Merstham fought valiantly but suffered a narrow defeat in their final game of the season with opponents Metropolitan Police gaining promotion into the Ryman Premier as Champions. Chris O’Flaherty’s controversial second half free-kick proved to be decisive against the Moatsiders who edged the contest but finished the game with ten men after Adam Broomhead was sent off in the closing stages. It was straightforward for Met Police who knew they had to win and hope Bognor Regis Town dropped points against Chatham Town to secure the championship. However, Merstham needed to end the season on a positive note after a disastrous week which included a crushing defeat to local rivals Chipstead and the league imposing a one point deduction for fielding an ineligible player.

Harry Ottaway, Dan Harding and Sean Rivers all started upfront as the Moatsiders looked to pile the pressure on the hosts who looked nervous during the early exchanges. Omar Folkes watched his sixth minute deflected effort trickle towards goal but Met Police goalkeeper Mo Maan somehow managed to change direction and clear the ball away from danger before the ball crept into the net. Maan was finally beaten on 22 minutes when Broomhead headed Adam Moriarty’s corner at the far post but once again the hosts fortuitously survived as a defender diverted the effort off the line onto the post and away from goal. The home side created their best chance two minutes later when Eddie Smith sliced his volley wide of the target as Merstham continued to hustle their opponents in possession.

Merstham slumped to another defeat after a lacklustre performance against local rivals Chipstead in their final home game of the season. Chipstead claimed the bragging rights with two goals in each half and will now finish the season above The Moatsiders in the league although home fans will be more upset at the manner of the defeat rather than the score line.

Merstham started brightly as Ryan Watts broke forward in the second minute and drove a low left-footed effort straight at goalkeeper Martin Grant. The visitors grew stronger as the half progressed and took the lead with their first attack on 19 minutes as Billy Harding’s effort deflected off Michael Corbett to give the visitors a fortuitous lead. The Moatsiders looked lethargic in possession with too many long balls going astray whereas Chipstead started to overpower their opponents in midfield and should have doubled their advantage after 38 minutes. Ian Chatfield’s poor clearance fell straight to Harding but fortunately Corbett managed to track back and block the striker’s effort away for a corner. However, Merstham switched off from the resulting Alex Wilks corner as an unmarked Harding at the back post fired his volley back across goal for Ray Freeman to tap home from close range.

Chipstead continued their dominance in the second half and put the game beyond doubt nine minutes after the restart. Freeman’s scintillating pace on the left wing took him past Dean Gunner into the penalty area and he slid the ball across for Wilks to convert from six yards. The Moatsiders showed some signs of a fightback on the hour mark when substitute Sean Rivers instantly controlled Ottaway’s high ball inside the area but he dragged a low right-footed effort inches wide of the far post. Two minutes later, Grant needed to be on his toes to tip a Rivers header over the bar following Gareth Graham’s free-kick. Chipstead added a fourth in the final five minutes as AJ Morrison superbly curled a 20-yard effort into the far corner but with only four wins at the Moatside all season home fans will be hoping for better times next term.

Merstham continued their recent good form after a battling draw in the scorching heat against Fleet Town.

With both sides safe from relegation, the fixture had little importance but the Moatsiders showed their desire from the outset scoring inside the opening three minutes. Harry Ottaway flicked on Ian Chatfield’s goal kick towards Dan Harding and the striker cleverly looped the ball over an advancing Matt Pegler into an empty net to give Merstham an early lead. Merstham had opportunities to double their lead but they failed to test Pegler. Harding sliced his eighth minute volley wide from Michael Corbett’s long throw and four minutes later Dean Gunner’s ferocious 25-yard goal bound effort deflected off the back of Ottaway’s head. Fleet grew stronger as the half progressed and the hosts equalised with their first effort on-target after 28 minutes as Johnnie Dyer glanced home Chris Page’s pinpoint cross.

