Merstham FC - Under 15

Sunday 24th April 2005
League Cup Final
Merstham 5 - St. Helier 1

Merstham FC’s fresh faced start to their youth revolution this season took its second trophy of the weekend. After the under 11s won their premier league title on Saturday, the Under 15s destroyed St Helier at Banstead’s Merland Rise ground 5-1 the following day to kick start silverware for what can only be described as an important season for Merstham.
After the Merstham under 15s recently finished runners up in the Epsom & Ewell Premier League to St Helier, you could only hope that the league winners would have no mental hold over them. However, straight from kick off Merstham showed great discipline using the width of the field to their advantage forcing St Helier to concede corners one of which Toby Phelan made no mistake on delivering well to team mate Liam Nagle who headed in Merstham’s first only eleven minutes into play.
Merstham continued to play great football showing strong determination when only three minutes later a neat pass by midfield found Williams one on one with St Helier keeper Alex Makker and placed his shot. Makker did manage a touch on the ball but unfortunately only slowed down a well deserved second goal for Merstham.
St Helier looked troubled and Manager Ken Weller knew it, making three substitutions, desperate to turn around his sides poor performance before half time. But hungry for goals, Merstham pestered St Helier’s goal area to find a third and in the 23^rd minute a well guided free kick by Captain James Rooke picked out striker Callum Vail just outside the six yard box who skilfully volleyed the ball into the top left hand corner of the net to make it 3-0.
St Helier seemed very disheartened by this point and never really looked like troubling Merstham keeper Mario Diaz-Benitez with the score remaining 3-0 at the break.

With a sniff of victory in the air Merstham Manager Dave Roberts must have made his point clear that in a cup final anything can happen and that staying confident and focused would keep his side well on track to victory. With this in mind, straight from the off, a great forward run by Rooke sped passed several defenders to force a cross into the box which found Vail unmarked to perform yet another powerful strike to leave keeper Makker no chance to put Merstham 4-0 up.
Merstham’s performance only grew stronger when Captain James Rooke made his third assist of the game setting up Joe Antonelli to make it an amazing 5-0 lead.
St Helier struggling to come to grips with the game began to get frustrated conceding many free kicks, but this late in the game Merstham were in no rush to find more goals, changing their tactics to defend their vast lead and keep a clean sheet. But in the 69^th minute a counter attack by St Helier saw Luke Delaney steal a consolation goal, but unfortunately did not have that bouncebackability that they were hoping for at the start of the second half as referee David Rowland blew his whistle crowning Merstham winners of the R. J. Dance (Contractors) Ltd Cup.

Let us hope that the senior sides follow the youths lead in their respective competitions and add to Merstham’s overall performance for season 2004/2005.

Mario Diaz-Benitez (GK), Matthew Sprange, Chris Harnan, Liam Nagle, Ben Makroum, Rhys Owens, James Rooke (C), Jonathan Williams, Callum Vail, Michael Roberts, Toby Phelan, Joe Antonelli, Joe Musto, Tim Donald.

Scott Gretton-Doidge

	W	17/04/05	AFC DORKING	1	MERSTHAM	4	L
	W	20/03/05	MERSTHAM	2	SURREY RANGERS	0	L
MR	W	13/03/05	BATTERSEA IRONSIDE	2	MERSTHAM (aet)	3	C
	P	06/03/05	AFC DORKING	v	MERSTHAM	P	L
	W	27/02/05	STONELEIGH ATHLETIC	2	MERSTHAM	5	L
	W	06/02/05	MERSTHAM	6	AFC DORKING	2	C
	L	23/01/05	MERSTHAM	3	CORINTHIAN CASUALS	4	L
MR	W	16/01/05	MERSTHAM	8	STONELEIGH ATHLETIC	0	L
MR	W	12/12/04	MERSTHAM	9	HOOK YOUTH	2	L
MR	W	05/12/04	CORINTHIAN CASUALS	1	MERSTHAM	6	L
MR	W	28/11/04	REIGATE PRIORY	0	MERSTHAM	4	C
	L	14/11/04	MERSTHAM	2	ST HELIER	3	L
MR	W	07/11/04	MERSTHAM	8	SOUTH PARK JUNIORS	0	L
	L	31/10/04	SURREY RANGERS	4	MERSTHAM	2	L
	L	10/10/04	MERSTHAM	2	AFC DORKING	4	L
	W	03/10/04	HOOK YOUTH	3	MERSTHAM	10	L
	L	26/09/04	ST HELIER	4	MERSTHAM	2	L

