Saturday 11th January 1997
Walton Casuals 1 Merstham 1
Courage Combined Counties League
At: Franklyn Road Sports Ground
Kick-off: 2-00 pm
Admission: £1; Programme: 50p (28 pages)
Attendance: 50 (headcount)
Weather: cold, drizzle
A short trip to see hosts Walton Casuals record their first league draw of the season on my first visit to the ground.
Both sides have been struggling this season and went into this game languishing near the foot of the 20-team table. Casuals (18 points from 21 games) occupied 17th position with visitors Merstham (17 points from 20 games) immediately below with a game in hand.
Casuals, looking for a third straight win, took the lead in the 16th minute. Danny Nicholson received a short pass from Roland Hockin and hit a low angled 15-yard shot into the bottom right corner of the net.
Merstham were allowed back into the game after the break by complacent play from the home side and equalised midway through the second half. Reserve team keeper Steve Trippt, deputising for regular Steve Crozier, dropped a bouncing throughball under pressure from attackers Andy Smith and Justin Jones. Smith was left with the simple task of walking the ball into an empty net.
The Franklyn Road Sports Ground boasted a stand in front of the clubhouse and a fully railed-off pitch. There were no floodlights.
Walton Casuals (orange and white quarters / white / white): 1. Steve Trippit, 2. Michael Kennedy, 3. Gary Millar, 4. Graham Elliott, 5. Richard Murray, 6. Darren Legg, 7. Dave Francis, 8. Salvatore Costanzo, 9. Danny Nicholson, 10. Roland Hockin, 11. Mark Postins. Subs: 12. Steve Flack (for Elliott, 75), 14. Greg Tree (for ), 15. Rob Fraser (not used).
Merstham (yellow/white/yellow): 1. L. Satchell, 2. Brain Jupp, 3. Peter Turner, 4. Dave Mizon, 5. Nigel Charman, 6. Mervyn Nesbitt, 7. C. Scott, 8. Justin Jones, 9. Steve Elliott, 10. Andy Smith, 11. Andy Renton. Subs: 12. Stuart Bone (for Nesbitt, 60), 14. G. Bone (for Scott, 72), 15. C. Stewart (not used).
Referee: Kevin Batchelor (Cippenham).
Goals:
1-0 Danny Nicholson (16)
1-1 Andy Smith (67)
Cards:
None.
