What The Papers Say 2006/07

Lock Pays Emotional Tribute After Cup Triumph

MAN of the match Kevin Lock (pictured right) typified the unselfishness of Merstham's players in his moment of triumph following Friday's cup final. Two-goal hero Lock had thoughts only for a special late relative after the big occasion at Woking.

Lock, 24, said:"I would like to dedicate my two goals to my granddad David Jupp who died in October 2005, aged 74. He watched me in every game that I ever played since the age of 17 in my five seasons at Carshalton Athletic, where I started out in their youth team, and I owe him so much, so I would be really grateful if he got a mention."

Lock is clearly the loyal family and club man, having only had two seasons with Whyteleafe, following his stint with the Robins. And Lock explained that he also owed a huge debt of gratitude to Merstham reserve team player Robert Staff, whose friendship had attracted him to join the Moatside revolution last November.

Lock said: "I did not know much about the club, to be honest, but Robert told me that Merstham was a really friendly club and that the coaching was good. I came along, was made to feel welcome, and I have really enjoyed it ever since."

Eighteen goals later and Lock was feeling pretty pleased with his decision, revealing that Kevin Lock he had been interesting in joining local rivals Chipstead at one stage.

Lock said: "I was playing Sunday football for Langshott Rangers at the time, having been out of action with ankle ligament damage for 11 months. This has been a really good season for the club and there is the ability at Merstham to progress through the leagues. I certainly believe that promotion next season will be quite achievable and we can move on from here and build on our cup final success. This has been a terrific night for us all, especially after going a goal behind so early, but the best way to reply was with four quick goals, although even that we still had a job to do in the second half."

Merstham's other two-goal star, winger Michael Morgan, also illustrated the club's work ethic, having battled back from a nasty rib injury against Epsom & Ewell only three days earlier to play his usual key role.

Morgan, 25, said: "The muscles are still very sore and I was only 50-50 for the final, but I felt all right when I was warming up and said that I would give it 10 minutes anyway."

He ended up playing for an hour, paving the way for Merstham's triumph, and Morgan revealed afterwards how pleased he was to make the move from Redhill last summer.

Morgan said: "I have played for 12 senior clubs in my career so far but Merstham is one of the best footballing teams I have ever played for. It is just an amazingly well run and ambitious club and I am overjoyed with our success. We have got a good thing going with great management staff and I would love to stay with them for next season."

Captain Craig Vernon emerged afterwards beaming from ear to ear, enjoying the added satisfaction of being the only Merstham player to have appeared in three successive CCL cup finals.

Centre-back Vernon, 27, said: "We were under pressure for the opening 20 minutes but then the lads pulled it back in style, scoring four good goals and all working hard and respecting each other. We had a chat when the first goal went in and just said that we should keep our heads and keep going. There is a lot of love at our club and that is the secret of Merstham's success."

Manager Mick Sullivan said: "It was a great result for us and the players showed a lot of character after going behind to a dubious penalty. But we owe a lot of thanks to Ian Chatfield for making a particularly crucial save early on which was a turning point. I was surprised with the margin of our victory but if the players want to stick together then we have got every chance of giving it another go again next season. This team is capable of playing at better than CCL level if they stay loyal and they have so much in their armoury that we could be a force again next year. But I know the ups and downs of Merstham FC over the years."

Report by David Groves - Photo by Sue Austen

Destiny in the Hands of Sullivan and his Team

MICK Sullivan is destined to become one of the most successful managers in Combined Counties League history if he can bring further silverware back to Merstham's Moatside ground tomorrow (Friday) night.

Sullivan, who selects from a full strength squad, bids to repeat their 2004/05 season's 3-0 final success against AFC Guildford at Michael Morgan Woking. Merstham will be aiming to beat North Greenford Utd in the EL Records Premier Challenge Cup showpiece at Kingfield this time round. Yet Sullivan has admitted on the eve of the final he nearly quit his beloved club due to sheer frustration last summer at the start of his sixth year in charge. This was despite being cup finalists again, this time a losing occasion at Woking against Godalming Town, finishing as CCL premier division runners up, having enjoyed their most successful season for 20 years.

