Steve Cordery selected an unchanged side for the visit to Bishop’s Stortford on a wet and wild Tuesday night, but saw his charges go down narrowly to a strong Hertfordshire side, who included Lynvall Duncan – a player who turned out for Staines in a few friendlies.
The pitch was in excellent condition, but the weather – cool and overcast a the start – became very wet as the evening wore on; Staines attacked the turnstile end in the first half.
The game was only four minutes old when Staines conceded a shock opener, as Kamara was penalised for a foul on Abdullahi 10 yards outside the box, and Ming drilled the ball into the danger zone from the left.
Wells was able to parry the drive, but Reece Prestedge followed in and although his first attempt was also blocked, he made no mistake with the rebound.
Staines threatened an instant equaliser, but Butler’s one-on-one was bravely saved by keeper Morgan.
However, only eight minutes had elapsed when André Scarlett bagged the equaliser, smashing in the rebound after his own original shot was blocked.
Butler was again put away by Griffiths three minutes later, but was disappointed to be flagged inches offside.
With the weather worsening, chances became few and far between – Ming and Abdullahi essayed efforts for the home side, and Taylor almost got on the end of a Griffiths cross for Staines.
In the last moments before the break, Wells punched out a Jones cross to set Scarlett away, but his drive skimmed just past Morgan’s upright.
At half time, linesman Georgiou withdrew with a hamstring problem, and after a search for a suitable replacement, it was agreed that Bishop’s secretary, Ian Ketteridge, would take over despite misgivings that date all the way back to a fiasco at Whyteleafe many years ago, the stand-in performed admirably.
This did however entail a 25 minute half-time interval.
Stortford’s lively front pairing peppered the Swans goal early in the second half, and the pressure paid off when they regained the lead just eight minutes in.
The unfortunate Kamara was again penalised, this time for a push on Jackson, and Sanchez Ming stepped up to take the free-kick way out on the left.
Despite the distance, he struck the ball perfectly, sending it skimming rapidly across the slick surface, beyond Wells’ reach, and against the inside of the far post, where it bounced across goal and nestled into the opposite corner.
Staines tried to get back on terms, with Jackson sending over a telling cross that Butler could not quite wrap his foot around, but Stortford continued to look dangerous, Prestedge shooting just wide, and Antoine going close with two headers.
Niggling fouls led to a booking for each side – Steer and Duncan – and Staines rejigged their attack by introducing Chaaban, Charles-Smith, and Harris.
The visitors strove hard to claim a share of the points, and Charles-Smith was especially lively.
He skidded one shot across the face of goal and saw it cleared for a corner, was put through by Griffiths only for Morgan to save, and then – after Morgan had let slip a free kick – he tried an audacious overhead kick that wasn’t too far off target.
There was a further booking each way, for fouls by Prestedge and Gordon, the latter coming during the added five minutes in which Antoine also forced Wells to save.
Ming was selected by the home club as their Man of the Match. Staines finished the game in ninth, but dropped to equal-10th 24 hours later.
Staines: Wells; Jackson; Steer; Gordon ©; Kamara; Risbridger (Charles-Smith 65); Scarlett; Brown; Griffiths; Taylor (Chaaban 65); Butler (Harris 74); unused King, Orlu.
B Stortford: Morgan; M Jones; Palmer; Lette Jallow (Mason 84); Duncan; Angus; Ming; Prestedge; Jackman (Araba 65); Antoine; Abdullahi; unused Smith, R Jones, Campbell.
R: Jake Hillier (New Barnet); ARs Peter Smith (Friern Barnet); Peter Georgiou (Tooting) / Ian Ketteridge (B Stortford).
Att 381.
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