitute Jermaine Hamilton had an opportunity to give the visitors the lead in the seventy third minute, but the big striker failed to place his header either side of Chatfield, who was having a good game. Dean Gunner drilled wide from twenty five yards as Merstham tried to snatch a winner, and the Moatsiders were the team applying most of the pressure in the final ten minutes. Unfortunately for the home fans it was not to be, and indeed it was Fleet who almost snatched victory at the death. Good work from Darren Campbell and substitute Michael Douglas created an opening for the Scot who found himself in a decent position, and just as it seemed his goal bound effort would end up in the back of the net Chris Boulter arrived with a superb diving tackle to prevent the visitors from gaining all three points.

Merstham extended their unbeaten run in the league to five matches as they struck four goals past a brave Crowborough Athletic side at the Crowborough Community Stadium. The Moatsiders have now scored nine goals in their last two league outings, and they move up one place to eighth and within three points of the playoffs. Both of the teams were promoted as champions of their respective leagues last season but have had contrasting fortunes in the Ryman Division One South - The Crows have now not won at home for over three months, and this heavy defeat leaves them eleven points adrift at the foot of the table. In truth the visitors could have scored many more goals, but were guilty of missing a hatful of chances.

Merstham’s dominance was evident from the first minute of the match, when Mark Simmons’ corner was met by Dean Gunner who saw his goal bound effort headed off the line. The visitor’s strikers were looking lively in the opening quarter of an hour. Gavin Gordon just failed to connect with a James Hancock cross before last weekend’s hero Kevin Lock rounded Crowborough ‘keeper Ashley Pickworth but saw his shot deflected over the bar by John Sinclair. It was Lock again who, on the stretch, failed to divert Simmons’ free kick goalwards. The energetic striker then forced Pickworth into a decent parry after he was played in by David Smith. The Crows began to find their feet and created their first opportunity on twenty four minutes when right back Kieran Wilson exchanged a neat one-two with Matt Foreman before releasing a shot which Ian Chatfield saved brilliantly down to his right. Michael Morgan then spurned another chance for Merstham when he shot wide on the half hour mark. However, the midfielder was on hand to create the opening for Merstham’s first goal of the game just four minutes later. After Kevin Lock was played in by Morgan the striker combined with Gavin Gordon before Tom Boddy slipped, allowing Lock to cut inside and drill the ball home. It was his eighth league goal of the campaign, and the large amount of travelling fans will have been relieved to see their side break the deadlock. Just two minutes later the Moatsiders doubled their lead when the Crowborough defence failed to clear Mark Simmons’ corner, and the midfielder wasted no time in delivering another cross which was deflected in, fortuitously it must be said, off the shins of Dean Gunner for his third strike this term. This seemed to spark the Crows’ industrious midfielder and top scorer Wayne Clarke into life as, within the space of three minutes, he forced Chatfield into a fine fingertip stop from twenty five yards before rattling the post from the same distance. Despite this period of pressure, just one minute later former Crowborough player Gavin Gordon came back to haunt his old team in the most sublime way possible. The striker showed great control in chesting down Smith’s cross with his back to goal, before firing a bicycle kick into the top left hand corner of the net beyond a motionless Pickworth. It all happened in the blink of an eye, and the visitors now had a comfortable lead going into half time. This could have been extended when Kevin Lock and David Smith played their way into the box before Lock saw his shot saved by Pickworth, with Gavin Gordon’s rebound rattling off the bar.

Merstham created the first opportunity of the second half when Kevin Lock, played in by Mark Simmons, squared the ball for Gavin Gordon whose first time shot was well kept out by Pickworth, before the striker somehow managed to lift the rebound over the bar from six yards out. It was to be the home side’s goalkeeper’s last action of the match as, after receiving lengthy treatment in the first half, he was replaced by Robert Gordon between the sticks. Crows’ forward Luke Piscina was looking lively, but it was another Merstham chance that went begging when Gunner failed to connect properly with a Hancock cross on fifty nine minutes. The Moatsiders came even closer three minutes later when Gavin Gordon hit the woodwork for the second time in the game after a slip in the home side’s defence, and Kevin Lock’s rebound was cleared away. Merstham were then denied a penalty in the sixty sixth minute when Mark Simmons’s shot was handballed by Tom Boddy. The defender seemed to accept his error but the referee said play on, and Michael Morgan fired the loose ball wide. Gavin Gordon had another chance minutes later when he headed Simmons’ cross straight at his namesake, Robert Gordon. The hosts continued to give their all and good work by Piscina and Foreman resulted in Ian Chatfield denying the latter from close range. However, Merstham put the icing on the cake in the seventy third minute when substitute Kwabena Agyei glanced a header over Gordon after a brilliant hanging cross from fellow sub Matt Francis for his sixth goal in the league. Francis went on to have a superb match and it was his mazy run and shot which forced Gordon into another save in the seventy seventh minute. Kevin Lock fired across goal as the game began to fade out going into the final ten minutes and good work from Francis created an opening for Agyei, but he fired straight at the goalkeeper. Last season’s top scorer then went on to miss a sitter in the final minute, when he somehow managed to scoop Lock’s cross over the bar from six yards out. However, the visitors were sure of the three points and succeeded in keeping a clean sheet when Chatfield was quick off his line to smother the ball at Crowborough substitute Sam Carrington’s feet.

