Blues 3 Merstham 1

The Blues remain fourth after a fine display to defeat a very good Merstham side. The hosts were made to work hard to claim all the points for their eighth home win from twelve games and a fourth successive victory. Manager Glenn Driver must have woken on the day of the match with a selection headache, albeit a nice one, having a full squad for the first time since September. But come 90 minutes before kick off his best laid plans were changed as Tom Bullard, who was substituted on Saturday at Harrow through injury, reported injured and Robert Eagle and Chris Henderson were stranded with a transportation issue. The visitors also had problems of their own with several delays on their journey from Surrey meant a late arrival leading to a late kick off.

The disruption certainly didn’t affect the Moatsiders who were quickly into their stride looking very comfortable in possession and moving the ball round well on the excellent surface but two early long range efforts failed to trouble Marcus Garnham. The Blues made a slow start but soon showed purpose and Jack Ainsley saw a snap shot clear the visitor’s goal. It was a very entertaining opening quarter of an hour with some fantastic football on show and then Leiston opened the scoring with a well worked move on 16 minutes. Byron Lawrence and Joe Marsden combined down the right with the latter supplying an excellent cross across the six yard box that Christy Finch slid home at the far post. Still the pace of the game excited the crowd and on 34 minutes the visitors deservedly levelled. A deep cross from Merstham’s right sailed across the box to the left and to Alex Addai who cut inside before unleashing an unstoppable shot high to Marcus Garnham’s right from just inside the box for the first home League goal conceded in 331 minutes, a great strike from the Merstham winger.

A thrilling first half ended all square but upon the restart the Blues took control. The hosts were beginning to stifle the visitors, closing down at every opportunity and restricting their offense that was visible in the first half. With their foot firmly on the pedal the Blues nudged ahead with another well crafted goal. Byron Lawrence’s brilliant pass split the home defence releasing Christy Finch who rolled the perfect pass for leading scorer Jack Ainsley to stroke home his eighth goal of the season. Midway through the second half Leiston strengthened their control further when Man of the Match Byron Lawrence’s long range free kick found the net via a deflection low to Haigh's right. The visitors pushed and probed but the tenacious Blues refused to relent and kept Merstham at bay. There was further cheer ten minutes from time when Kyle Hammond made his return after 98 days out, a happy ending to a good evening’s work.

FT - Blues 3 Merstham 1

Blues - Garnham, Marsden, Dunbar, Brothers, Jefford, Haynes-Brown, Lawrence, Docherty, Blake (Trotter 75 mins), Finch (Hammond 80 mins), Ainsley (Knights 85 mins). Sub not used - Beckwith.

Merstham - Haigh, Abnett (Henriques 44 mins), Douglas, Kavanagh, Cooper, Harwood (Christie 69 mins), Addai, Bonnett-Johnson, Ryan Hall, Collins (Lubango 74 mins), Samuels. Subs not used - Reece Hall and Jones.

Man of the Match - Byron Lawrence

Attendance - 191