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A makeshift Merton side dropped two valuable points in Laleham against a very physical Staines outfit. The visitors went into this game with a bare eleven and Daniel Johnson carrying a heel injury that severely restricted his mobility. Five players were missing through injury and/or holiday, and goalkeeper Sam Durban was forced to play left back. The game was played on a small pitch with a nice surface and mini-soccer goals. Despite fielding a much-weakened side, Merton dominated possession throughout the first half, and managed to create an early chance for Daniel Johnson after great work from Julian Osei-Gyimah, Nicholas Holley and George King. Unfortunately, the striker failed to connect with the low hard cross that was driven across the Staines box. Two minutes later Staines nearly scored after a corner when Warren McCourt produced a superb point-blank save from a player who was allowed to continue after being flagged offside. Thereafter, Staines had little to offer going forward, and were easily contained by the Merton rearguard. Adam Marie impressed at the back, but Lewis West offset his excellent interceptions and tackles with an aimless distribution policy. Merton failed to create any real clear-cut chances despite excellent contributions from Jamie Streat and Nicholas Holley. Meanwhile upfront Julian Osei-Gyimah received a physical battering that went unchecked until he was floored in the 20th minute by a rugby tackle just past half way, when he was clear on goal. Amazingly, not even a yellow card. Nicholas Holley then stepped up to fire in a tremendous free-kick that cannoned off the Staines crossbar. Five minutes before half time, Merton finally created a clear-cut chance, when George King was played in down the left, but he blazed wide of the goal. Two minutes later Staines took the lead against the run of play. A mix-up between Lewis West and Sam Durban on the Merton left allowed a forward to steal in and beat Warren McCourt with a powerful shot that dipped just beneath the bar.

The second period started with a Staines onslaught as a forward sent a powerful shot narrowly wide, and minutes later the Merton bar was rattled with a fierce shot from just inside the area. Merton eventually weathered this storm and the game became evenly matched, but mediocre as neither side creating anything of significance for a long period. In addition Merton were subjected to a number of illegal challenges that went largely unnoticed by the referee. Inevitably, this led to some confrontations as certain players decided to defend themselves. After 44 minutes Julian Osei-Gyimah gained just reward for a bruising experience up front when he raced onto a loose ball, accelerated between two defenders, and slipped the ball past the keeper when put under intense physical pressure. Two minutes later George King completely outpaced the home defence but shot wide of the target as the keeper advanced off his line. Thereafter, Staines were marginally the better side, but their probing came to nothing. Six minutes from time Julian Osei-Gyimah executed a terrific angled shot that brought an excellent save out of a Staines keeper whose handling had looked suspect earlier on. With three minutes left on the clock, Staines' physical style of play finally caught up with them when Jamie Streat was bundled over for a blatant penalty. The keeper managed to keep out Jamie Streat's spot-kick, which was not difficult with such small-sized goals. The final two minutes saw plenty of Staines pressure as the visitors hit the bar and then forced Warren McCourt to make a good save. Even then Merton could have won it in the dying seconds when Daniel Johnson shot wide from a good position on the edge of the penalty area. A bruising encounter for a much-weakened Merton side that had several players in unfamiliar positions. Nevertheless, a draw was probably a fair result. Excellent contributions from Jamie Streat, Nicholas Holley and George King, but Adam Marie was awarded man-of-the-match for a flawless defensive display.

Reporter's man of the match: Adam Marie.

Team: Warren McCourt; Spud Bradley, Adam Marie, Lewis West, Sam Durban; Tshepho Sawdon, Jamie Streat, Nicholas Holley, George King; Julian Osei-Gyimah, Daniel Johnson.