Apparently there’s a problem with global warming. Well there was no such problem on Tuesday night inside my shoes. Just the ticket for a potentially heated local derby. At least the tea hut was open. The hot chocolate is fast becoming famous in faraway places such as Redhill.

It all started a little frantically, the first incident of note being Craig Vernon getting booked for…well, no idea really. It continued as a fairly bitty affair with the odd half-chance in the first 25 minutes. Mark Simmons demonstrated the quality of his first touch when he made a diagonal run to meet Luke‘s lofted pass. With the choice of thigh, chest or foot to bring it down, he shouldered it out for a goal kick. Quality Simmo!!! There were a few decent situations where Merstham got into advanced positions only to either arrive too early for the cross and see it sail over their heads or to not get on the end of a flick. All of this was to the nauseating repeated background of ‘dodgy keeper’; even when their right back had it. Dean Gunner apparently came close on the half hour mark. But it was cold, I was hungry and there was no queue at the tea hut. So I missed it. But I was back when Michael Morgan was brought down in the box on 32 minutes only for the referee to dismiss appeals from players and crowd alike with the spreading of his hands as if smoothing out his bed; very theatrical. A few minutes later, just as my ticket in the golden goal time was passing – again, Andy Martin was late on James Hancock and was booked. Seconds later David Smith tip-toed through the ‘Leafe defence only to be shot by the same sniper as Morgan; no penalty. 0-0 at half-time.

The second half was marginally better and early on a mazy Hancock (sounds like a country & western star) run led to a foul. Simmons delivered deep and Gunner’s effort was palmed wide. Then on the hour Whyteleafe were awarded a ridiculous free-kick in the right corner when Simmons had the ball blasted at him from about three yards and it hit his arm. Yes, it seems the referee was wearing x-ray specs. He was seeing lots of things that nobody else in the ground could see. On 70 minutes a far post cross found Paul Scott unmarked at the far post but fortunately he did a ‘Bent’ and missed a chance that was probably easier to score. Straight from the re-start, a long ball found Kwabena Agyei who flicked it on to Kevin Lock. His immaculate first touch took the ball out of his feet and towards goal at pace and as the keeper came out, Lock finished cutely with a deft chip to the far left corner. 1-0. Ian Chatfield’s handling was solid all night particularly under pressure and he made two cracking block saves, one in each half. But when the ball was struck virtually straight at him from 10 yards he was caught by the dip and it went under his body for the equaliser. 1-1. Into extra time but not before Andy Martin received a second yellow card for something only the referee saw.

First half of ET dire (but have you seen Drew Barrymore recently?). Second half of ET slightly better but thankfully it didn’t go to penalties. With a few minutes to go, Simmons delivered a corner from the left. Herman Munster in goal hesitated and K buried it at the far post. 2-1.

Merstham demonstrated their Ryman Division One South playoff credentials in superb fashion with a 5-0 thrashing of Walton & Hersham at the Moatside Stadium. Diminutive striker Kevin Lock was the Merstham hero, scoring an incredible four times. Substitute Morgan grabbed the other in comprehensive victory against a Swans team who were two places above Merstham going into the game, having not lost in their last nine league matches. Moatsiders boss Mick Sullivan will be pleased to see his side gain all three points, having drawn three out of their last four matches.

The scoreline could have been so different had referee John O’Brien awarded Walton & Hersham a penalty just two minutes in, after the Swans felt new Merstham signing Brendan Sebuliba handled inside the box. The first real chance of the half came quarter of an hour in a bizarre fashion, when Walton & Hersham goalkeeper Tom McNeil’s poor clearance ricocheted of Gavin Gordon and just went wide of the post. The visiting team were failing to deal with both Merstham wingers, and McNeil had to be alert to block Gordon’s shot in the nineteenth minute, after the striker was played in by Sebuliba. The Swans ‘keeper then made a superb save in the twenty second minute, diving to stop David Smith’s snapshot from the six yard box after the Walton & Hersham defence failed to clear the ball. The visitors best chance of the half fell to captain Dan Nwanze, who forced Ian Chatfield into a decent stop after a menacing cross from Byron Brown. Joe Hill went close for the hosts, and The Moatsiders took a deserved lead right on the stroke of half time when Kevin Lock raced through the centre of the Walton & Hersham defence to coolly slot the ball beyond McNeil, despite Louis Clark’s best efforts to deny him. Remarkably, Merstham doubled their lead in first half stoppage time, with Lock showing superb composure to chest down and drill the ball home after Smith’s cross had caused havoc in the Swans box.

