In what was a busy evening at Stoneham Lane, AFC Stoneham, looking to build on excellent recent results on the road against Shaftesbury and on their own patch against Bashley, hosted high flying Horndean. Coming off the back of a 3-0 loss to Amesbury, the away following were looking for a reaction. AFC Stoneham made one change, with captain Alex Welch being replaced by Matt Simm, which saw Arty Kerton go into central midfield and Simm slot in at right back. Callum Laycock wore the captain's armband for the first time this season.
AFC Stoneham Line Up
1) Tom Parker-Trott
2) Matt Simm
3) Will Wiseman
4) Pip Nolan
5) Ben Clarke
6) Mat Bainbridge
7) Marcel Laptas
8) Arty Kerton
9) Cal Laycock
10) Duarte Martins
11) Scott Hills
Horndean Line Up
1) Kieran Magee
2) Tyler Giddins
3) Ryan Helmkey
4) Sam Hookey
5) Jack Lee
6) Conner Grant
7) Roy Anderson
8) Ash Howes
9) Connor Duffin
10) Robbie Taw
11) Harry Jackson
AFC Stoneham were looking to continue the style of play that proved so ruthless against Bashley, trying to get the ball forward positively as early as possible and build off Laycock and Martins, whilst remaining compact and hard to break down when out of possession. It was the away side however that started the stronger with Connor Duffin looking very lively from the beginning, challenging for every ball from the first minute. Horndean had the first attack with a through ball to Duffin, the striker remaining marginally onside. 10 minutes later saw a scuffed cross from right back Giddins reach Duffin who cleverly dummied the ball, allowing it to reach Ash Howes, a late runner from midfield, who fired past the outstretched reach of Tom Parker-Trott in the home goal to give the visitors the lead. Duffin really was at the centre of Horndean's efforts. Soon afterwards, his exuberant tackle on Mat Bainbridge even resulted in the centre forward receiving the first booking of the night. The bookings were equalled out soon after when Will Wiseman went into the ref's book after a challenge from behind that nullified a counter from the away side. Less than a minute later though, Horndean doubled their lead when a headed back pass from Pip Nolan was well read by Duffin, allowing him to get to the ball before Parker-Trott, change the angle and finish the chance. Horndean, now with the momentum, made it 3-0 just before half time when Giddins' ball over the AFC Stoneham defence again found Duffin whose shot found the net once again despite a gallant effort from Parker-Trott. With one of the last attacks of the half, a positive touch from Arty Kerton created space just inside the right hand side of the penalty area but his shot was deflected wide.
AFC Stoneham, having re-grouped and re-focused, came out in the second half looking much more lively and with a renewed belief. A ball over the top towards Laycock allowed the striker, and focal point of the home side's attack, to use his strength to hold off a defender and as the ball dropped over his head hit a volley that was deflected on to the post from five yards out. Stoneham were now beginning to exert some pressure to get back in to the game. From the resulting Martins corner, Will Wiseman's efforts to reach the cross pressured a defender to put the ball over his own line. Unfortunately for the Purps, the goal was rightfully disallowed by Referee Nigel Whitfield, who controlled the game well all evening. Not long later, a quick Purps counter-attack left Bainbridge with a yard of space on the edge of the box but he fired just wide. Soon after, Stoneham made a double substitution which saw Laptas and Martins replaced by Clements and Woodward. This seemed to give the hosts a new dynamic with more runners in behind and instantly Clements forced a strong tackle from Giddins to prevent a chance. With 26 minutes to go, Will Wiseman, with what looked to be an injury, came off for Craig Hunt. Horndean were still very much in the game, not just shutting up shop to protect their lead and close the game out. A long ball from keeper Magee put Duffin through on goal but Pip Nolan came in to clear well. Two minutes later, Duffin latched on to another through ball but saw his shot hit the upright. Stoneham then took the initiative, moving up the field, and a cross from Scott Hills found Laycock whose goalbound close range header forced a great save from Magee which fell to Sam Woodward following in who volleyed in to the roof of the net to bring the Purps back in to the game and a give more hope of taking at least a point. Stoneham were now looking to press forwards more and there was a penalty appeal after a Horndean defender was alleged to have handled but the referee turned the appeals down. There was still time for one last chance for Horndean, when Robbie Taw drove down the wing and whipped in a low cross for Duffin but a melee of determined defenders snuffed out the chance. The final whistle blew to confirm a solid away performance with the visitors taking the points in a 3-1 victory. The Purps had addressed the first half issues and put in a more passionate, creative performance after the break, winning the second half 1-0. They'll be looking to continue that as they travel to Baffins Milton Rovers in the league on Saturday. Horndean now sit in 3rd place and face Portland United at the weekend.
UP THE PURPS!
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