Marvellous Merton

Four more games included a Euro 2012 qualifier at Wembley, an FA Cup replay at Dulwich Hamlet, an FA Vase tie at Chessington & Hook United and a Centenary celebration fixture at Merton.

Merton FC have been members of the Southern Amateur League since 1919 and currently play in its Senior Division Three. They once defeated Ipswich Town 4-0 at Portman Road in a cup tie and amongst their former players are Efan Ekoku, one of Wimbledon’s ‘Crazy Gang’ who was capped by Nigeria, and PR guru Max Clifford.

Sunday’s special match at their home of eleven years, the Joseph Hood Recreation Ground, was watched by a touchline crowd of around 70 that included The Worshipful the Mayor of the London Borough of Merton. Merton FC took on a Southern Amateur League Representative XI and beat them 1-0 with a 24th-minute goal direct from a free kick.

I’d never been to the ground before – it’s a mile or so from Morden tube station on the Northern line – and two football matches and one cricket match were being played simultaneously on a bright and breezy afternoon. The SAL threw everything forward in the last 15 minutes but a clearly motivated home side held on for an historic victory.

I’d been to Chessington’s Chalky Lane ground once before but had never seen a ball kicked there, an FA Vase Third Round tie in 2006 having been called off due to a waterlogged pitch despite the fact that it hadn’t rained at all that day. Fortunately, Saturday’s First Round Qualifying tie with South Park was never in doubt.

Chessington were top of the Combined Counties League’s Premier Division, while South Park were seventh in the division below them, so it looked like a probable home win. But no, this was The FA Vase and the visitors won the battle 3-1 after extra time. They hit Chessington on the break several times in the first half, could have been 4-0 up instead of 1-0, and conjured up another reserve of energy in the additional half-hour to secure their first-ever win in the competition.

Chalky Lane is in a very rural setting and all you can see from the stand are fields. As I was waiting for extra-time to start, I purchased a heavenly cheeseburger and vegetable soup from a heavenly lady in the tea bar.