In the first competitive game of the season, in the Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round, AFC Stoneham travelled to the PMC Stadium to face Baffins Milton Rovers. The anticipation for a sense of normality and a return to competitive matches saw nearly 300 supporters in the ground for this eagerly awaited night game.
The AFC Stoneham line up was bolstered with two new faces from last year’s team, with Craig Hunt making his competitive debut at left back and Sam Woodward on the right side of a front three. Last season’s top goalscorer, Scott Hills started on the left as he looked to build on last season’s successful campaign.
Baffins Milton Rovers Line Up
1) Charlie Searle
2) Charlie Williamson
3) Brandon Miller
4) Zack Sharp
5) Josh Warren
6) Jamie White
7) Tommy Scutt
8) James Cowan
9) Tyler Moret
10) Callum Dart
11) Dale Mason
AFC Stoneham Line Up
1) Tom Parker-Trott
2) Matt Simm
3) Craig Hunt
4) Arty Kerton
5) Will Wiseman
6) Ben Clarke
7) Mat Bainbridge
8) Alex Welch
9) Cal Laycock
10) Sam Woodward
11) Scott Hills
Stoneham started on the front foot and dominant. With the Purps knocking the ball around looking for patterns of play, the first chance came when Sam Woodward’s run from out wide to central allowed him to get a shot off, only to see it parried wide by Searle. From the resulting corner, Clarke’s header back found Wiseman who’s goalbound volley was blocked by a melee of relieved defenders.
Six minutes later Scott Hills’ battling run saw him bearing down on the left-hand side of the goal with options that he could’ve picked out, instead trying to catch the keeper out at the near post but saw his effort hit the side netting.
20 minutes into the game and the theme was already set with tackles flying in, with both teams trying to gain the ascendancy. Stoneham were trying to play the easier-on-the-eye passing game but having to match the combative nature of the Baffins approach, so much so that a robust Craig Hunt challenge caused uproar on the Baffins bench. Stoneham were having the best of the chances and they had another when Welch’s slide pass to Bainbridge found the midfielder on the edge of the box with space to shoot but the ever-vocal Searle tipped it over.
The Baffins breakthrough came against the run of play, 10 minutes before the break. The ever dependable Clarke’s clearance ricocheted against Dale Mason and the winger luckily found himself in behind the Stoneham defence and one-on-one with keeper Tom Parker-Trott. The wide man showed his composure and slotted home easily. Just before half time, defensive midfielder Arty Kerton was forced off with an ankle injury, replaced by attacker Luke Hooper in a bold offensive minded change.
Just minutes into the second half Laycock’s disguised pass in-between Miller and Sharp found Woodward one-on-one with Searle but the keeper made himself big and blocked the shot. Stoneham were clearly out with a point to prove because three minutes later Scott Hills’ shot from the corner of the penalty area was arrowing towards the top right corner before Searle turned it round for a corner.
Sensing their lead becoming more under pressure, the home team reacted positively and when a cross from wide found Tommy Scutt his effort was saved comfortably.
The Purps continued to chase a way back in to the game that their play deserved. 15 minutes into the second half, Stoneham played a short corner to Matt Simm and his quick chop back into the box resulted in a rash tackle from a despairing defender, bringing him down in the box for a stonewall penalty. Scott Hills, relishing the opportunity to open his account, stepped up and fired past Searle despite the keeper getting a strong hand to it.
Stoneham continued to create chances, looking for a winner. The commitment from Woodward to chase a lost cause found him driving at the Baffins defence, fizzing the ball across goal to Laycock who put it over from 3 yards out under a last ditch challenge.
On 75 minutes, Welch’s driving run past the Baffins midfield created an overload on the right and his ball to Laycock and resulting quick pass left Woodward in a great position. Just towards the right, Woodward made the Baffins defence think he was coming inside, but it was pure trickery to create the space he needed on his right side which he then exploited, firing his low shot in to the bottom left hand corner of the hosts’ net.
The last 10 minutes saw Baffins pumping balls from all parts of the ground towards the visitors’ penalty area. As per usual, Mr Reliable Ben Clarke seemed to win every header, helping the well marshalled Stoneham defence to repel the bombardment with relative comfort. Good game management and a committed approach throughout the team saw the game out and the Purps in to the next round where they will face Pagham at Stoneham Lane.
UP THE PURPS!
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