Match report
The unavailability of Hampton and Richmond's Beveree meant the postponement of the reserve team's Suburban League Cup tie against Walton & Hersham, but Trevor managed to arrange this friendly replacement match at short notice, an AFC Wimbledon side's first visit to Fetcham Park, home of Seagrave Haulage League rivals Chessington United.
Chessington were cute enough to open the bar and print a programme for the match, as well as a scratch card lottery (the beers were on Trevor!) but, unfortunately, the pitch was not up to the same standard as the off-field activities - bare and dusty in places (although I've seen worse; Ilford and Bedfont spring immediately to mind).
Trialist Sam Elliott made his debut alongside Tony Readings and and Mark Skinner, of Raynes Park Vale fame, took a bow on the right wing. Kerry Watts and Bobby Jones continued their trials.
The first half was Dons from the off, only five minutes in and Wade Falana was clean through, but dragged his shot wide with only the keeper to beat, a minute later Rob Hill's in-swinging corner from the right scraped off the top of Ryan Luffman's head at the back post and three minutes after that Falana again broke over the top and, although he and Luffman appeared to get in each other's way, Luffman was the first to the loose ball and crashed his shot against the foot of the post. The early pressure brought it's reward with two goals in three minutes. Firstly Dave Towse swung in a free-kick from wide left and Mark Skinner was at the far post to knock it back across for Falana to tap over the line, then Keith Ward lobbed in a free-kick from deep in the other side of the pitch that made it's way to the back post where Rob Hill was lurking to crash the ball home. Another two goal spurt just after the half-hour put the game beyond doubt. Luffman angled a pass through the middle and Falana caught two defenders flat before placing the ball firmly past the keeper for the third, then a minute later Falana completed his hat-trick, smashing home a penalty after a Dons forward was caught running onto a cross from the right wing. Matt Hodge should have made it five just before the break, running through onto another Luffman pass, but only able to force a fine save from the keeper.
Chessington tightened up considerably in the second half and, although Dons still had almost all of the play, it wasn't until the 70th minute that the first real chance of the period was created. Tony Readings turned provider with a lovely pass through the middle for Luffman to run onto and slide past the goalie. Falana should have scored, but twice mis-hit in the same move, possibly beaten by the pitch, and then had a goal disallowed for handball when he chased down Readings' free-kick over the top and the keeper smashed the ball against him from a yard away. A superb Luffman flick after 75 minutes put Hill in on the left, but he could only crash his shot against the bar and, a minute later, Luffman himself could only watch as the keeper tipped over his 20 yard lob. The scoring was completed eight minutes from the end with the goal of the evening, Falana flicking on for Luffman to wallop the ball in from the right edge of the penalty box. Falana, Hill and Falana again could have made it seven during a move of concerted pressure just before the end, but Dons has to settle for their second six goal haul in a four days.
Overall, a fine display of attacking football against admittedly weaker opposition. |
