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Merton returned to winning ways with a convincing win over basement-club Sheen Lions in Raynes Park. Once again Merton fielded a somewhat weakened side, but at least one regular striker was available in Julian Osei-Gyimah. It was Sheen who applied the early pressure and they forced a couple of corners which came to nothing. It took Merton about ten minutes to gain ascendancy, and Nicholas Holley and Lewis West seemed to be at the heart of everthing in midfield. Despite dominating possession, no real shots materialised until Nicholas Holley fired a shot wide of the target on 15 minutes. Two minutes later Julian Osei-Gyimah raced onto a through ball and beat the Sheen keeper with a sublime touch. Merton then bombarded Sheen, and it wasn't long before Jamie Streat added a second after Julian Osei-Gyimah's header was blocked in the goal area. Nicholas Holley and Lewis West continued to dominate the proceedings, and on 25 minutes Daniel Johnson hit the bar after bringing the ball under good control inside the penalty area. Soon after Lewis West increased Merton's lead with a fierce 20-yard shot that took a deflection off a defender.

Merton began the second half in impressive fashion, and showed good passing and movement. Spud Bradley and Jamie Streat unlocked the Sheen defence by exchanging passes for half the length of the field, but the full back shot wide of the target from well inside the penalty area. Further chances came and went for Merton before Nicholas Holley made it four by beating the keeper with a powerful shot after breaking through on the left following a good pass from Warren McCourt. Merton continued to press forward and both Nicholas Holley and Julian Osei-Gyimah were guilty of glaring misses in front of goal. Next Jamie Streat hit the post, and then the Sheen keeper pulled off a fantastic save from Nicholas Holley. Merton then lost concentration at the back and allowed Sheen to score two goals in four minutes. After 47 minutes Sheen won a free kick and Merton failed to clear their lines. A Sheen player then turned and netted with an excellent shot that gave the keeper no chance. The second Sheen goal saw their right winger beat Spud Bradley before crossing low across the Merton goal. After a bit of a scramble, a Sheen forward struck the ball into the back of the net. Merton then had a shaky spell before Nicholas Holley broke away down the left to beat the keeper with a good shot after cutting into the Sheen penalty area. Merton managed to control the last five minutes of play, but never really threatened the Sheen keeper. A reasonable performance and three valuable points for Merton. A difficult decision for match of the match, but Lewis West gets the nod from Nicholas Holley in a photo-finish.

Reporter's man of the match: Lewis West.

Team: Sam Durban; Billy Kelly, Adam Marie, Jonathan Kehoe, Spud Bradley; George King, Lewis West, Jamie Streat, Nicholas Holley; Julian Osei-Gyimah, Daniel Johnson. Sub: Warren McCourt.