The home side drove forward in the second half as Darren Campbell fired a dangerous effort inches over the crossbar three minutes after the restart.  Moments later, Dyer skilfully turned on the edge of the area to deceive Merstham’s defence and tried to find the corner but the effort drifted just wide of the target. Both teams looked exhausted in the later stages although Merstham kept pushing forward and they could have snatched a late victory. Sean Rivers burst through on-goal with ten minutes remaining after Fleet defender Marc Vockins slipped but the striker rushed his shot and blazed his first-time effort over the bar. The Moatsiders created an even better chance as Ottaway raced through Fleet’s defence on the stroke of injury time. Merstham’s top scorer tried to lift the ball over Pegler but unfortunately he could not get enough elevation on the effort and the keeper comfortably caught the ball to keep the scores level.

Merstham’s recent revival came to a crashing end as Whitehawk illustrated their promotion aspirations with a clinical display in front of goal. Caretaker Manager Andy Martin set The Moatsiders a challenge to remain unbeaten until the end of the season and they bounced back after an early setback as Dan Harding cancelled out Sam Gargan’s opener. Ben Godfrey restored Whitehawk’s lead before the interval and second half strikes from Gargan and Pat Harding gave the visitors a well-deserved victory.

In a frenetic first half, Merstham started with the same intensity they had shown following their late victory over Burgess Hill Town. Harry Ottaway put the home fans on their feet in the fourth minute when the striker superbly lifted the ball over defender Marc Pullen’s head but unfortunately he fired his 20-yard volley over the crossbar. Whitehawk grew into the match and managed to take the lead after 17 minutes when Gargan headed home a pinpoint Jeryl Hughes cross. However, their lead lasted less than four minutes as Adam Moriarty’s clever pass sent Dan Harding through on-goal and the striker drove a low left-footed effort across Lloyd Anderson into the bottom corner. Merstham should have taken the lead on 24 minutes when Ottaway flicked on Michael Corbett’s long throw but Bradley Duke somehow managed to head the ball over the bar from less than six yards with the goal at his mercy. This proved to be pivotal as Whitehawk regained the lead seven minutes before the interval as Merstham failed to clear Stuart Tuck’s free-kick and Ben Godfrey managed to blast a ferocious effort past Ian Chatfield.

Merstham again started the second half the better of the two teams with Corbett’s long throw causing more chaos inside Whitehawk’s defence as Sam Fisk needed to hook Dean Gunner’s effort away before it trickled into the net. Then disaster struck five minutes after the restart as Whitehawk were gifted a penalty after Ottaway handled inside the area while trying to head clear a Hughes corner. Gargan dispatched the spot kick into the bottom right corner to give the Moatsiders a mountain to climb. The visitors with their two-goal advantage dictated the pace for the remainder of the game but to their credit Merstham never gave up as Dan Harding and Gunner both hit the woodwork in the closing stages. Whitehawk added a fourth in the final minute of the ninety while on the counter as Godfrey went round Chatfield and squared the ball across for Pat Harding to tap home to take their scoring tally to 99 for the season.

Merstham fans may not look back at the game with any affection but they will be encouraged to see their team create chances against a side pushing for promotion and with Chatham Town losing they can look forward to another season in the Ryman League.

Leon McDowell scored in the dying seconds as Merstham incredibly snatched a late victory against Burgess Hill Town with all three goals coming in second half injury-time. Fabio Saraiva edged Merstham ahead on the stroke of 90 minutes before Danny Curd equalised in the third minute of stoppage time in what most people believed to be the final kick of the game. Then, less than 60 seconds later, Harry Ottaway took the ball around goalkeeper Tom Betts and squared the ball across to McDowell for the winner to put any fear of relegation for the Moatsiders into the distant memory.

For all the late drama, Burgess Hill could have taken the lead twice in the opening ten minutes. Ian Chatfield superbly turned a powerful Danny Gainsford header round the post at full stretch from Sam Tucknott’s free-kick. From the resulting Tucknott deep corner, Lloyd Cotton’s header back across goal ensured a goalmouth scramble around the six-yard box with Michael Corbett eventually clearing the ball off the line. Burgess Hill managed to dictate the game in the first half and created the better chances. Cotton’s pinpoint pass put Curd through on-goal after 28 minutes but the striker dragged his low effort wide of the far post. Then, Neil Watts managed to get in front of Bradley Duke but could only head Cotton’s dangerous first-time cross over the bar as the hosts failed to find the breakthrough before the interval.

