Step Four/Five Inter Step Play-off, Saturday 29th April
On a gorgeous spring day in late April I made my way to Surrey and the village of Merstham for the very first time for a Inter Step play-off tie between Isthmian One South Central Merstham and Combined Counties Premier Division North Egham Town in what was a all Surrey affair at The Worldflow Stadium, or as others know it, Moatside.
I wanted to do one of the thirteen Inter Step play-off games, and this fixture just jumped out at me, the clubs are only about twenty-five miles apart and as said above in the same county, I had never been to the ground before, I hadn't even been to the village before, and with what was at stake as well, and lots of good things said about the club to me from various people, oh and easily accessible by train too (40 minutes or so from Farringdon and only a short walk to the stadium) it seemed a no brainer to me.
One of those people to respond to a tweet I'd put out was Vice Chairman of the club Chris Pullen, who said he would have a club scarf waiting for me, and true to his word, when he arrived at the ground, he came and found me in the clubhouse and handed me a very nice scarf indeed, and took time to chat to me for a few minutes, which was very nice of him indeed. The club website says he is also Press Officer, Match Reporter & Commercial Director as well, so he is a very busy man, so I appreciated his time even more!!!
The hosts had squeezed themselves into this play off match after they netted a point on the final day of the league season, a point that they needed after Bedfont Sports, the team trying to catch then below, won 6-0, so had Merstham not fought back from 0-2 down at home to Westfield to net a 2-2 draw, they would have been relegated automatically on goal difference, so they certainly showed some character in that one, and they would need it again in this tie as well.
That's because visitors Egham Town had almost the perfect April till this point, netted seven wins from eight league games in the month, and although they finished a massive eighteen points behind Champions and FA Vase finalists Ascot United, they finished eight points clear of third placed Reading City, so were on form that is for sure and truly believed they could upset their opponents today and gain that promotion they deserved after a very good campaign.
A decent crowd of 652 were in attendance as well, including a very sizable contingent from Egham, and they certainly created a very decent atmosphere as they hoped they could cause an upset of sorts, all the pressure was on the hosts and you could detect that nervousness amongst the hosts, this was a big game with lots on the line, both sides traded early efforts, but it was those visiting fans who were jumping for joy in the 17th minute.
That's because Egham got themselves ahead when a cross from the left saw the superbly named Excellence Muhemba guide a lovely header into the far corner and send the Egham fans behind that goal wild with delight, they could sense that something special may be brewing, and the hosts were now very nervous and looking at each other and fearing the worst you felt.
It could of got even worse for Merstham as well, Egham had started very well and should have doubled their lead for sure but saw Danny Campion somehow miss at the near post after he totally lost his marker and only had to direct the ball beyond keeper Filip Chalupniczak but could only put the chance wide, had it gone 2-0 you felt the hosts really had a mountain to climb, although they had come back from 2-0 down in their previous game of course.
This seemed to wake the hosts up a bit and were getting stronger and stronger as the half went on, defender Luke Read had two magnificent chances to head home from close range but sent both over the bar, and then the brilliant Jean-Pascale Masikini, who turned out to be a constant menace for the visiting defence, danced his way through several challengers before curling what looked like a superb equaliser into the far corner, only to see Egham keeper Lewis Gallifent somehow tip the effort wide at full stretch, it was a top top save.
From that corner though came the leveller, and two minutes before the interval and a perfect time for the hosts to get back on level terms, as Aaron Goode headed home from close range and send the teams into the half time break all square, it was certainly needed for the hosts as they had deserved that leveller after a slow start to proceedings, however, it was still anyone's game heading into the second period.
Who could grab that all important second goal and get themselves ahead in this tie, remember if it finished level after ninety minutes the tie would go straight to penalties, not what either side wanted, and around twenty minutes into the second half Merstham got themselves in front, Masikini was unsurprisingly involved yet again as his shot was only parried by Gallifent, and Adam Adam (yes that is his name) was quickest to reach and thump home the loose ball. Relief mixed with joy amongst the hosts, although their was still a long way to go.
Egham tried their hardest to find a response, but they just could not muster one, and the hosts finally sealed what was a deserved win in the end after guess who, yes you guessed right, Masikini whose superb skill down the left saw him pick out Adam, and the attacker walloped an effort in off the bar and put some daylight between the two sides finally.
You could see the frustration amongst the visiting players, they had put everything on the line in this one in their quest for promotion, but sadly they ended up falling just short and were eventually overpowered by a good Merstham side, it means the hosts remain at Step Four next season, and Egham will stay at Step Five for the following campaign.
Full time Merstham 3 Egham Town 1
I would just like to say a big thank you to the hosts and especially Chris Pullen for such a lovely welcome today, and to both sides for putting such a good show on too, it was a very enjoyable game played in front of a good crowd and atmosphere with not a hint of trouble, marvellous stuff.
It was also nice to bump into Broadfields United gaffer Ryan Duffy in the bar afterwards, he thanked me for all the good work I do in non league football, and after buying me a pint, we chatted for a few minutes too, thanks Ryan, it's really appreciated, and makes what I do worthwhile I must say. It had been a superb day all round that is for sure.