Sullivan said: "I was very, very close to walking away from Merstham as I could not have been hurting more. We had just missed out on our rightful promotion to Ryman League Division One South due to our stand arriving after the ground grading inspection. I was thinking about moving on as I thought that we would be a non entity this season after losing the vast majority of our players. My goals were not as high as I have set in the past and I was contemplating my future and maybe even taking a break from football for a while." But heart-to-talk talks with key Merstham committee members and Sullivan's many friends in football persuaded him to assemble his "dream team" on and off the field, also bringing in new assistants Micky Stratford and Rhys Williams.

Sullivan said: "There is a whole new generation feel about the club and we could have only gone into this season with a completely new team and out-look."

Mark Simmons Merstham launched a late charge for CCL premier division honours this season under skip-per Craig Vernon. Looking forward to the final, Sullivan said: "It is an even-stevens game but if we perform to our ability and take our chances we will win it.I hope it will be a cracking final from a Combined Counties League perspective as the league has come on in leaps and bounds."

Honours are even between both sides so far this season with Merstham having beaten North Greenford Utd 3-1 at Moatside last October before suffering a 1-0 away defeat on Saturday, March 31.

Sullivan said: "It could be settled by a goal either way but I am sure that there will be goals scored and it is looking like being a harder cup final for us than last year. Our strengths are that all of our players want the ball and want to play good football and we deserve to win something for our efforts this season. But North Greenford Utd are more of an in-form side and have a couple of prolific strikers in John Hill and Gary Senior. We have Kwabena Agyei and our unsung hero Kevin Lock in attack, of course."

In addition, Sullivan could be tempted to unleash his new secret weapon, 18-year-old winger Danny Ross, on the high-flying Middlesex club. Ross is the latest gem to have been discovered by the shrewd Sullivan who spotted the exciting youngster playing for Surrey U18s against Kent in a representative youth match at Moatside last February. He enjoyed a dream senior debut last Wednesday, scoring in Merstham's vital 2-1 win at Raynes Park Vale.

Sullivan said: "Danny showed pace, ability and tenacity and crossed the ball well, also competing strongly which was a big plus, and he will be a part of the final for us and have some role to play in it."

Sullivan made a seven-day approach to Corinthian Casuals, for whom he played at youth and reserve levels, and the Dorking-based prospect made two promising second string appearances for Merstham after signing for the club a month ago before making his big bow.

Report by David Groves - Photos by Sue Austen

Clash of the Titans Could be Easter Celebration

MERSTHAM manager Mick Sullivan has fuelled the flames ahead of their Easter Monday visit to High Road by suggesting title favourites Chipstead are not the best footballing side in their division.

Chipstead are runaway Combined Counties League premier division leaders and seemingly certain of being promoted to Ryman League division one south for the first time in their centenary year.

Merstham's experienced boss said: "Wembley, who are pushing us for runners-up position, are the best team in the league for footballing ability by far. Then it is between ourselves, Ash United and Chipstead for the second best footballing side. Chipstead are so far clear at the top of the table because their strength is having good goal scorers in Danny Oakins, Scott Simpson and Bradley Drake who have put them in that position, but they do not necessarily play good football. Having said that though I am not knocking the rest of their team. Chipstead deserve to be where they are as they are the most consistent side and have done what they said they would do to get promoted and effectively they are up anyway. They have learned from our example in terms of getting themselves in a position to be promoted whereas Chipstead used to be Merstham's role model. I take my hat off to their players who made the decision easy for their committee to go for promotion by racking up the necessary points this season whereas I feel that we will miss out on any chance of going up unfortunately. But, perhaps unusually for two such fierce local teams, there is no animosity or aggravation between rivals. In fact, I don't really see that this match means so much anyway now as Chipstead are still in the driving seat for promotion."