Merstham recorded their first home victory in over five months against Godalming Town to help ease their relegation fears. Harry Ottaway’s solitary first-half strike finally gave Andy Martin his first win as Caretaker Manager in his tenth game in charge to lift The Moatsiders eight points clear of second-bottom Chatham Town with five games remaining. Merstham welcomed back fan favourite Craig Vernon to The Moatside who despite playing for the club for the majority of the season is playing against them for the second time after beginning the season with Horsham YMCA.

There was little action in the first half with both teams struggling with their form in recent weeks but it was Merstham who took the initiative after 21 minutes. Dan Harding looped the ball over Vernon’s head to put Ottaway through on-goal and the striker superbly lifted his effort over goalkeeper James Norris into an empty net. Godalming started to edge back into the contest towards the end of the half after a case of mistaken identity as Merstham’s Adam Broomhead was booked despite Michael Corbett making the challenge on Gabriel Odunaike. From the resulting free-kick, James Evans floated the ball towards Adam Foulser at the back post but he headed the ball over the bar. Then, Odunaike failed to connect with Rishi Nankani’s cross in injury time when he only needed to head the ball home from six yards.

Merstham produced a sensational fightback from two goals down to rescue a point against play-off chasing Walton and Hersham. Bakary Bojang and Reis Stanislaus left Merstham facing a two-goal deficit for the third consecutive match. However, this time The Moatsiders showed plenty of passion and determination to turn the game on its head with goals from Dean Gunner and Harry Ottaway in eleven second half minutes.

There was little action in an uninspiring first half as Merstham continuously deployed a long ball game and failed to grasp any momentum in the match. Walton managed to gain the upper hand and took the lead after 21 minutes as Ian Chatfield dropped Richard Taylor’s long punt up-field straight to the feet of Bojang who prodded the ball home from close range.

Merstham scored their first goal in five games but two first-half strikes gave Ramsgate an unassailable lead. Liam Quinn and James Gregory gave Ramsgate the lead before Sean Rivers scored for The Moatsiders with ten minutes remaining but after a tense finale it proved to be just a consolation. The Moatsiders welcomed back top scorer Harry Ottaway who scored the only goal in the season’s earlier fixture between the two teams.

Since that fixture in December, The Moatsiders have only claimed nine league points and they made the worst possible start as Quinn headed home Mitchell Sherwood’s third minute corner to gift Ramsgate an early lead. Merstham looked their most dangerous through set-plays and were unlucky not to have equalised after Ollie Gray headed Michael Corbett’s long throw onto his own crossbar.  Moments later, Ottaway flicked another Corbett long throw to the back post where Dean Gunner was waiting but he headed over the bar from less than six yards. Merstham created their best chance on 23 minutes as Omar Folkes played a one-two with Dan Harding and struck a low shot across goal but keeper Jack Smelt managed to divert the effort with his foot. This proved to be pivotal as Ramsgate doubled their lead ten minutes later as another Sherwood cross on the right found Gregory on the edge of the area and the defender arrowed a low volley into the opposite corner.

Merstham failed to score for the fourth consecutive game after being overpowered by a physical Walton Casuals side. On a glorious sunny afternoon The Moatsiders created the better chances in the first half, but the gloom of recent weeks returned in the second as two goals from Chris Drake and a late strike from Kofi Lockhart-Adams gave Casuals a comfortable victory.

In a frenetic opening both teams had a great opportunity to take an early lead. Drake quickly anticipated Michael Corbett’s fourth minute header back towards his own goal and lifted the ball over Ian Chatfield but fortunately for Merstham the effort drifted the wrong side of the far post. The Moatsiders came even closer to scoring in the ninth minute as debutant Joshua Smith’s diving header from Adam Moriarty’s deep cross came crashing back off the post. Merstham pressed hard and forced the Casuals midfield into mistakes but they could not find the breakthrough. Sean Rivers pulled his one-on-one effort wide of the far post and Daniel Harding’s first-time volley flew agonisingly over the bar just minutes before the interval.