1	ST HELIER YOUTH U15	14	9	4	1	65	18	47	31
2	MERSTHAM YOUTH U15	14	9	0	5	65	29	36	27
3	AFC DORKING U15	14	6	3	5	39	36	3	21
4	CORINTHIAN CASUALS U15	14	6	2	6	32	45	- 13	20
5	SURREY RANGERS U15	14	5	4	5	26	32	- 6	19
6	STONELEIGH ATHLETIC U15	14	5	3	6	33	31	2	18
7	SOUTH PARK JUNIORS U15	14	5	3	6	14	32	- 18	18
8	HOOK YOUTH U15	14	1	1	12	27	78	- 51	4

Under 15 Squad members receive their wristbands from
Ted Hickman & Martin Burr at the launch of
Merstham FC's Anti- Racism Campaign

Sunday, 16 January 2005
Merstham 8 - Stoneleigh 0

A superb performance by Merstham saw them leapfrog their opponents into second place in the Premier Division – but it was anything but easy in the first period. Both sides created some decent chances, with Merstham’s Liam Nagle having an excellent game at the centre of defence, but it was Joe Antonelli who scored the only goal of the half, getting on the end of a Jof William’s cross to smash the ball over the keepers head on 30 minutes.

After the break, however, it was a completely different story; Callum Vail putting Williams through after just 5 minutes to clip the ball past the despairing keeper and, 60 seconds later, Vail adding one of his own with a venomous near post shot to make it 3-nil. The home side sat back for the next 10 minutes but, after some choice words from the manager, they raised their game again, scoring five more in an incredible 18 minute period. Firstly, Toby Phelan lobbed the goalkeeper from 25 yards, then Antonelli put James Rooke, commanding in his new midfield role, through to make it five. Next, Antonelli turned in a Vail cross for his second of the game and then Rooke broke past the defence to complete his own brace. In the middle of this melee, Stoneleigh had a couple of chances of their own, the excellent Ben Makroum stopping a certain goal with a superb last-ditch tackle and Mario Diaz holding his nerve to save a penalty. Finally, Rhys Owen swivelled in a crowded area to see his shot deflected in for Merstham’s eighth.

GOAL SCORERS: Joe Antonelli (2), Rhys Owens, Callum Vail, Toby Phelan, James Rooke (2), Jof Williams

TEAM: Mario Diaz, Chris Harnan, Joe Musto, Ben Makroum, Michael Roberts, Joe Antonelli Rhys Owens, Callum Vail, Toby Phelan James Rooke, Liam Nagle, Jof Williams, Matt Sprange

David Harnan

Sunday, 12 December 2004
Merstham 9 - Hook 2

Merstham went on the attack from the whistle, Jof Williams netting from close range after 5 minutes, and then went two up shortly after when Joe Antonelli got on the end of an excellent Michael Roberts cross to poke the ball home. Hook punished the hosts for giving away a free kick when an excellent shot soared over the ‘keepers head and, for a while, it looked like the game would be a closely matched affair. In an amazing three minute period, however, Merstham took Hook apart with first Toby Phelan, and then James Rooke twice, finding the net with three superb individual goals.
The second half saw Callum Vail and Joe Antonelli come close before Phelan’s snap-shot looped off a defender for an unfortunate own goal. Rooke’s penalty made the score 7-1, quickly followed by his fourth of the day as he dribbled past Hook’s mesmerised defence to slip the ball into the net. Casual play gifted Hook a second goal, a deflected shot from the visitors slicing past the ‘keeper, but Merstham had the last word, Vail’s cheeky lob from five yards making the final score 9-2.