Merstham are aiming for revenge, with a 200-strong crowd expected, after losing the first league meeting 1-0 at Moatside on Boxing Day despite producing a promising display with a revamped team which Sullivan believes is better than last year's side. Both teams are expected to be at full strength for the big clash.

Chips manager Nicky English said: "This is such an important game for us to win as Merstham want to beat us more than anything and were excellent against us at Moatside, having got stronger throughout this season."

Indeed, English paid a glowing tribute to last season's league runners-up.

The Chips boss said: "Merstham are tremendously well organised and they are as good as any Ryman League team with their strikers complementing each other well, and their captain Craig Vernon is probably the best centre-back that I have seen in this league. Merstham, who are one of the best sides we have played this season, have helped me in a lot of ways without them even realising it. Their improvements had out-shone us but I knew that there was the possibility to keep up with them and I strengthened my side significantly this season to go for promotion when we decided to go for it last summer. Merstham made me realise that it was possible to win the league and to achieve promotion with Ryman football being achievable. It is not all about how much money our club has got at this level."

Report by David Groves

Merstham’s Unbelievable Courage to Hold Their Nerve

Surrey Senior Cup, quarter-final
Merstham 0 Woking 0 (aet) Merstham won 5-4 on penalties

MAGNIFICENT Merstham enjoyed the greatest result in the club's history by knocking out Conference club Woking and reaching the county cup semi-finals at Moatside last Thursday.

Experienced former Chelsea goalkeeper Ian Chatfield was the hero saving two penalties in a thrilling shoot-out after the sides had been deadlocked following 120 tense minutes.

A 318-strong crowd saw the second placed Combined Counties League premier division club overcome the odds by beating former FA Trophy winners Cardinals, who play four divisions above them. Mick Sullivan's men ensured that the mid-table Cards tumbled out of the competition, providing one of the biggest ever shocks in the county cup. Having already eliminated Ryman League division one south sides Molesey and Walton Casuals in a club record breaking run, Merstham will visit Tooting & Mitcham from the same level in the semi-finals. The underdogs heaped even more pressure on full-time Woking's beleaguered boss Glenn Cockerill whose side have endured a wretched recent run. But ex-Southampton star midfielder Cockerill sportingly congratulated Sullivan's spirited side afterwards. Cockerill said: "All credit to Merstham whose performance was literally spot on. They deserved to win as they took their chances and we didn't. "We certainly didn't underestimate them as we were impressed when we watched Merstham beat Sandhurst Town 6-1 the previous Saturday.

For Merstham manager Mick Sullivan this was rich reward for a day's hard work that had started at 8.30am by spearheading a club working party's efforts to stage the tie at the third attempt following recent rain offs. Merstham had resisted attempts to switch the tie to Woking's Kingfield Stadium due to their heavily sanded Moatside pitch but the surface played its part in permitting this historic triumph. Sullivan said: "It was an absolutely superb performance and we deserved to win anyway as we were the better side over-all. I felt that we were capable of taking this tie as we created chances all the time and anybody who watched the game would have been impressed with the quality of our performance." Sullivan's confidence in custodian Chatfield was fully justified, having informed club officials before the shoot-out that "the best goalkeeper” would win the spot-kicks for them. The drama had started with Rob Hill beating keeper James Bittner and substitute Giuseppe Sole slotting his spot-kick past Chatfield. When leading scorer Kwabena Agyei's effort rebounded to safety via both posts Merstham were up against it particularly when substitute Karl Murray made it 2-1 to the visitors. Merstham's mercurial midfielder Mark Simmons juggled the ball confidently on his way to the spot before equalising to heighten the drama. Chatfield then denied Goma Lambu and Stuart Channon kept his nerve to make it 3-2. Shola Oyedele equalised before Joe Hill matched his brother's earlier exploits by restoring the hosts' advantage. Rob Gier made it 4-4 before Merstham's inspirational captain Craig Vernon put the home side back in front again crucially. So Adam Green, who has played for Fulham in the Premiership, had to score to keep Woking in the competition but Chatfield went the right way and denied him before being engulfed on the ground by jubilant team-mates.

