Click on back button to return... 

Merton outplayed Rowledge Panthers from the Surrey Primary League to progress to the next stage of the Surrey Cup.  Merton dominated large parts of the first half without really testing the keeper.  Jamie Streat and Daniel Johnson were prominent in midfield and a lot of good football was played without creating any clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities.  Credit must be given to the Rowledge defence for shackling the Merton strikers and covering so well that the Merton midfield failed to provide any penetrating passes.  Rowledge relied mainly on isolated counterattacks and after shooting narrowly wide in one attack, they finally scored on 18 minutes.  The hosts broke upfield, eliminated the Merton defence with a swift exchange of passes, and then hit the post before a forward buried the rebound.  Merton resumed the pressure but could find no way through, and good defensive work was required from the Merton back four to deal with a number of Rowledge breakaways.

The second half saw George King and Eddie Lyne switch wings and Lewis West move into midfield following the late arrival of central-defender Jonathan Kehoe.  Merton continued to dominate the proceedings and play attractive football, but their attacks now looked much more menacing with George King and Eddie Lyne causing plenty of problems down the flanks.  Jamie Streat continued to shine in midfield and Lewis West posed a large threat by delivering telling crosses into the heart of the Rowledge defence.  After an opening five minutes of constant pressure the cracks finally appeared in the dogged home defence.  Lewis West delivered a terrific ball into the box and in the ensuing scramble George King forced the ball over the line.  Three minutes later Merton took the lead when Craig Stanley netted from inside the area after great work down the left by Eddie Lyne. 

Rowledge struggled to get the ball out of their own half, and the goal of the game arrived on 42 minutes when Jamie Streat volleyed home a Lewis West cross.  Six minutes later the result was put beyond any doubt when Eddie Lyne bundled home a scrappy goal from close range after clever footwork from Jamie Streat caused a goalmouth scramble.  Rowledge put together a few attacks and tested Warren McCourt with a rising shot, but the ball was soon back down the other end with Jamie Streat and Eddie Lyne giving the home defence the run around. 

Five minutes from time Merton scored again.  Another brilliant run down the left from Eddie Lyne released Craig Stanley who, onside at last, sprinted clear and beat the keeper with a terrific shot into the top of the net. A quality finish to a quality team performance.

Reporter's man of the match: Eddie Lyne

Team: Warren McCourt; Billy Kelly, Adam Marie, Lewis West, Spud Bradley; Eddie Lyne, Jamie Streat, Daniel Johnson, George King; Jack Malin, Craig Stanley. Sub: Jonathan Kehoe.