Epsom & Ewell U11s League Division Three
Merstham  ‘B’ 2 v 2 Thames Ditton Juniors
Saturday 10th March 2012

Following on from their impressive win last week, the Merstham U11b team went into this week's home game against Thames Ditton with plenty of confidence. And how they did impressive the weekly faithful with a fabulous and well deserved 2-2 draw against the visitors who were flying high in 3rd position and seeking to win second spot. Merstham started the match as they had left off last week with the look of determination by ensuring the opponents could not settle on the ball. The 5-3-2 formation appeared to play dividends as although the strike threat from Thames Ditton was ever present, the efforts on goal were extremely limited and went high or wide when attempted. The game was played in a great competitive spirit and at pace. It was truly end to end entertainment for the loyal crowd to applaud. Tackles were constant throughout this encounter. Indeed Merstham Goalkeeper & captain Declan Dennehy found himself on the end of a firm but fair challenge 25 minutes into the first half. A free kick from the Thames Ditton midfield found its way into the Merstham 18 yard area and bounced high. Dennehy came off his line to collect under pressure from the incoming forward and was winded for his effort - Importantly, he managed to keep hold of the ball! Due to the injury Dennehy went off injured and was replaced by understudy Benjamin Ellis. Thomas Watts playing in central midfield was the main reason for Merstham going in at half time on level terms. His tenacity and sheer will-power saw him cover every blade of grass covering the pitch winning the ball and setting up counter attack after counter attack for forwards George Holder and Sam Gardiner to latch onto. At the back, Christian Bright intercepted time and time again to break down any Thames Ditton attack.

Thames Ditton were clearly rattled and the start of the second half saw them turn up the pressure on Merstham. Attempts down the flanks were negated by Nathan Hopkins and Ciaran Lowe. Thames Ditton kept probing at the centre of MFC where Watts, Cousens and Bright were working tirelessly. TD's perseverance paid off as they broke through the MFC defence on 38mins - Ellis got down well to his left to block the shot but could not hold it. The loose ball was pounced upon and tapped in - 0-1 to the visitors. MFC did not give up. Holder was always alert and his eagerness to level the scores came about in the 45 min. A well worked pass and move drill found Holder run onto the final ball in the TD goal area. His right foot bullet was not going to miss the target and how he celebrated. The frantic end to end play continued and 5 minutes later a carbon copy of their first goal saw TD regain the lead. MFC were not going to let all their hard work and effort go to waste. A change in positions saw Dennehy return to keep goal, Ellis back on the left wing, and rested legs in the form of Harris & Wright help bolster the tiring midfield. The resolve that MFC provided paid dividends. 3 minutes before time, Holder found himself latching on to sublime pass from Hopkins. Another right foot strike powered its way into the TD net. 2-2! Holder surpassed his first celebration with another neat piece of gymnastics! This was the performance of the season so far by an always improving Merstham Youth side. All 15 players contributed to this fantastic result - 15 player of the match performances sums it up.

Team: Declan Dennehy(C), Nathan Hopkins, Christian Bright, Alex Burgess, Greg Cousens, Ciaran Lowe, Alfie Harris, Tom Watts. Benjamin Ellis. George Holder, Sam Gardiner, Henry Jablonski, Liam Walsh. Elliot Capstick-Bennett, Alex Wright

Report by  John Ellis

Epsom & Ewell U11s League Division Three
Merstham U11s ‘B’ 4 v 1 Redhill Town U11s
Saturday 3rd March 2012

Merstham Youth U11s ‘B’ took the first set of bragging rights over their local rivals, Redhill with a fine 4-1 win. This eagerly awaited local derby fixture had been postponed twice before Saturday's match and both sides set out their intentions to win from the first whistle

 It was Merstham who struck first after five minutes with Nathan Hopkins capitalising on some indecision in the Redhill defence to tap in a close range effort. MFC's confidence grew and they started to control the game. Some excellent interceptions from Left Back Gregory Cousins and centre back Christian Bright thwarted the Redhill attacks and in turn brought  forward Sam Gardiner into the game running at the Redhill defence.   Gardiner indeed almost doubled Merstham’s lead with a header which only just cleared the crossbar after, some intelligent running to attack a loose ball. The Midfield pairing Tom Watts and Elliot Capstick-Bennett worked well together to snuff out the early opportunities Redhill had of putting an attack together. As their dominance increased, Merstham struck again from a corner taken by Nathan Hopkins which the Redhill keeper could not hold and unfortunately parried into his own net. Redhill kept battling away and pulled a goal back on 20 minutes after some good work from their midfield and strikers capitalising on Merstham's lack of concentration. Tackles were not made and a shot was allowed which found its way into Keeper Declan Dehaney's bottom right hand corner. It was a slight blot on his and the MFC first half fine team performance. Merstham fought back, Benjamin Ellis making some good tackles and finding his team mates in good positions - George Holder almost the beneficiary of some all round good team work resulting in a third goal. The 3rd goal came, again from Nathan Hopkins right foot capping off a fine first half performance with a hat-trick. Merstham were well on top and a great free kick from Benjamin Ellis was parried into the path of substitute Liam Walsh whose attempt narrowly missed the Redhill goal. To ensure the advantage was held, Tom Watts dropped into centre defence where his tenacity and tackling rescued MFC from increasing Redhill threats.

The second half saw a change in the Redhill goal and a tactical change of formation from Merstham. It was an exciting half of football with Redhill capitalising on some indecision at the centre of Merstham's midfield and defence. Thankfully those attacks that did get through were met with Declan Dehaney's safe hands. Again Merstham saw most of the possession and their fluid passing and moving found Liam Walsh on the end of a five man movement only to see his effort saved. Redhill became ever more frustrated and gave away some needless free kicks in dangerous areas. Benjamin Ellis stepped up and on two occasions saw his effort well saved and then clatter against the crossbar. George Holder was moving ever closure to another goal for Merstham. Firstly some fine midfield work from birthday boy Alfie Harris found Holder with a super pass which Redhill's keeper only just beat him to. Shortly after, a move out of defence from Alex "Bud" Burgess to the ever resourceful Henry Jablonski found Alfie Harris who ran and passed out left to Ben Ellis. He cut back inside and threaded a defence splitting pass through for Holder. Unfortunately, his speed took him into an offside position - just! The linesman was unfortunately correct. Despite plenty of efforts neither side could find their way through to the opposition goal until the 15th minute when another Merstham effort was started from a Christian Bright free kick which fell into the path of Gardiner on the right flank he crossed in a low ball to the middle of the penalty area where Ellis was on hand to tap in Merstham's fourth goal. Redhill kept going and it took some timely interceptions from Nathan Hopkins who protected his keeper well. It also took some clever thinking from Alex Wright who replaced Ellis. on 22 minutes to keep the ball in the Redhill half and away from danger to see the game out and ensure that Merstham ran out deserved winners of this first meeting between the local rivals.

Team: Declan Dennehy, Alexander Wright, Christian Bright, Gregory Cousens, Ciaran Lowe, Alexander Burgess, Nathan Hopkins, Benjamin Ellis (c), Thomas Watts, Sam Gardiner, George Holder, Alfie Harris, Elliot Capstick-Bennet, Liam Walsh, Henry Jablonski

Report by  John Ellis