Merstham U13s were at home this Sunday to Stoneleigh, earlier in the season Merstham won a hard fought contest and were looking for the double over the visitors.

Both teams looked equally matched, before a diagonal ball from midfielder Hadley Iles found the feet of Tom Atkins who still had plenty to do before smashing the ball into the top right hand corner of the Stoneleigh goal to open the scoring. Merstham were looking in control before their defence went to sleep and let the visitor’s striker stroll through unhindered to stab home the equalizing goal. Merstham had further chances that went begging before a free kick taken by Atkins found Anthony Waller at the far post to head Merstham back into the lead. Solid play by Isles and Marsden kept the visitors attacks to a minimum and the home team ended the first half with a 2-1.

After the interval Stoneleigh stepped up their game and pressed Merstham back for long periods in the half. At times the Merstham defence lost some of its discipline, but most mistakes were mopped up by the Merstham keeper Josh Vassen. Merstham had several chances to put the game out of the reach of the visitors, but failed to add to their score. With time running out and the home team pinned in their own half a breakaway attack lead to John Lawton dancing his way through the Stoneleigh defence to score a fine solo effort goal and Merstham finished the game as 3-1 winners.

A good spirited game played by both teams with Merstham needing to learn to remain disciplined throughout the whole of a game and maintain their pitch positions. A good performance from the whole squad with some fine displays from several players.

Raven Recycling Man of the Match went to Anthony Waller.

Squad: Vassen, Johnson, Porto, Harknett, Baker, Jones, Waller, Gurdin, Iles, Marsden, Skipper, Lawton, Hawkins, Atkins

Report by Steve Atkins

This week‘s game gave Merstham the opportunity to do the double over a team for the first time this season with a visit by Division rivals Mollison. The game started as expected with much of the visitor’s chances coming from their strong forward pairing which tore through the heart of Merstham’s midfield and defence, it wasn’t long before Mollison found the back of the Merstham net. Not learning from their mistakes and Mollison taking full advantage of their opportunities, Merstham were stunned when they found themselves 4-0 down and an uphill task before them, but the game was to take a dramatic change. Merstham’s John Lawton jinked his way in from the wing to poke in Merstham’s first goal of the game and Connor Harknett added a second before half time.

The second half commenced with Merstham now kicking with the wind and a belief that the half time changes could upset Mollison. A speculative shot from Hadley Iles from 30 yards found the back of Mollison’s net, his first goal for his club, aided the comeback. Then Tom Atkins raced onto a huge drop kick from the home keeper, Josh Vassen, lifting the ball over the advancing visitor’s keeper to tie the score at 4-4. Two solo efforts from front man Aaron Hawkins increased the lead before an OG from Mollison rounded of the scoring for the day, the home supporters witnessed the greatest comeback since Lazarus, seeing Merstham run out 7-4 winners.
A great performance from the team that looked dead and buried at half time, but by playing with belief ended the game as victors.

The Squad: Vassen, Johnson, Harknett, Porto, Waller, Gurdin, Iles, Marsden, Lawton, Atkins, Hawkins, Baker, Skipper

Report by Steve Atkins

This week saw the U13s entertain Wolves at home on a frost hardened pitch. Tactical changes saw Merstham play a 4-3-3 formation to take advantage of the expected weaknesses in the Wolves defence.

Early play was cautious from both sides, but once the pitch started softening up so did the Wolves back four. Strong play from front man Connor Harknett saw him open his account for the day with an easy goal, only for him to be back on the score sheet within minutes with his second. Wolves were torn apart at the back and several chances failed to result in extending the home sides lead until Aaron Hawkins popped in his first goal of the day to take Merstham into half time with a 3-0 lead.

Second half was much the same as the first with Wolves hardly troubling Merstham’s back four, with Josh Vassen a mere spectator  between the sticks. Merstham added to their score with Harknett completing his hat trick and Hawkins adding a second to his tally before a fourth from Harknett rounded off Merstham’s total for the day.

Final result was 6-0 to the home side and a good performance from the all the boys was encouraging, special praise was heaped on a controlled display by Ant Waller. A good spirited game was had by both sides.