The visitors had been deflated by the two goals scored so close to half time, and Merstham dominated initial proceeding in the second half with Gavin Gordon and Mark Simmons both firing wide. Walton & Hersham had a great opportunity to get themselves back into the match in the sixty sixth minute. Byron Brown was played through by substitute Troy Ferguson, but he fired straight at ‘keeper Ian Chatfield when it would have perhaps been a better decision to square the ball. It was to prove costly, as only two minutes later Lock completed his hat-trick after he seized on Jason Cheadle’s sloppy back pass and rounded McNeil before slotting the ball into an empty net. After being introduced in the seventieth minute, substitute  Morgan got on the score sheet seven minutes after when his left wing cross eluded everyone in the Walton & Hersham defence and went in off the far post for the midfielder‘s fourth goal of the season. The visitors huffed and puffed to try and find a consolation goal their traveling fans deserved, but the Stompond Lane side failed to break down the solid Merstham defence. Deep into stoppage time Kevin Lock grabbed his fourth goal of the game when he reacted quickest to get on the end of Morgan’s deflected shot and dispatch the ball beyond McNeil. It was the twenty six year old’s seventh league goal of the season, pushing him to the top of the Merstham scorer’s charts.

Merstham fan’s will be hoping for more of the same from Mick Sullivan’s men when they entertain Whyteleafe in the Surrey Senior Cup this Tuesday before travelling to lowly Crowborough Athletic next Saturday.

The decision, taken back in August, to switch the game to Friday night proved to be a great success as the best home crowd (211) of the season turned up.

A depleted Merstham, without Morgan, Hill, Francis, Vernon and Smith, started nervously. The visitors only took eight minutes to take the lead Andrew Martin slotting home from a cross by Ronnie Green. The home side were finding it difficult to keep the ball and it was no surprise when Whyteleafe went further ahead on 27 minutes, this time Ryan Gray was the scorer. The pitch was heavy after all the rain from the Saturday before and Merstham’s attempts to play football on it were being thwarted by a determined opposition. New signing Daniel Stratford (son of Merstham’s assistant manager Micky) was thrown in at the deep end due to David Smith being unavailable. He has been playing professionally for DC United in the USA and obviously has ability, but saw little of the ball in the first 45 minutes as Whyteleafe dominated proceedings. Half time came with the score still at 0-2 and the home supporters were wondering were a goal might come from.

Merstham beat highly fancied opposition Croydon Athletic 2-0 away from home to notch up their second victory of the campaign against a side that were four games unbeaten. The first goal was a left foot thunderbolt from Rob Hill just before half time but the result was clinched with a trademark Kevin Lock finish 15 minutes from time.

Under a cool evening sky in Thornton Heath, Merstham took to the field against big-spending Croydon Athletic. Featuring the likes of ex-Palace player Simon Osborn, this was always going to be a stern test. The away side started confidently though and the first clear-cut chance fell to the Moatsiders. Michael Morgan went on a run down the left wing before sending in a cross that Kevin Lock got his foot to. The ball fell to Kwabena Agyei who with far more time than he realised, back heeled his shot wide from close in. Soon afterwards Mark De Bolla drove a strong shot straight at Merstham’s Ian Chatfield but the goalkeeper, resplendent in his new pink kit, held firm. There were half chances for both sides throughout the rest of the game without either team dominating. Rob Hill, back in at left back drilled a brilliant ball across the box on 28 minutes but Agyei couldn’t find the target with his header. Chatfield had to make a great double save a few minutes before half time after the home side’s best attack. Then just on half time the referee waved away a penalty appeal when a Ram’s defender appeared to block a Hassan Nyang shot with his hands but the disappointment was short-lived as just into injury time came the first goal. Another mazy Michael Morgan dribble led to Rob Hill running onto the ball 35 yards from goal. Without hesitation Hill smacked the ball with the outside of his left foot. Standing behind the shot, it was clearly going wide until taking a wicked bend at the last moment and hitting the net leaving Jack Smelt helpless and the Merstham supporters delirious.

The half moon shone down on the crematorium that backs onto the KT Stadium as Croydon came out in the second half clearly determined to claw their way back into the game. The Merstham backline were forced to defend strongly against a succession of good chances. In fact for a period of about 15 minutes it was all Rams as they peppered shots over and wide of the goal. Having weathered this period of pressure Merstham moved into the attack again and it was the home side’s time to defend well as several of their players were forced to perform fantastic blocks to keep out shots by Hassan Nyang and Michael Morgan. On 73 minutes Merstham gained some breathing space with a second goal. David Smith raided down the right wing and pulled his cross back for Kevin Lock lurking in the box. Lock feigned a shot on his right foot, sending two defenders crashing to the floor before drawing it back on his left where he slotted home past Jack Smelt’s left hand side. Mark Simmons came on for Kwabena Agyei soon afterwards for his first appearance of the season where he played in the hole behind Lock. With the whole team battling for every ball and working their socks off, Ross White came on upfront to give Lock a breather but the game wasn’t over yet. Merstham had to battle for the whole of the 90 to hang onto the three points and for the four minutes of injury time but finally the whistle went and the victory could be celebrated.