SOUTHALL IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PROMOTION PLAY-OFFS
Southall FC have enjoyed a very good second season in the Isthmian League South Central Division, after attaining Step 4 status by gaining promotion from the Combined Counties League Premier North Division.
Your Roving team have naturally been following their progress and were keen to witness and report on their bid to reach the Step 3 promotion play-offs. Therefore, we were at the 1878 Stadium for the final league game of the season against Chipstead FC, on Saturday last, 27th April.
We were present at the pleasant and welcoming Hartley Wintney ground on the previous Saturday, for Southall’s 3-0 win, which secured them a place in the play-offs. The result of the match against Chipstead, together with other matches being played at the same time, would determine their final league placing and decide if their semi-final was to be at home.
Unfortunately, with Southall leading 2-0, the referee had to abandon the match, following an incident which occurred as the players were leaving the pitch at half-time. The Isthmian League subsequently awarded the points for the match to Southall. This, together with the other results on the day, put Southall in 4th place in the table giving them an away semi-final against 3rd placed Leatherhead.
Chipstead finished the season in 20th position in the table and will be relegated to Step 5. The loss of the points for this match was irrelevant because of the day’s other results.
Southall immediately went onto the offensive. Jaden Thompson-Brissett’s (alias Biscuit) cross-shot was just off target.
Chipstead keeper, Harrison Firth got a touch on Lucias Vine’s shot, which thwacked against the Chipstead post.
Biscuit’s run into the Chipstead box was halted by Zohair Ali’s timely tackle.
A good Chipstead move, involving Jaden Edwards and Daniel Berry finished with Danyaal Iqbal shooting just wide.
Harrison Firth left his penalty area to kick clear from Brendan Matthew.
Harrison then saved Biscuit’s angled drive low down and held Adam Laaref’s cross-shot. He then dived courageously at Biscuit’s feet.
Kayode Conteh received a yellow card in the 18th minute for a trip.
Harrison then won the ball in a goalmouth melee by saving at Adam’s feet.
Chipstead’s freekick, into the Southall box from wide on the right, was safely taken by Michael Edegbe.
Jack Leahy hit a freekick, from around 30 yards, over the home crossbar.
Harrison Firth then came out of the side of his box to foil an incoming William Montague, at the expense of a corner.
Adam Laaref’s incisive run was halted by weight of numbers.
The ‘Alls’ pressure finally paid off in the 40th minute, when Biscuit netted from close range, after the keeper had parried Lucias Vine’s shot.
Brendan Matthew slipped the ball home, after being released by Lucias Vine, to double Southall’s lead in the 2nd minute of added time.
Referee, Marcus Tingey showed Chipstead captain, Kayode Conteh a straight red card, following an incident as the players left the field.
Score at half-time: Southall 2 Chipstead 0
The Chipstead team did not reappear after the interval and it was eventually announced that the referee had abandoned the match.
TEAM LINE-UPS:
Southall: Michael Edegbe, Alex Nolan, Abdul Nurein, Ryan Hope, Romey Eccles-Meodad, Joshua Green, Jaden Thompson-Brissett, William Montague (capt), Lucias Vine, Brendan Matthew and Adam Laaref.
Unused substitutes: David Amate, Kevin Diomande, Carl Pearce, Frankie Taylor and Anthony O’Connor.
Manager: Max Howell
Coaches: Jesse Smith and Darron Williamson
GK Coach: Josh Stroud
Assistant Coach: Harry Howell
Physios: Bren Briggs and Don Bennett.
Chipstead: Harrison Firth, Zohair Ali, Alfie Young, Daniel Vaughan, Kayode Conteh (capt), Lanseny Traore, Danyaal Iqbal, Jaden Edwards, Timothy Obisanya, Jack Leahy and Daniel Berry.
Unused substitutes: Campbell Scott, Nathaniel Kenlock, Robbie Spain, Ewan Sanchez and Reuben Ashun.
Referee: Marcus Tingey
Assistant Referees: Jonathan Was and Krandeep Grewal.
Attendance: 122
Report: Jim Taylor
Photography: Chris Benn