Merstham 1 v 2 Three Bridges
Suburban League South
12th May 2008

The final game of a tumultuous season for the reserves took place on Monday night down at the Moatside. The team gave a battling performance against promotion-chasing Three Bridges but went down 1-2 with Ryan Fraser getting the goal for the home side 

Three Bridges arrived needing a win to secure third place and therefore, promotion to the Premier Division of the Suburban League and the importance of this game to them showed as they created several good chances in the first five minutes and scored with one of them. A through ball found Ryan Smith in space and a clean right foot strike cracked past Peter Hudson and into the goal. The chances continued to come for the away team as they threatened to run riot but Merstham held firm and began to become more of a force in a game. Jon Dale had a powerful shot which just went over as the pressure increased. On 30 minutes Leon Wallace and Danny Ross combined down the right hand side with a great move that led to a corner. This sparked a five minute period of constant corners which led to several good chances. Nana Agyei headed just wide, Jon Dale hit the bar, Ryan Fraser had a shot blocked and Leon Wallace saw his overhead kick whistle just over after a goalmouth scramble but all this possession came to nothing and it remained 0-1 at half-time.

The Sussex side started the second half like the first which several very good chances to increase their lead, a feat only stopped by some remarkable defending. Merstham matched them for opportunities though. Leon Wallace met a Danny Ross cross with his head from just six yards out but placed it straight in the keeper’s hands. Wallace himself set up a chance for Ronnie Appiah who hit the post. Then Wallace again nearly scored when put in one on one only for the keeper to smother well. However this pressure was all for naught as with 59 minutes on the clock when a wicked cross from the left hand side was met by Bridges’ Jack McNab’s netbound volley. Refusing to lay down and die Merstham attacked straight from the re-start as Appiah showed good strength to pull a ball back across goal and midfielder Ryan Fraser arrived on cue to hook home. Merstham made some attacking substitutions and moved to a 4-3-3 formation but Three Bridges stayed resolute and so the game ended in defeat for Merstham and promotion for the visitors.

Team: Peter Hudson, Matt Hemstead, Ricci Bhogal (Rossi Ognitene), Nana Agyei, Darren Newland (c), Jon Dale, Danny Ross (Andreas Mouttu), Ryan Fraser, Leon Wallace, Ronnie Appiah, Craig Phelps (Harry Muldoon)

Man of the Match: Leon Wallace

Leigh Hunt

Merstham 4 v 2 Horsham YMCA
Suburban League Challenge Shield
25th March 2008

Merstham Reserves performed a miracle on Tuesday night coming back from a 0-2 deficit to win 4-2 over a much-fancied Horsham YMCA side. Goals for James Cameron, Justin David, Rossi Ognitene and Leon Wallace enabled the team to top their Challenge Shield group.

The teams seemed to cancel each other out for the first half hour of the game before a dubious penalty was given to the away side. James Cameron was adjudged to have pushed the Horsham skipper at a corner and central midfielder Simpson stepped up and placed the ball past Peter Hudson; in goal for his first game. With the advantage of a goal Horsham started spraying the ball about confidently. On 39 minutes Merstham lost the ball in midfield leading to Horsham’s Oritis putting Justin David under pressure. Oritis sped past David and then the onrushing Hudson and planted the ball in the net from a tight angle. Two nil to the visitors and it seemed that would be the score at half-time when the referee gave Merstham an equally soft penalty as Rhod Davis was blocked in the area. James Cameron scored from the spot with the final kick of the half.

Merstham started the second half full of belief and passion and this was no more evident than when a lofted free kick from Jon Dale was met by headers from firstly Jean-Claude Yeboua and then Justin David’s whose effort hit the net. Horsham were stung by the comeback but knew that a draw for them would be enough to top the table however Merstham’s management had other ideas. They swapped Ryan Fraser for Rossi Ognitene and Atif Khan for Chris Hall and went to an attacking 3-4-3 formation. This provided dividends almost instantly as Hall raced down the right wing and crossed majestically for Ognitene to meet it at the far stick and smack the ball home. The formation was instantly switched back to 4-4-2 with Horsham pressing for an equalizer. This allowed Merstham to use the pace of Leon Wallace and Rhod Davis to catch them on the break. One such chance came as the two of them passed to each other in the box with only the keeper to beat but thankfully they weren’t left to rue that missed opportunity when a few minutes later James Cameron found Wallace just outside the box. Wallace looked up, saw the keeper off his line and chipped him beautifully. Merstham held out for the remaining ten minutes and then cued the celebrations for a fantastic comeback victory.