Right, their were twelve other Inter Step play-off ties today, let's see how those went.....
Bristol Manor Farm 2 Saltash United 0 (A goal in each half was enough to save the hosts from relegation, Aron Robbins netted a screamer eleven minutes before the break to give Farm the lead, and then they doubled that lead just past the hour mark after Bament's cross was smashed home by Jayden Nielsen)
Highworth Town 1 Malvern Town 4 (The visitors gained promotion after netting four in this one, and they had to come from behind as well after a deep cross found Edenborough to tap home just before the half hour mark, that lead only lasted four minutes though as after an effort from Ben Hayes was pushed onto the crossbar, Matt Turner was on hand to turn the ball home. Ten minutes after the break the visitors netted from the spot though Turner to take the lead, before late goals from Lewis Spurrier and Turner to complete his hat-trick capped a marvellous day for the visiting side)
VCD Athletic 0 Phoenix Sports 1 (A late late penalty from Ryan Hayes saw this very local derby settled in the way of the visitors, meaning they are promoted and their neighbours relegated)
Sutton Common Rovers 2 Crawley Down Gatwick 0 (The hosts retained their step four status for another year after they netted a goal in each half. Conon Torpey gave the hosts the lead right on half time before Tyler Cox netted with three minutes remaining to seal this one)
Haywards Heath Town 2 Redbridge 3 (Essex Senior League side Redbridge came from two goals down to net a superb win in Sussex and grab promotion to Step Four. It looked like the hosts were well on their way to saving themselves from relegation to Step Five after a 13th minute goal from Richard Pingling and a 33rd minute penalty from Alex Laing had the hosts 2-0 up at half time. But, Jerrold Cobblah reduced the arrears four minutes after the break before he netted a leveller with just under twenty minutes to go, and then Solomon Ogunwomoju netted the winner for the Motormen nine minutes from time to cap a superb comeback win)
Lincoln United 1 Avro 2 (The visitors grabbed promotion after they netted a brilliant win at Ashby Avenue, Thomas Brentham's strike on the half hour gave Avro the lead, and although Matthew Cotton's 42nd minute spot kick brought the hosts level, Jack Morrow's 54th minute goal proved enough for the visitors to win this one)
Glossop North End 0 Ashington 3 (A Ben Harmison double helped the visitors to a thumping win at Surrey Street, Harmison gave the visitors a 26th minute lead before he doubled that cushion midway though the second period, and Craig Spooner then sealed their promotion to Step Four by netting another in the 69th minute)
Dereham Town 0 Stotfold 2 (Kurtis Alleyne's first half brace saw Stotfold to promotion, his first came after just five minutes before he doubled that lead just past the half hour mark, meaning relegation for the hosts)
St Neots Town 1 Lye Town 6 (Lye Town won promotion in style as they netted six at The Premier Plus Stadium, Adam Meacham netted after only two minutes to give the visitors the perfect start, before Josh Hesson netted a brace either side of half time. Joe Palmer then netted his own brace to make it 0-5 and total dreamland for the visitors, Callum Anderson did pull one back for the home side who then saw Tom Dickens sent off, and Hesson then completed his hat-trick late on to cap a brilliant day for the visiting side)
Coggeshall Town 1 Winterton Rangers 2 (Winterton Rangers were another Step Five outfit to win promotion and relegate their Step Four hosts after a Josh Walker double helped them to victory at West Street. The game was goalless until the 79th minute when Walker added two in two minutes for the visitors, a late penalty from Darnell Kithambo gave the hosts brief hope, but it wasn't to be for them as they are relegated)
Great Wakering Rovers 0 Quorn 5 (GWR were humbled at home as they were relegated to Step Five after visitors Quorn put them to the sword to win promotion. Paddy Webb netted twice, including a penalty, in the opening twenty minutes to set the tone, and Thabang Dube then netted twice before half time to end the contest. Jordan Carike added a fifth goal with eleven minutes remaining as Quorn gained promotion in style)
Barton Rovers 2 Thetford Town 0 (Two second half goals were enough for Barton Rovers to save themselves from the drop, a Grant volley from range fired Rovers ahead early in the second period before they sealed the deal when Gauthier managed to scramble one home from inside the box)
Wow, of the thirteen ties that took place today, nine of those were won by the visiting Step Five clubs who all gained promotion as a result, and sent those nine defeated Step Four clubs down a level, only for of those Step Four sides retained their status at that level, which does kind of tell you that the disadvantage to those visiting sides didn't cause most of them just that, and maybe two automatic promotion places should be up for grabs in those step five divisions, perhaps, although that discussion is for another day.
These ties were certainly full of drama and excitement in the main though, with big crowds and lovely weather, it is certainly good entertainment if your not involved with either club that is!!! Anyway well done to all those sides who won today and either won promotion or stayed up, and commiserations to those who lost out.
Anyway thanks for reading as always, I'll be back with another blog soon no doubt as cup final season is almost upon us. Goodbye for now.....
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