GOAL SCORERS: Joe Antonelli, Callum Vail, Toby Phelan , James Rooke (4), Jof Williams,
Opponent own goal(1)

TEAM: Mario Diaz, Chris Harnan, Joe Musto, Ben Makroum, Michael Roberts, Joe Antonelli, Rhys Owens, Callum Vail, Toby Phelan, James Rooke, Liam Nagle, Jof Williams

David Harnan

Sunday, 5 December 2004
Corinthian Casuals 1 - Merstham 6

Merstham had enough chances to win this game by a much bigger margin but the final result was never in any doubt, Casuals being restricted to only a handful of shots in the whole game by a resolute defence.
Merstham’s strikers had three excellent attempts on goal before Jof Williams opened the scoring on the half hour with a well taken strike from 15 yards. Callum Vail added the second minutes later with a thunderbolt which found the back of the net through a crowd of defenders, then appeared to get another on the stroke of halftime – but his run was ruled offside.
Merstham started the second half like their lives depended on it, crafting six golden opportunities in a superb opening spell. Most went begging, Joe Antonelli being particularly unfortunate, but James Rooke put Williams in for two tap-ins to complete his hat-trick before a quarter of an hour had gone. Vail added the fifth with another superbly struck solo goal before Corinthians pulled one back with an opportunist volley straight from a throw in. Rooke produced a truly venomous shot to make it 6-1 with 3 minutes to go, leaving the visitors just enough time to create four more chances before the whistle.

GOAL SCORERS: Callum Vail (2), James Rooke, Jof Williams (3)

TEAM: Mario Diaz, Chris Harnan, Joe Musto, Matt Sprange, Michael Roberts, Joe Antonelli, Rhys Owens, Callum Vail, Toby Phelan, James Rooke, Liam Nagle, Jof Williams

David Harnan

Sunday, 28 November 2004
Reigate Priory 0 - Merstham 4
Epsom & Ewell U15 League Cup 2nd Round

Merstham dominated from the whistle on this freezing cold day, but it was half an hour into the game before they produced something to warm the crowd up, Jof Williams stabbing the ball home after the Priory ‘keeper half stopped Callum Vail’s rasping shot. Minutes later, James Rooke showed great control to bring the ball down in the area before slotting it home for Merstham’s second. The second half started with Rooke helping on a precise cross by the lively Joe Antonelli for Toby Phelan to tap in for a third. Good performances from Chris Harnan, Joe Musto, Michael Roberts and Matt Sprange served to break up any Priory attacks while Antonelli had several well fashioned chances to add to the scoring. In the end, though, it was Phelan who supplied the finishing touch with a superb solo effort which finished in the top corner.
GOAL SCORERS: Toby Phelan (2), James Rooke, Jof Williams
TEAM: Mario Diaz, Chris Harnan, Ben Makroum, Joe Musto, Matt Sprange, Michael Roberts, Joe Antonelli, Rhys Owens, Callum Vail, Toby Phelan, James Rooke, Liam Nagle, Jof Williams

David Harnan

Sunday, 7 November 2004
Merstham 8 - South Park 0

From the scoreline it would seem an easy win for the home side; in reality however, South Park were a match for Merstham throughout the first half, but enjoyed no luck at all in front of goal.
The game started in dramatic style for Merstham, James Rooke fooling the ‘keeper with a stunning chip after just 17 seconds, surely a candidate for a league record. South Park had most of the play for the next 20 minutes however, hitting the bar with one header, just missing the post with another and then drawing a superb save from Mario Diaz. Rooke then got his second from a tight angle after Jof Williams’ deft pass had put him through on goal. Eight minutes later, Joe Antonelli struck Merstham’s third with a well hit low shot that sent the ‘keeper the wrong way. South Park had one more chance before the break, but their header flew just wide.
Merstham went on to build on their lead in the second half, with South Park apparently resigned to their fate. Williams opened his account after 4 minutes, rounding the goalkeeper before slotting the ball home and, 10 minutes later, added another with a tap-in after Rooke had dribbled his way past three defenders. The Park goalkeeper denied Williams a third before Callum Vail beat him with a crisply hit shot from the edge of the area. Williams got his hat-trick with 5 minutes to go with a stunning 25 yard drive that literally flew into the net. Tim Donald took up a good position to head in Merstham’s eighth as the final whistle approached, but there was still time for Merstham’s keeper, Diaz, to pull off a point blank save and Joe Musto almost to grab a ninth for the hosts.

A well rounded performance from Merstham, with the whole team contributing to an impressive win and, despite South Park’s best efforts, a very welcome clean sheet.

GOAL SCORERS: Tim Donald, Joe Antonelli, Callum Vail, James Rooke (2), Jof Williams(3)

TEAM: Mario Diaz, Chris Harnan, Tim Donald, Joe Musto, Matt Sprange, Michael Roberts, Joe Antonelli,
Rhys Owens, Callum Vail, Toby Phelan, James Rooke, Liam Nagle, Jof Williams

David Harnan