A much improved Merstham showed plenty of desire, passion and commitment after a hard fought but ultimately goalless draw against Faversham Town. Both sides had chances to claim victory in the second half but the game will only be remembered for the events in injury time as Faversham’s Damian Abel was sent off after making an obscene gesture to one of his own fans.

There was little action in an evenly contested first half although the linesman provided some light entertainment when the game had to be stopped after the official lost his right boot. After the match resumed, Merstham had the first shot in anger on 23 minutes. Harry Ottaway flicked the ball past Jack Baldwin and struck a fierce right footed effort across goal but Simon Overland managed to push the ball past the far post. Moments later, Faversham should have taken the lead after Dane Luchford met Tom Hickman’s cross before Ian Chatfield could catch the ball but luckily for the keeper the header looped over the crossbar.

Merstham crashed to another home defeat after an abysmal performance against Whyteleafe. Optimism surrounded The Moatside after Saturday’s entertaining draw away at Worthing but two first half goals from Fred Fleming and another from Ryan Thomas after the interval saw Merstham continue their disastrous home form.

Merstham survived an early scare when Whyteleafe were awarded a penalty after Craig Vernon needlessly lunged at Fabian Batchelor. Dan Frith drilled the spot kick straight down the middle but luckily Ian Chatfield managed to save the effort diving away to his right with his legs. However, the relief was short lived as an unmarked Fleming headed Frith’s deep corner into the roof of the net to give the visitors a deserved lead after 20 minutes. Whyteleafe doubled their advantage just eight minutes later after Chatfield spilt another dangerous Frith cross and the ball fell kindly to Fleming who volleyed home his second past a couple of defenders on the line. Dale Marvell had a couple of speculative long range efforts for Merstham before Harry Ottaway had The Moatsiders best chance but he headed Marvell’s corner into the side netting just before the interval.

It was the same story in the second half as Merstham failed to string two passes together and chased their opponents’ shadows for long periods of the game.  Whyteleafe managed a third on the counter after 53 minutes as Thomas struck a low right footed drive off the inside of the far post. Merstham made a triple substitution on the hour as Danny Davenport, Leon McDowell and Steve Rollinson came on but all three failed to make any impact on the match. The Moatsiders only shot on-target came fifteen minutes from time but goalkeeper Michael Lidbury superbly backpedalled to tip over Ottaway’s looping 25-yard effort.

Merstham let a two-goal lead slip as Worthing fought back to earn a point after a rollercoaster second half of attacking football. Sean Rivers scored twice on his debut and Harry Ottaway grabbed the third to give The Moatsiders a commanding lead and dent Worthing’s 125^th anniversary celebrations. However, Callum Saunders and Terry Dodd hauled the hosts back into the contest and Worthing buoyed on by a vociferous home crowd almost snatched victory in the closing stages but were twice denied by the crossbar.

Rivers made the perfect start to his Merstham career as Worthing goalkeeper Tony Di Bernando’s headed clearance fell straight to the striker who lobbed the ball over the keeper for the his first goal after just six minutes. Worthing found it difficult to break down Merstham and the hosts took 35 minutes to create their first clear-cut opportunity. Tom Manton drifted past a couple of players and put George Gaskin through on-goal but Ian Chatfield superbly managed to get his hand to Gaskin’s low effort that looked destined for the bottom corner.

Gareth Cornhill’s injury-time strike gave Whitstable Town victory after Merstham’s woeful second half performance. Despite the late drama, it was an afternoon when entertainment was at a premium although the heavy pitch played its part as both teams found it difficult to muster any momentum. It could have been so different for Merstham who weathered the early storm to create the best first-half chance as Freddie Myers struck the post but thereafter The Moatsiders failed to create any chances of note in the second.

