AFC Stoneham
Velocity Wessex League Premier Division – Saturday 2nd March 2024
Shaftesbury v AFC Stoneham
Match Sponsors:
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⛱️ Rockies View –
Last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at home to Moneyfields showed that both they and AFC Stoneham have really put themselves in pole position in the fight for the top position in the Velocity Wessex League Premier Division that brings with it promotion to the Pitching In Southern League South & West Division.
Recent suspensions, injuries and postponed games have affected our rhythm somewhat and it’s time to draw a blank page perhaps. That can apply to all teams yet AFC Stoneham and Moneyfields have basically been very consistent as we were until the Sherborne Town defeat.
We are 3rd with 63 points and AFC Portchester behind us with 61 points, although their game at home to Andover New Street was postponed. It’s time to value what we have achieved and pick up as many points as possible then take it from there. No point in looking back now.
📖 Our opponents recent form – AFC Stoneham have been in good shape and last Saturdays 5-2 win over Sherborne Town at the HP Arena put them four points clear although Moneyfields have four games in hand. However on Tuesday night they were beaten 2-0 at Brockenhurst which leaves them and us level on games played though the ‘Purps’ are eight clear of us.
Previously to this they won 2-0 at Portland United, which is never an easy place to go. We still have to go there. They were held 1-1 by Baffins Milton Rovers which followed a 7-0 rout of Blackfield & Langley and a 2-0 win over Fareham Town both at the HP Arena.
In between these games they defeated Cowes Sports 3-1 to reach the semi final of the Velocity Wessex League Cup and will face AFC Portchester with the other semi final being between Downton and Hamble Club.
We did recently get another look at AFC Stoneham in their 8-1 win at Christchurch and they were very much the real deal. Their only defeats in the league have been against us, 3-2 at United Services Portsmouth and Brockenhurst on Tuesday night.
♠️Aces In The Pack
– Shaftesbury – we will have to dig deep and look to Brett Pitman to repeat his two goals that saw us win 2-1 at the HP Arena.
AFC Stoneham – Former New Milton Town star Tyrell Sampson has 22 goals with Duarte Martins once more having a prosperous season with 32 goals. Midfielders Oliver Jenkins and former Blackfield & Langley player Owen Fee are the two players that are unlocking the doors as AFC Stoneham top the table.
🎯 Marksmen
Shaftesbury – Brett Pitman 48, Cameron Beard 9, Callum Sweeney 9, Steve Devlin 7, Greg Peel 6 Asa Philips 6
AFC Stoneham – Duarte Martins 32, Tyrell Sampson 22, Liam Callaghan 14, Owen Fee 14, Oliver Jenkins 9, Matthew Bainbridge 7, Ashley Pope 6
🐿️ Interesting Facts
– Former ‘Rockies’ star Ash Pope has scored three times in the red and white stripes for Shaftesbury against his current side AFC Stoneham.
Shaftesbury have played twice at AFC Stoneham’s former historic Chestnut Avenue ground winning twice. Once in the FA Vase and the Sydenhams Wessex League Division 1 in the 2016/17 season.
Former ‘Rockies’ forward Luke Winsper was on target in our 3-1 defeat at home to AFC Stoneham in 2019/20. Due to Covid 19 our first visit to the Stoneham Football Complex (HP Arena) was never played. Winsper now plies his trade at Milborne Port FC in the Dorset Football League Division 1.
🤝 – Previous Meetings (Recap – Full version on previous review)
⛱️2023/24 –
(A) (VWLP) W 2-1 (Pitman 2)
⛱️2022/23 –
(H) (WLP) L 0-4
(A) (WLP) L 1-3 (Forbes)
⛱️2021/22 –
(A) (WLP) D 2-2 (Pope, Peel)
(H) (WLP) D 2-2 (Philips, Pope)
(H) (FACP) W 6-1 (Finch 3, Beard, Delaney, Pope)
⛱️2020/21*
(H) (SWLP) L 1-6 OG
⛱️2019/20 – *
(H) (SWLP) L 1-3 (Winsper)
(H) (SWLC1) L 0-1
⛱️2016/17 –
(A) (SWL1) W 3-2 (Gale 2, Kauppinen)
(A) W 3-1 (FAV 1) (Beal, Ford, Gale)
(H) W 3-2 (SWL1) (Matuzewski 2, Lopez)
Total Record (All games)
– Pld 12 Won 5 Drawn 5 Lost 5
Goals For 24 Against 28 GD – 4
* 2019-2021 Covid 19
Avril 🐌
AFC Stoneham in action against Blackfield & Langley and Moneyfields.
Photos – courtesy of Those White Lines.