Raven’s Man of the Match went to Connor Harknett

Report by Steve Atkins

The U13s went away this Sunday due to a weather switched fixture to Stoneleigh. After the two minute remembrance silence pre-kickoff it was Merstham that created the early chances that went begging. Stoneleigh’s strong arm tactics were matched by the boys and it was the away team that came close to scoring first when a chance from Jamie Gurdin hit the post rather than the net. Merstham continued to press and finally broke the Stoneleigh defence when a weighted pass from Tom Atkins found the free Liam Marsden, who smashed home the opening goal. Merstham had all the play and when Atkins broke free of the home defence only to be felled inside the box, up stepped Aaron Hawkins to sweetly net from the spot.

After the interval Stoneleigh stepped up their game and pressed Merstham back for long periods in the half. When the Merstham defence lost some of its discipline, Stoneleigh were awarded a disputed penalty. The kick had to be taken again after encroachment, only for Josh Vassen between the sticks, to save the second attempt. The Merstham boys competed hard in all areas, with Mike Baker and his new boots making some fine tackles. Merstham had some more chances within the half but failed to add to their lead and ended the game as 2-0 winners.

 A feisty game played by both teams with Merstham needing to learn to remain disciplined throughout the whole of a game and maintain their pitch positions, however a good result under difficult conditions.

Sponsor’s Man of the Match Mike Baker

Report by Steve Atkins

This week the U13s hosted local rivals South Park in their first return fixture of the year, with revenge a high priority after the early season loss.

The game was taken to the visitors from the off, with several half chances falling to the Merstham front two, supported by some strong play from Hadley Isles from midfield and any attacks from the visitors dealt with comfortably by Connor Harknett in the Merstham back four, the first half ended goalless.

The second half tactical changes brought more attacking flair to the Merstham line up, resulting in several corners that Merstham failed to benefit from. With the game entering the final quarter, Merstham pressed for the opening in the South Park defence, only for a shot on the turn from Tom Atkins to cannon off the underside of the South Park bar and away to safety. This seemed to spark another push by the home team, with Anthony Waller involvement from a quickly taken Merstham throw, setting up Connor Skipper in front of the visitor’s goal to stab home what turned out to be the winning goal.

A well spirited game played by both sides, but a determined Merstham side finally broke down a stubborn South Park for a deserved win.

Report by Steve Atkins

This week saw Merstham’s U13s travel to local team Monotype for a 1st round tie in the League Cup.

Both teams played attractive football trying to break each other’s defences down and it was Monotype who took the lead first, before a goal from Merstham’s Connor Skipper, took the teams in at half time all square.

The second half saw Monotype strike first and take a 2-1 lead before another strike by Skipper tied up the score at 2-2. Merstham then took control of the game, having several chances before Connor Harknett opened his goal scoring account by putting Merstham 3-2 up. Harknett then scored his second and the tie looked over but Monotype didn’t give up and after pressurising the Merstham defence, were awarded a penalty, which they converted to make the score 4-3. With only seconds left of the game, Merstham’s defence was breached again for a score of 4-4. 

Merstham scored in the first minute of extra time with a goal from John Lawton, but Monotype came back yet again to level the score. It took another goal from Harknett, his hat trick and an own goal before this entertaining tie finally fell in Merstham’s favour with a final score of 7-5.

Both teams played this game in the right spirit with Merstham’s overall fitness probably being the difference between the two teams. Man of the match went to Liam Marsden for his tireless display in midfield.

Report by Steve Atkins

 Merstham boys finally got points on the board this Sunday against newly formed Mollison FC. With some familiar faces in the Mollison side, Merstham were ready for an aerial onslaught, but it was Merstham who took command early in this game. Tom Atkins out on the wings fired in on several occasion, before Mollison failed to clear their lines when Connor Skipper leathered a shot into the top corner of the goal, for a well deserved lead. With Merstham maintaining much of the possession in the half, Mollison cracked again just before the interval, when Aaron Hawkins stabbed home a second for Merstham.

Expected second half changes were managed well by a compact Merstham midfield and persistent play out on the wings lead to panic in the Mollison defence, resulting in a penalty that was tucked under the keeper by Hawkins, for his second of the game. Mollison pressed hard for the rest of the match and got some reward after the Merstham defence failed to clear, letting in the Mollison strike pairing to score what turned out to be a consolation goal.  
A good all round performance by the boys, with some outstanding tackling by Jamie Gurdin and Connor Harknett at the back.
 
Raven’s MOTM went to Aaron Hawkins.

Report by Steve Atkins