Caretaker Manager Andy Martin brought Bradley Duke and Fabio Saraiva into the first eleven to shore up the defence and the changes had a positive effect. Colin Harvey did well to put Lloyd Blackman off his twelve minute effort after the striker went through on-goal and slipped at the pivotal moment. Then minutes later, Duke’s last ditch tackle prevented Ian Pulman from adding to his twelve goals this season. Merstham had ten set piece opportunities but only tested Shaun Smith once as the keeper somehow managed to get fingertips to Dale Marvell’s 30 yard free-kick after 15 minutes. The Moatsiders created their best chance on 35 minutes as Freddie Myers burst down the left wing towards goal and crashed a fierce low effort against the near post. Marvell and Adam Moriarty had speculative long range efforts before the break but neither troubled Smith as a goalless first half drew to a close.

Whitstable dominated after the interval and should have taken the lead after 58 minutes but Dan Wisker incredibly managed to scoop Louis Smith’s cross over the bar from six yards. Merstham barely threatened the host’s penalty area let alone their goal in the second half and had to withstand late Whitstable pressure. Steve Rollinson produced a perfectly timed tackle to deny Pulman ten minutes from time and when an unmarked Dan William headed Cornhill’s free-kick over the bar in the final minute of the ninety, the match looked destined to finish goalless. But in the third minute of injury time, Saraiva sliced his clearance to Cornhill who danced past a couple of Merstham players and fired his shot across Rob O’Hara into the top corner with the final kick of the game.

Merstham produced a gutsy fightback to come from behind twice and earn a deserved point against local rivals Chipstead. Ray Freeman gave Chipstead the lead early in each half but Tiago Andrade and Dale Marvell equalised to give Merstham’s Caretaker Manager Andy Martin his first point. Martin made a number of changes to the starting line-up including promoting Colin Harvey from the reserves, switching Dale Marvell into the centre of midfield and restoring Craig Vernon to the captaincy.

Chipstead dominated the early exchanges and took the lead inside ten minutes as Freeman took advantage of Steve Rollinson’s slip inside the area and chipped the ball over an advancing Rob O’Hara into the far corner. Merstham grew into the match and created their best chance on 29 minutes. Troy Ferguson fizzed the ball into the path of Freddie Myers but goalkeeper Joe Grant quickly rushed off his line to block his effort and Ross White volleyed the rebound over the bar. White made amends three minutes later after capitalising on a poor Chipstead free-kick to put Andrade through on goal and the striker slipped the ball past Grant for his third Merstham goal in consecutive games. O’Hara kept Merstham on level terms as the keeper saved from Freeman’s turn and shot inside the area and then pushed Liam Grier’s low effort that looked destined for the bottom corner round the post.

Chipstead regained the initiative in the second half as Kofi Quarty danced through into the penalty area on the hour mark and supplied Freeman with his second as he fired his effort into the top right corner. Merstham fought back but found Grant in terrific form as he tipped over Adam Moriarty’s volley from a Myers corner and then the keeper superbly held onto Marvell’s 25-yard looping effort. However, Merstham finally found a way through on 78 minutes as Marvell rose highest to powerful head Freddie Myers’ corner past Gant into the net. Chipstead had a penalty appeal turned down in the closing stages after a goalmouth scramble. Then, Merstham had their own chance to sneak victory in injury time but Troy Ferguson blasted the ball over the bar in front of an open goal as both teams had to settle for a point.

Merstham suffered late heartbreak as Nyren Clunis’ dramatic injury time strike sealed an unlikely victory for Dulwich Hamlet. In a topsy-turvy encounter, Ross White and Tiago Andrade gave The Moatsiders a comfortable two goal lead. But Ray Powell struck twice in nine minutes as the momentum shifted towards the visitors and Clunis snatched the points in the final minute of stoppage time. Injuries to Harry Ottaway and goalkeeper Ian Chatfield paved the way for Andrade to make his first start following his debut goal against Walton Casuals and assistant coach Dave Tidy made a rare appearance in goal for Merstham.