Leigh Hunt

Godalming Town 1 v 2 Merstham
Suburban League South
9th February 2008

Once again Merstham started brightly having the better of the opening exchanges. Godalming's only threat came from their long throws which was delivered more like a free kick at every opportunity, James Cameron, Danny Ross and David Smith all had chances to put Merstham in front. However, it was Godalming who took the initiative when they broke quickly down their right and the low cross was not dealt with, which  provided the Godalming forward the simplest of chances to score.

Merstham continued to press forward as well as dealing competently with Godalming's occasional forays. Godalming were soon reduced to 10 men when their number 10 was sent off for a second yellow card for petulantly kicking the ball away when adjudged to be offside.

Merstham soon pressed home the extra man advantage, when Danny Ross managed to switch play to the right flank where David Smith attacked the 18 yard box and sent a ferocious right foot shot into the roof of the net to put Merstham deservedly on level terms. The momentum was with Merstham and they pressed on for the winner, this was achieved when  both substitutes combined as Chris Hall crossed for Ryan Fraser  to head in at the far post to score his first goal for the club. This performance was full of determination and a clear illustration of the character of this side who in three of their last five victories have come from behind to take the points

Vince Simmons
Reserve Team Manager

Horsham YMCA 3 v 1 Merstham
Suburban League Challenge Shield Group 7
5th February 2008

Merstham were always chasing the game in this shield fixture, after going behind early to the sweetest of strikes when Horsham broke down the left and their forward volleyed home from the right hand edge of the box to put them one up. Merstham then settled down and began to probe from wide areas on what was a sticky rain soaked surface. Once again they were caught out with the delivery from wide on their left when Horsham's forward headed home unchallenged to put them two goals ahead. Tim Moffatt soon reduced arrears but Merstham   couldn't turn their possession into clear cut opportunities Chris Hall coming closest to putting Merstham on level terms. Horsham had other ideas and rounded off the night with a third goal when their forward rounded the stranded Dean Cupit to ensure the points were theirs.

Vince Simmons
Reserve Team Manager

Merstham 3 v 2 East Grinstead Town
Suburban League South
2nd February 2008

If the Reserves had taken their chances this game could have been over as a contest after just 15 minutes. Four chances came and went as Merstham pressed home their territorial advantage. However, it was East Grinstead who found themselves one up when a hopeful punt up field caught the Merstham back four flat, leaving their centre forward to run through to score. Merstham were soon back on level terms when Leon Wallace squeezed his shot under the East Grinstead keeper to score his first goal for the club. Merstham continued to take the initiative, although still a little shaky when asked to defend East Grinstead’s occasionally attacks. East Grinstead took the lead after been given a dubious corner, which  although Merstham dealt with the initial cross,  their failure to close down quick enough provided East Grinstead the opportunity to score.

The second half was similar to the first although Merstham had fewer chances they continued to probe patiently; they were rewarded when first Tim Moffatt finished off a fine move to head home at the far post to equalise. Minutes later James Cameron headed in Tim Moffatt’s corner to secure the points.           

Team: Dean Cupit, Atif Khan (Chris Hall), Ricci Bhogal, Peter Smith, Darren Newland, Jon Dale, David Smith, Tim Moffatt,  James Cameron , Leon Wallace, Ross Ognitene (Danny Ross)

Vince Simmons

Reserve Team Manager

Corinthian-Casuals 5 v 1 Merstham
Suburban League South
19th January 2008

The Reserves current run of good form came to a grinding halt at King Georges Field Saturday. Merstham started brightly and had the better of the opening exchanges with the best opportunity falling to Danny Ross who managed to lift his shot over the bar with the Casuals keeper well beaten. The following 30 minutes were a reminder of what I'd thought we'd left behind where we were slow to react and naive in our defending, consequently Casuals were four goals to the good all of which could have been avoided with a little more concentration and application. I would include the linesman in this for allowing Casuals to score from what appeared to be an offside position.

The second half was an improvement when apart from the Casuals fifth goal a thundering effort, Merstham managed to glue all the bits back to together and showed some character, coupled with the introduction of Peter Smith who provided some balance and determination to the middle of the park. Danny Ross crashed home Tim Moffatt’s fine through ball for Merstham’s consolation goal. On a positive note both Ricci Bhogal and Ross Ognitene deserve a mention both worked tirelessly defensively as well as going forward on the left for Merstham. Lastly confidence is a fragile commodity easily fractured harder to rebuild evidence from the second half suggests if we work hard and focus on our responsibilities for the whole ninety minutes we might be surprised at just what we can achieve.                 

Vince Simmons

Reserve Team Manager

East Grinstead Town 0 v 0 Merstham
Suburban League South
12th January 2008

On a sticky surface East Grinstead’s policy of hit it high and long proved quiet effective.  It was only when Merstham went a little more direct they started to make inroads and create some chances, the only one of note in the first half was James Cameron’s rasping drive that was somehow pushed over by the East Grinstead keeper.

