Godalming Town  4     Read 4, W Harris 10, S Harris 67, 87

Saints  0

Division One Central  (Saturday 2 March)

A disastrous first 10 minutes in which two soft goals were conceded made it an uphill struggle for a Saints side hampered by a poor pitch and strong opponents.

Godalming, challenging for top honours this season after their move across from the Ryman League, are like most of the other teams around them; big, strong, combative and playing percentage back-to-front football that quickly becomes tiring on the eye. However, they couldn't have hoped for a better start as Saints proved horribly slow to get going. After just four minutes a long throw into the Saints area was flicked on and Dan Read was left in space to net from close range.

Saints were still struggling after 10 minutes as they were undone by a Godalming attack down the flank and the ball found Warren Harris whose stinging shot gave Power-Simpson no chance in the Saints goal. Two goals behind and Saints' prospects looked as dire as their red and blue kit combination.

Saints began to haul themselves back into contention but with the home side constantly pressing, attacking options through the fullbacks, Terrell Lewis and Jerome Okimo, were limited. Michael Lewis was proving to be the main outlet for Chalfont and with the hard working Daryl Atkins the left flank saw most of the action. A good block by the keeper from a free kick served intent but it wasn't until the 40th minute that Saints created a real chance when Alan Hedley beat several defenders before seeing his low shot well saved.

The second half was a more even contest, although played largely in the Saints half and the next goal was going to be decisive if Saints were to make a contest of the afternoon. Sadly for the visitors, it proved to be a third for the home side. Out of nothing, Michael Power-Simpson inexplicably fluffed a routine throw-out, instead bouncing it in front of substitute Scott Harris who, barely able to believe his luck, lobbed the gift into an empty net. 

Daryl Atkins was forced off after coming off worst in a challenge with the keeper, who otherwise had nothing to do as Saints failed to get a shot away or even win a corner and barely even got into the opposition area as Godalming continued to dominate. Their title hopes could easily come down to goal difference and so they could not afford to sit back. Their reward came after 87 minutes when Power-Simpson did well to get down to a low cross but could only push the ball into path of Scott Harris who again took advantage of a slip to net the fourth.

A disappointing performance from Saints but they have struggled against the top sides all season and can take some perverse solace from the knowledge that they had done more to beat themselves than had the opposition. 

Saints:  Michael Power-Simpson, Terrell Lewis, Jerome Okimo, Gareth Paxton, John Carroll (Michael Kamall 67), Luke Brook-Smith (Alex Paine 67), Daryl Atkins (Remmel Clarke 75), Alan Hedley, Aaron McLeish, Daniel Hughes, Michael Lewis.

Star Player:  Michael Lewis     Attendance:  139 

Saints  7     Atkins 25, 40, 56, Louth 30p, McLeish 71, M Lewis 84, T Lewis 87

Woodford United  1     Williams 85

Division One Central  (Saturday 23 February)

There was an air of inevitability as Saints crushed bottom of the table Woodford to confirm the visitor's playing record as being the worst in senior football. Without a win, or even a draw , all season, Woodford bravely continue to show up each week but their game plan is more about damage limitation from the start rather than any hopes of getting a result.

This loads the pressure on their opponents to take control of proceedings and for a while, Saints struggled to impose themselves. However, once the irrepressible Daryl Atkins got the scoreboard moving after 25 minutes with a powerful shot that took a wicked deflection, they were off and running. A poor goal kick by the inexperienced keeper ballooned to Michael Lewis and his run and cross was handled in the area. Adam Louth scored from the spot, his 10th goal of the season. Any hopes Woodford might have entertained evaporated before the break as Daryl Atkins added another, this time his scuffed shot somehow being fluffed by the keeper at the post, allowing the ball to gently roll under his body. When you are down, nothing goes right for you. The keeper redeemed some of his lost pride when blocking an Aaron McLeish shot just before the interval and was relieved to see Michael Lewis's close range shot hit the bar.

Daryl Atkins secured his hat- trick after 56 minutes as he broke free and slipped the ball under the keeper. With his job done, he soon made way for Hailu Theodros to gain some more playing experience. Luke Brook-Smith had a long range shot pushed over the bar as as the inexperienced visitors began to wilt under the constant pressure. Aaron McLeish had struggled all afternoon to unpick the defence but finally found the key after 71 minutes as a direct run and cross shot found the far corner for a fifth goal.

Eschewing, at last, the short corner in favour of peppering the visitors goal and with little in the way of pressure on the home goal, John Carroll came close several times from close range and despite the rapidly inflating scoreline, Anderson in the visitors goal made several good stops. It couldn't last and it was Michael Lewis, who had worked so hard out on the left flank, who scored the sixth.

A faultless display was denied just a minute later when Lewis Williams found himself unmarked at the far post to head home a rare cross to restore some credibility to the visitors. It was Terrell Lewis who completed the scoring for Saints, arriving at the far post to meet a perfectly flighted cross by Remmel Clarke. 

Saints:  Michael Power-Simpson, Terrell Lewis, Jerome Okimo, Gareth Paxton, Adam Louth (John Carroll 39), Luke Brook-Smith (Alex Paine 70), Daryl Atkins (Hailu Theodros 62), Remmel Clarke, Aaron McLeish, Daniel Hughes, Michael Lewis. 

Star Player:  Daryl Atkins     Attendance:  41 

Photos from the match, with our thanks  to Ruth 

https://plus.google.com/photos/100319858422352319999/albums/5848572157441325489

Leighton Town  0

Saints  3     Atkins 6, 84  M Lewis 62

Division One Central  (Tuesday 19 February)

Saints controlled most of the first half but only had the one goal advantage at the break.

Leighton had a good spell for twenty-minutes after half time but could not break down the Chalfont defence thereafter Saints took control of the game and two late goals secured a convincing win. 
 
Saints:  Michael Power-Simpson, Terrell Lewis, Jerome Okimo, Glenn Yala, Adam Louth, Alan Hedley, Daryl Atkins, Remmel Clarke (Luke Brook-Smith 68) , Aaron McLeish (Jamal Mattan 85), Daniel Hughes, Michael Lewis (Hailu Theodoros 83m).

Attendance:  50