Dulwich dominated the early exchanges but Tidy kept out Quade Taylor’s timid fifth minute shot from close range which should have been buried and then Merstham rode their luck as Rob Gradwell’s looping effort bounced off the post. Merstham started to pass the ball around with conviction and deservedly took the lead on 31 minutes. Andrade’s perfectly weighted pass put White through on-goal and he confidently slotted the ball under James Dunn. Tidy made a couple of good saves before the interval as he pushed away Clunis’ low drive from 25 yards and then the keeper held onto Gradwell’s turn and shot inside the area to keep Merstham ahead at the break.

Merstham looked dangerous on the counter and managed to double their advantage on 54 minutes as Andrade smashed home a fierce volley from Dale Marvell’s cross. Andrade almost sensationally grabbed another just two minutes later but his cheeky back heel from David Smith’s low cross was unfortunately directed the wrong side of Dunn’s near post. Merstham looked in control but disastrously Dulwich grabbed a lifeline out of nowhere on the hour mark as Powell played a one-two with Dean Carpenter on the left wing and prodded a low effort past Tidy into the bottom corner. Powell grabbed his second of the match on 69 minutes after the striker was left unmarked at the back post from Junior Kadi’s corner and the striker blasted his effort into the roof of the net. The momentum was firmly with the visitors but Merstham had their chance to sneak a victory with five minutes remaining. Smith burst past Lewis Goncalves on the right but as the winger was about to unleash his shot the ball bobbled up in front of him and fell straight into Dunn’s arms. It looked as though the game was headed for a draw but in the third minute of injury time Dulwich threw caution to the wind and Omer Lawson’s low cross from the right was converted into the net by Clunis to shatter Merstham’s resistance with virtually the last kick of the game.

Merstham suffered their heaviest defeat of the season after they were thrashed by Walton Casuals.

The visitors dominated from the outset and made the perfect start as Luke Evans scrambled home Mark Nicholls eighth minute corner. Casuals created plenty of chances and had the ball in the net when Charlie Ide burst through Merstham’s defence on 24 minutes but the referee blew his whistle after the striker fouled Freddie Myers on his way through. The visitors deservedly doubled their lead on the half hour as Nicholls lifted the ball into the path of Craig Totton who blasted the ball past Ian Chatfield from ten yards. Casuals continued to dictate proceedings as Merstham failed to string two passes together and to make matters worse the visitors were awarded a controversial penalty ten minutes into the second half. The linesman adjudged Bradley Duke had brought down Ide even though the referee was closer to the incident and initially dismissed the visitors appeal. Ide confidently struck the spot kick into the bottom left corner to effectively end the contest. Merstham did create some good openings thereafter as Matt York headed John Hamsher’s free-kick over the bar, Troy Ferguson dragged his low volley just wide of the far post and David Smith blazed an effort wide after goalkeeper James Warrington dropped Dale Marvell’s cross. The Moatsiders finally managed a consolation on 80 minutes after a terrific solo effort saw substitute Tiago Andrade run past two defenders and strike a low shot across Warrington into the far corner. The final ten minutes became farcical as fog descended on Moatside but the bad weather could not stop Casuals scoring two late goals. Liam Wright converted Ide’s low cross from eight yards after 82 minutes to restore their three goal cushion. Then, Chris Drake added a fifth in injury time by going round Chatfield and slotting the ball into an empty net to compound Merstham’s miserable evening.

Merstham secured their first victory this year after a courageous display against Godalming Town. The Moatsiders extracted revenge for their extra time defeat in the Surrey Senior Cup a couple of weeks ago with a late show of their own as Ross White struck in the final ten minutes to seal their first win in six league games.

Merstham welcomed back Robb Sheridan after he rejoined the club following a four month absence and pushed Adam Moriarty into a five man midfield. The change had an immediate impact as Merstham dominated the first half. They should have taken the lead in the seventh minute as Harry Ottaway broke through Godalming’s defence and tried to lift the ball over Jamie Norris but the striker could not get enough elevation on his shot and Norris comfortably caught the ball. The Moatsiders major threat came down the right wing and on the half hour Norris spilled David Smith’s cross towards Ottaway who hooked the ball goalwards but Antonio Simeone managed to get back to clear the danger. It was a moment of magic that broke the deadlock for Merstham on 36 minutes as Dale Marvell capitalised on a poor Norris clearance and hit a thunderous effort to give the visitors a deserved lead before the interval.