Chatfield admitted: "I was due to be next up to take the following penalty so that second save certainly took the pressure off. But I always maintain that there is no pressure on goalkeepers anyway in penalty shoot-outs as nobody expects them to make saves in that situation. We had more of the clear cut chances and, despite being part-timers, performed to the best of our abilities "It was a great performance from our up and coming club."

Skipper Vernon revealed that he feared he would be unable to get to sleep following the evening's excitement. He said: "Chats [Ian Chatfield] is one of the best goal-keepers around and gives our defence so much confidence. We played very well to win a great game on a fantastic occasion and we were just pleased to get this tie out of the way to be honest. We really thought that we could win this one and it was our best performance of the season so far. Now roll on the semi-finals."

Merstham thoroughly deserved their achievement, enjoying more of the chances than a visiting side studded with Conference class players. Remarkably, Chatfield was hardly troubled by such illustrious opponents although he did survive a scare after 49 minutes when manager's son Sam Cockerill saw his far post shot rebound to safety via the angle of post and crossbar. But Merstham edged a cleanly contested affair overall with particularly promising performances from Simmons, Vernon, central defensive partner Richard Grove, striker Kevin Lock and winger Michael Morgan in a tremendous team effort which will live long in the memory.

Report by David Groves

Agyei sets his Sights on Leading Title Challenge

8th February 2007

Type the name Kwabena Agyei into your Google search and you will find 793 referenced and a varied top 10. These include the African artist in The Netherlands, the student of the Master in European Journalism 2003 course, the former press secretary to President Kufuor, and the recently elected National Democratic Congress, Dr Kwabena Agyei. And then there he is with his name in lights: Kwabena Agyei, the 28 year old semi-professional prolific Merstham striker who intriguingly doubles up as an optician in his professional life. Make no mistake, this Kwabena Agyei has certainly opened the eyes of countless opposition defenders this season and provided quite a spectacle for the Moatside faithful as Merstham bid to move up from the Combined Counties League premier division. Agyei admitted “When the Merstham players get to hear about my optician’s work in the City I get all the jokes in the changing room about: have you got your lenses in? And I really get it of course if my shooting is a bit wayward, although it is all good natured banter”.

But, put simply, Kwabena Agyei and Merstham seemed to be made for each other from the moment when he scored both goals on his debut in a 2-1 league victory at Dorking on Saturday September 23^rd. Remarkably, Agyei has gone on to score virtually a goal a game ever since, including netting in six successive matches which featured eight more of his goals. He has bagged 20 goals in all competitions, but typically modestly, Agyei admitted: “I have been quite pleased with my progress at Merstham and slowly but surely things are coming along. This is only my third full season at this sort of level, having played nothing too seriously before then. It has been a surprise package for me at Merstham and I have been impressed with the players’ camaraderie and the whole set up at the club”. Spells with Tottenham-based Middlesex League club Mauritius, Chipstead, Banstead Athletic and a curtailed stint with Whyteleafe at the start of the season brought him to the Moatside Club’s attention. And Agyei has since spearheaded Merstham’s promotion challenge, not looking back after joining them four months ago.

Merstham manager Mick Sullivan has been delighted with Agyei’s contribution, having kept close tabs on the player’s progress following talks with the striker’s former Banstead Athletic manager Bob Langford. Sullivan said: “I knew of Kwabena while he was playing for Banstead, although he was not particularly prolific with them. But he really cut the mustard at Chipstead and we can only be pleased that his last club Whyteleafe did not see his potential. “Kwabena has made a massive impact for us and also on the likes of Kevin Lock who has made a lot of his goals for him. Not only is Kwabena a great guy but he also wants to learn more about the game in general”.