The second half was similar to the first although Merstham did manage to create four more chances and if the game had been decided on saves made by the keepers Merstham would have shaded it 4-3. Dean Cupit pulled off three excellent saves and similarly the East Grinstead keeper did as well saving from James Cameron, Tim Moffatt and Ross Ognitene who also managed to hit the post with the keeper beaten. Still one point's better than three dropped and the foundations are looking solid with something to build on.

Team: Dean Cupit, Jamie David, Ricci Bhogal, Karl Bonner, Newland (Enver Hasa), David Smith, Ryan Elsey (David Booth),

Tim Moffatt, Peter Hames (Harry Muldoon), James Cameron,
Ross Ognitene

Vince Simmons

Reserve Team Manager

Tooting & Mitcham 0 v 1 Merstham
Suburban League Challenge Shield Group 7
9th January 2008

The Reserves passed what was their stiffest test of the season to date with a victory over the Premier table toppers Tooting & Mitcham. This was an evenly contested fixture with both sides having their fair share of possession. Despite a number of changes from their last outing Merstham soon found their rhythm and began creating openings without testing the Tooting keeper. However after 20 minutes the breakthrough came when James Cameron's drilled cross was smashed across the line by the on rushing Ross Ognitene to put Merstham one up. Other half chances came and went without Merstham being able improve on their lead, with the back four dealing competently with Tooting’s attacks.

The second half began with Tooting in determined mood to redress the balance and Merstham playing on the counter. As the clock ran down Merstham’s solid defensive resolve throughout the team ensured all three points were secured. Overall this was a good performance and an excellent result full of hard work with a great deal of character shown by all.

Team: Dean Cupit, Jamie David, Ricci Bhogal, Kevin Molloy, Darren Newland, Jon Dale, Ryan Elsey (David Booth), Tim Moffatt (Mark Bonner), Rhod Davis, James Cameron, Ross Ognitene

Vince Simmons

Reserve Team Manager

Horley Town 2 v 5 Merstham
Suburban League South
22nd December 2007

Considering the amount of game time the reserves have had recently and the tricky surface, they were soon into their stride prompting and probing from all areas. They were rewarded when Rhod Davis finished off a neat move to open up the scoring. This was quickly doubled when he was brought down in the box allowing James Cameron to score from the resultant penalty. Despite continued possession and pressure Merstham couldn’t add to their tally to go in at half time two goals up.

The second half followed a similar vein to the first with Merstham dealing competently with Horley's occasional forays. Goals three, four and five soon followed bringing Rhod Davis' total to four for the day, which included the perfect hat trick of a left and right foot strike plus a header.

Interspersed with this Merstham conceded a penalty, which Dean Cupit pulled off an excellent save to keep a clean sheet. Merstham failed to heed this warning and Horley were encouraged by the complacency of Merstham's defending to allow them a route back into the game. However with the clock running down Merstham managed to refocus to see out the remaining minutes to win 5-2

Vince Simmons

Reserve Team Manager

Merstham 4 v 2 Chipstead
Suburban League South
4th December 2007

A bright and sharper start was soon undone by some shabby defending at set pieces for Merstham to go in at half time two down. However, what followed was 45 minutes of what can best be described as a small step in the right direction, where when the team connected we scored four goals. The first an exquisite chip from the edge of the box from the returning Danny Ross. James Cameron achieved the equaliser from a twice taken penalty after new signing Hinga Amara was brought down.

Hinga then finished off a smart move to put us in front. The night was rounded off when Peter Hames arrived at the right time to score the fourth to round off an excellent recovery. If we can learn from our errors and apply some consistency things can only improve.

Vince Simmons

Reserve Team Manager

Merstham 2 v 7 Godalming Town
Suburban League South
24th November 2007

All journeys have to start somewhere and after the opening 45 minutes I thought I'd picked the wrong day to start mine after watching 45 minutes of car crash defending coupled with an element of naivety. Although it was mixed with some pluses which included some thoughtful phases of play where the lads moved the ball well, alas with no end product. With Godalming deservedly 4 up at half time the game was effectively over, so much so that they decided to rest their two or three first team players for the second half. Merstham also made changes which provided additional momentum resulting in a spirited second half performance.    

The second half was a marked improvement to the first in many areas, with Ross Ladbrook a constant thorn in Godalming's defence which culminated in him scoring Merstham's first and winning the penalty which James Cameron duly despatched for our second.

Lastly to finish on a positive note; of the three lads who stepped up from the youth team - Harry Muldoon, Peter Hames and Mark Bonner all gave a good account of themselves particularly Mark who battled through despite picking up a knock in the warm up.

Vince Simmons

Reserve Team Manager