Merstham were left to rue their first half chances as a well organised Bognor Regis Town displayed their promotion credentials. Troy Ferguson cancelled out Ben Johnson’s opener for The Moatsiders but Bognor displayed their killer instinct with three second half strikes leaving Merstham without a win in four league games.

Bognor broke the deadlock in the seventh minute as Aaron Murphy allowed Johnson to turn inside the area and he cleverly chipped the ball over Ian Chatfield to gift the visitors an early lead. Merstham fought back and created two good opportunities to equalise but found visiting goalkeeper Craig Stoner in excellent form. First, Stoner spread himself to deny Troy Ferguson from Michael Corbett’s long throw. Then the keeper superbly saved Ross White’s effort when the midfielder burst through Bognor’s defence following Harry Ottaway’s flick on.   The pressure finally paid off for Merstham on 27 minutes as Stoner parried Ottaway’s low effort and Ferguson reacted fastest to equalise. Both teams had chances to take the initiative before the break but Jason Prior headed Johnson’s free-kick onto the crossbar for Bognor and Stoner again denied Merstham saving Corbett’s one-on-one effort with his legs.

Bognor made a fast start after the interval and two minutes into the second half Prior burst past Matt York down the left wing and picked out Luke Nightingale who crashed his effort against the post. Nightingale collected the rebound and pulled the ball back for James Crane who swept the ball home for the visitors to retake the lead. Merstham were unlucky not to draw level on 55 minutes after an unmarked Ross White headed home Dale Marvell’s cross but the assistant put his flag up for offside to cut short the home fans celebration. This proved to be pivotal as just three minutes later Bognor doubled their lead after Prior this time burst down the right side and put a low ball across the box towards Nightingale who made no mistake from six yards. Bognor added a fourth on 71 minutes as Johnson dispossessed York and played Nightingale through on-goal and the striker buried his effort for his second of the match.

Merstham squandered another lead at home after a lacklustre performance against Faversham Town. Ross White opened the scoring for the Moatsiders in the tenth minute but Matthew Bourne’s wonder strike just before the interval saw Merstham draw their third consecutive league match.

Merstham took the lead slightly against the run of play as Dale Marvell’s cross found its way through to White at the back post and he swept the ball home for an early lead. The home side created the better chances in the first half but failed to test goalkeeper Bob French. On the half hour mark, Billy Marshall side stepped Sam Gore inside the area but his weak shot was easily held by French. Moments later Craig Dunne ran onto White’s cross but the midfielder failed to control his first time shot as he lofted the effort over the bar. Faversham hardly threatened Merstham’s goal and when the home side headed away Dave Botterill’s 43^rd minute corner it looked as though they had cleared the danger. But, Bourne picked up the loose ball 35 yards from goal and struck a ferocious effort that flew through a crowd of players into the bottom left corner for undoubtedly one of the goals of the season at the Moatside.

Merstham came from behind four times to rescue a point against Chatham Town in an enthralling eight goal thriller.

Chatham took the lead against the run of play after 18 minutes as Billy Shinners headed home Anthony Hogg’s cross before Ian Chatfield could reach the ball at the far post. Billy Marshall blazed a long range effort over the bar on 27 minutes but found his goal scoring touch three minutes later with a terrific solo effort after beating two defenders and slotting the ball past goalkeeper James Tedder. Merstham survived a scare in the final five minutes of the half when Chatfield struck his clearance against Shinners but luckily the ball ended up drifting away from goal. However, Chatham did regain the advantage on 42 minutes as Brad Potter headed a long ball towards Leroy Huggins who cleverly headed the ball over Chatfield into the net. Merstham incredibly bounced back just two minutes later as Jordan Cheadle headed Dale Marvell’s corner in from close range to send the two sides level at the break.