On his successful combination with his strike partner, Agyei said “Kevin is one of the best strikers I have been involved with due to his awareness and we feed off each other well. He and our winger Michael Morgan have both made big contributions”. And, with highly qualified Rhys Williams and Micky Stratford, leading the coaching team at Moatside, Agyei has clearly come to the right place. Agyei said “The coaching staff have both instilled a calmness in me whereas previously I was trying to rush too much and was not relaxed enough”.

The coaching duo have highlighted two key aspects to improve on, movements and positional sense, with Sullivan adding that Agyei still has a lot to learn, although he does possess a raw talent. Sullivan said “Kwabena has contributed loads and is showing he can do it for us with his major assets being his strength and pace. “But I don’t want to single him out as being the messiah of Merstham Football Club. Kwabena does have those areas that he needs working on, although his other biggest asset is that he puts the ball in the back of the net nine times out of 10”. Sullivan is confident of Agyei remaining a Merstham player if they are successful in their aim of bring promoted to Ryman League Division One South for the first time in the club’s history.

Report by David Groves
Photos By Simon Roe

Captain Vernon Believes Title Chase Could Go Down to the Wire

1st February 2007

Captain Craig Vernon turned up the heat on title rivals Chipstead claiming Merstham can yet pip them to the Combined Counties League Premier Division Championship. Defender Vernon, 27, knows winning the title will almost certainly guarantee either club promotion to Ryman League division one south for the first time in their history. And Vernon still believes, despite Merstham’s slow start to the season that they can still land the crown possibly at Chips’ expense.

Vernon said “We still feel that we can catch Chipstead considering the way in which we are playing at the moment even though they are winning all their games. But we are capable of winning all our games. Hopefully, they don’t handle their run-in to the season very well, but only time will tell what will happen now. “I enjoy playing against Chipstead anyway and I hope they go up along with us just so long as it is not at the expense of ourselves, of course”.

Merstham’s remarkable run has underlined their own title ambitions and put a little more pressure on Chips ahead of their return meeting on Easter Monday, April 9 at High Road when so much could be at stake. Vernon said “This season has gone much better than last when we finished runners-up and I just hope we can go up now. We are 85 per cent certain to be promoted this season after being told that any of the top three sides has a chance of going up. “We are a much stronger side than last season with our team morale and spirit having been high for the past few months”.

Vernon paid tribute to the club’s management team which has masterminded their recent triumphs praising Manager Mick Sullivan, assistant Mickey Stratford and senior coach Rhys Williams. Sullivan returned the compliment, saying “Considering that Craig was such a young lad relatively speaking to be thrown into that captaincy role he has done the job tremendously well. “I could have picked more experienced players such as our goalkeeper, Ian Chatfield, to be skipper but I decided on Craig as he gives such leadership qualities on the pitch. “He is a winner like I am and he was the most obvious choice as captain, showing his loyalty in remaining with the club this season”.
“Craig has got the potential to be playing at a higher level and I appreciate his commitment to the team in staying with us last summer when many other players left the club when we were unable to be promoted”.

Merstham Persistent But Have to Pay for Wasted Chances

11th November 2006

Merstham 2 Chertsey Town 3

Merstham played host to close rivals Chertsey Town in a mind- blowing and terrific performance from both sides in the Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Premier.

Merstham started extremely well with Michael Morgan taking a sharp run down the left wing just failing to find team mates inside the box. Set pieces gave Merstham their best chances of attack, winning free headers on several occasions. Chris Read provided the home side with their first chance but struck his shot high over the crossbar. A Chertsey counter-attack saw a shot drift wide after a vital deflection inside the box but only half chances were seen from both sides. Merstham's next chance in the game came when Rob Hill overlapped Morgan whipping in a cross to brother Joe forcing a brilliant fingertip save by Chertsey keeper Tony Oval on to the crossbar. Continued pressure by the home side gave them the opening goal 36 minutes into play. A searing run by Morgan gave the midfielder time to look up and notice keeper Oval off his line and lob him from 30 yards producing a brilliant and well-taken goal. Chertsey seemed to gain more confidence after going behind and soon found themselves level. A corner found Luke Moldowney at the far post gifting him an easy header just before half time; 1-1 at the break.

