Following an unexpectantly assigned home fixture in this year’s Surrey Cup, the Surb took on a well-established Kew Antigua side from the Southern Sunday Football League at alternative ground Wimbledon Common Extensions.
Although playing on unfamiliar territory as the ‘Home’ team, the Surb showed no signs of hesitancy in their approach as they dominated from the offset.
In the early stages of the game, L. Snowdon was instrumental down the right flank in front of the home fans and easily pocketed the Kew winger who had all too much to say for the gesticulations of the travelling Surbiton support. Snowdon turned the ball over repeatedly and played a number of neat inside balls to the ever-present midfield trio of C. Brown, J. Crawley and K. Sweeney.
Although notably the Junior team in this fixture, Surbiton dominated their aging counterparts throughout and despite the considerable height that Kew possessed, they were second best all morning.
Dominating the ball and comfortably intercepting Kew efforts to get forward was a solid start, but the Kew goalkeeper was left untested for the best part of half an hour. That was until K. Sweeney picked up the ball roughly 25 yards out and tested the keeper from range.
The ball bobbled kindly off of the sodden playing surface and Sweeney wheeled away in celebration as the Kew goalkeeper couldn’t get down low to force the shot wide, and despite not catching it with quite the venom he may have hoped, the sheer placement of the shot was enough for Sweeney to force a 1-0 lead.
The message at half-time was clear and concise, the next goal was crucial.
Surb increased their pressure and made use of the rolling substitutions they had available by rotating R. Geer, A. Charles and C. Banks up front to maintain a high-press on the ball, whilst the wingbacks worked tirelessly all morning to contribute in both attack and defence.
With nearly an hour played, Kew began to lose their heads and a couple of late Surbiton challenges compounded this, resulting in a fines for C. Brown and S. Bennett.
The game did not let off there, as Kew tried to force an equaliser with the morning drawing on. M. Brown was an infallible deputy in goal once again and his commanding presence in the box dominated any set pieces that Kew could deliver. Brown also contributed in attack with his ability to launch attacks from deep providing welcome relief for a somewhat tiring Surbiton defence.
The Surb were perhaps lackadaisical in their search for a second goal, with C. Brown confident he had put the game to bed with a slot into an empty net, but for an outstanding goal-line clearance from a recovering Kew defender, leaving it to look like it could be a nervous end to the afternoon for the Surb.
Fortunately, as the heavens opened and S. Bennett re-entered the fray despite a nasty looking injury to his toe, he popped up with the all-important second goal - a well-taken slot into the roof of the net at the back stick that left the goalkeeper with no chance.
This goal solidified the Surbiton victory and with a few minutes to go C. Brown took all the wind from Kew sails with a wonderfully dispatched free kick into the Kew net to make amends for his failure to convert earlier in the game.
J. Russell made a long-anticipated cameo up front to see the game out, before the Surb were unfortunate to lose their clean sheet with virtually the last kick of the game. A perfectly-weighted Kew freekick beat M. Brown who could do little but watch the ball sail into the top corner of his net.
On the restart, the whistle blew meaning the Surb march on to the second round of this year’s Surrey Cup, and alas, the quadruple still beckons.
Next week, the Surb take on Motor Racing Club Ewell in a top of the table clash to determine who will enter November at the top of the pile. It is a 10:30 KO at Churchfields Rec in Chessington.
UTS x
Matchday Squad: M. Brown, A. Banks, A. Sweeney, F. Khan, S. Bennett, C. Brown, J. Crawley, K. Sweeney, L. Snowdon, C. Banks, A. Charles, R. Geer, K. Russell, N. Murphy, D. Shortt.
TEAMER is a part of the Pitchero Group