Harry Ottaway scored a dramatic winner in injury time as Merstham snatched victory against Ramsgate. The game looked as though it was heading for a goalless draw, but with 90 minutes on the clock Ottaway took Jordan Cheadle’s long ball in his stride and slid a low effort past Jack Smelt to spark euphoric celebrations amongst the away bench and travelling fans.

The Moatsiders returned to action following a three-week break due to the bad weather and initially looked rusty as the hosts piled on the early pressure. Ian Chatfield fumbled Mark Lovell’s twelfth minute header but fortunately for the visitors the ball crept over the crossbar. Chatfield was again called into action five minutes later after a one-two with Lovell put Warren Schulz through but the keeper superbly blocked Schulz’s effort with his feet and quickly scrambled to hold onto the rebound. Merstham’s best chance came on the half-hour as Ottaway picked out Michael Corbett but the striker failed to wrap his left foot around the ball and his effort trickled wide.

Jordan Cheadle secured Merstham’s third successive league victory in the dying minutes following a seven-goal thriller against Whitstable Town In an enthralling encounter. The Moatsiders edged their noses ahead three times before being pegged back each time but with 88 minutes on the clock Cheadle fired home a free-kick from 20 yards to seal an unforgettable victory.

Merstham made the perfect, if a little fortuitous; start when David Smith’s sixth minute effort deflected off the knee of Whitstable defender Jim Sherman for an early lead. The Moatsiders should have been four goals up inside the first 25 minutes after Harry Ottaway, Tony Reid and Wes Goggin all squandered golden opportunities on the wet, slippery surface. Their failure in front of goal came back to haunt them as Whitstable equalised on 29 minutes after Cheadle failed to clear Tom Parker’s cross and Ian Pulman was waiting at the far post to slot home. Merstham retook the lead six minutes before the interval as Ottaway poked home Dale Marvell’s low cross at the far post to give the hosts a deserved half-time lead.

Merstham suffered defeat for the first time this season as a well-organised Chatham Town side maintained their perfect start. The Moatsiders made life difficult for themselves as Joe Fuller capitalised on a defensive mix-up to gift the visitors the first half lead and Callum O’Shea added to Chatham’s advantage after the break to put the game beyond reach.

 In an end-to-end contest, it was the hosts who made a positive start and came closest when Tony Reid headed Wes Goggin’s cross narrowly wide in the sixth minute. At the other end, Ian Chatfield kept out O’Shea after the striker intercepted Michael Corbett’s header back towards goal. Reid had another fantastic opportunity ten minutes later after goalkeeper James Tedder failed to clear a long ball on the edge of his area but his 25-yard first time hit sailed wide. Chatham started to dictate play and fired a warning shot when Jason Barton headed inches wide from O’Shea’s cross.  But, disaster struck on the half-hour mark as the visitors took the lead. Corbett was guiding the ball out of play when Chatfield decided to come and collect the ball. The two players fell over each other on the by-line allowing O'Shea to pick up the loose ball and find Fuller who calmly finished into the empty net. Merstham pushed forward as half-time approached with David Smith causing all sorts of problems down the right wing, drove past Barton but saw his fierce low shot saved by Tedder’s legs at his near post.

Chatham regained their dominance and five minutes into the half a one-two between Brad Potter and O’Shea allowed Gary Ward a shot on-goal but the visiting captain found the side netting from an acute angle. However, the visitors managed to double their advantage on 54 minutes after a swift counter-attack ended with O’Shea side stepping Jordan Cheadle’s challenge on the edge of the area and blasting the ball into the roof of the net. Merstham had a great opportunity to get back into the game less than three minutes after the restart but Bradley Duke somehow headed Dale Marvell’s cross wide from five yards with the goal at his mercy. The hosts lost their momentum shortly after Craig Dunne left the field injured but with 15 minutes remaining Rob Sheridan put Daniel Harding through on-goal for a glimmer of hope. The striker initially did well to round Tedder but instead of shooting he decided to pull the ball across for Smith. By the time the winger controlled the ball the chance had disappeared as he was crowded out. A Cheadle free-kick from 20 yards crept inches over in the final minute but by then any come back was too late as Chatham were in-control and deservedly took the three points.