Both sides returned to the second half goal hungry. Two chances from Merstham's Hill brothers were wasted early on but in the 49th minute Merstham once again took the lead. A corner by Morgan found Kwabena Agyei at the near post giving him his eighth goal for Merstham so far this season. Chertsey refused to give in to Merstham's persistence and after continued battling saw Scott Wadge level the score for the second time in the match. Despite Merstham's determination to win the game and having a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside it was Chertsey who found their way with a 63rd minute goal and Luke Moldowney making it his second of the match. Merstham failed to get themselves back in the game ceding victory to the visitors.

Franklin Header is Not Enough

14th October 2006

Merstham 1 Banstead Athletic 1

Merstham were unable to hold on to the lead, but it wasn't all bad news.
Because Egham lost at home, Merstham were able to remain in third place in the table and for long periods of this game were much the better against opponents who have been in good form.

The home side had started brightly and Banstead goalkeeper Mark Rouse had to make a vital clearance from a Stuart Channon corner. At the other end, Tristan Frontin hit the crossbar from 25 yards and a long run from Taylor Mollatt looked promising until he pushed his shot wide. Merstham, though, deservedly took the lead in the 26th minute after a long cross from Michael Morgan found Shane Franklin running in at the back post and his header gave Rouse no chance. The home side continued to threaten, with chances for Joe Hill, David Smith and Michael Morgan all of which failed to hit the target.

Banstead struggled to get the ball out of their half during the second period. A strike from Morgan hit the bar and minutes later Smith's run set up Kwabena Agyei who forced a great save out of Rouse. Agyei was left kicking himself when his second attempt from two yards out hit the woodwork. Banstead knuckled down in the last quarter of the game and began to hold a bit more possession, but it was a surprise when they equalised on 72 minutes. A corner-kick found a crowded six-yard box, forcing keeper Ian Chatfield to react instinctively. However, the ball fell to the feet of in-form striker Paul Hunt who showed he only needs the one chance to score.

Sullivan Happy With New Boys

Mark Leahy and Michael Morgan have joined Combined Counties outfit Merstham for next season. Redhill’s winger Morgan and former Banstead Athletic captain Mark Leahy are the two star summer signings. Morgan, 25, joins from Sussex County League Division One Redhill who survived the threat of relegation while Leahy, 31, joins from Banstead who elected to drop down from Ryman League Division One to CCL. Merstham Manager Mick Sullivan is understandably delighted to have brought two such quality players to Weldon Way, especially considering that the duo have played for the likes of Welling United and Gravesend & Northfleet respectively.

Sullivan said: “I always felt that we needed to add to our squad of 18 players to give us a chance of honours and the majority of last season’s side will be returning to the club. Hopefully, these two new men can take Merstham forward, particularly in Michael’s case, having lacked quality crosses into the penalty area last season. And Michael is a level headed person who should enjoy the coaching on offer at the club”

The Merstham boss added that he was particularly pleased to sign such an experienced duo, revealing that he had been trying to bring in Morgan for two years. Sullivan, who will be starting his sixth season in charge, added: “I am trying to rebuild the side and our club has shown ambition by getting these players in order for us to compete at the top our division again. And there will be more signings to come. Every Manager knows that it will be a more competitive and tight league that will have an added edge with several Ryman League clubs coming into it.”

Sullivan is particularly keen to put a more positive spin on matters after Merstham missed out on promotion to Ryman One after their appeal against failing their ground inspection was rejected. Despite losing his assistant manager, Perry Gough due to work commitments, experienced ex-Banstead Athletic and Sutton United player Micky Stratford has joined as the new assistant boss/coach, having been first team coach at Dulwich Hamlet last season. Also assisting with coaching will be former Redhill and Chipstead assistant boss Rhys Williams, with Brian Imms being promoted from reserve team assistant manager to partner John Heath in charge of the club’s Suburban League South side.

Any players wishing to attend training can contact Sullivan on 07915 668562 (mobile) for further details.