Wednesday 28th. October.

[Big J R]

(At least I got the date right !)

 

Colliers Wood United 4 - Dorking FC 0. (Cup game)

 

TEAM:-

 

Coote, Shola Olukosi, P Guy, Murphy, Roy Newman, White, Buckley, Matthews, Jones, Clayton, Jesse Davies.

 

Subsstitutes:-

 

Andy Briant, Dean Guy.

 

(Hopefully, more to follow.)

[The KnapMeister]

Knaphill recorded a morale boosting 4-1 win over Hellenic Premier Division side Ascot Utd at the Racecourse Ground last night.

 

On a mild, but misty November evening at Ascot United's developing Racecourse Ground; a new look Knaphill took on an Ascot side who are long in confidence, but short in results so far this season. Work has started on a new Pavillion for the ground, so the facilities are currently adequate, but with a friendly atmosphere. Their new lights shone brightly over a first half that had plenty of passion, but little in the way of goal mouth action. Ascot played an off side trap that caught out poor Ricky Hogsden on more then one occasion as his pace and quile tested the Ascot back four; but it was poor communication between the Ascot keeper and last defender that saw Matt Baker nip between the two and from the edge of the box steer the ball into the net for Knaphill's first. Injuries saw Martin Cook in the Knaphill goal and after a confident appearance for the Reserves in their 6-1 demolition of Hanworth Villa last weekend, he and his new look back line looked untroubled by the Ascot forwards. Half Time 1-0.

 

The mist started to close in as the two sides emerged from the Portakabin changing rooms for the second half. Looking at the drawings on display in the tearoom, the finished Pavillion is going to be a great assest to the club and is planned to be completed before the start of next season. With Mark Tomlinson & Nick Darnell sitting out the second half, it was Knaphill who again started the brighter. Playing the ball on the deck and with Bradley Cann and Liam Fisher pushing forward from the midfield it was hardly surprising that the next goal came Knaphill's way. As Ricky Hogsden darted into the box, his pace left the defender stretching and his clumsy challenge brought the speeding striker to the ground. Ricky stepped up and drove his shot high into the back of the net, 2-0. Ascot never gave up and within 7 minutes had pulled one back after having a penalty appeal turned down minutes earlier.

 

With time ticking away the match took on a new urgency as both sides up the tempo. With 12 minutes to go a fine cross from the left found Gary Campbell all alone at the near post and the ball dropped invitingly for him to head home number 3 with the Ascot keeper frozen to the spot. The wind was really taken from Ascot sails and it was not unsurprising to see in the last minute Liam Fisher, who had a splendid game, beat the offside trap, after some neat passing from Knaphill, sidestep the keeper and plant the ball into the back of the net for goal number 4.

 

All in all a fine display from a Knaphill side who know who to play good football and a real confidence booster to Saturdays home game against Feltham, a game that is vital to putting the league challenge back on track. With a number of new faces on display and more to come in the next few weeks, could this be the turning point in a so far disappointing start to the season?

 

Let's hope so!