Surrey County Intermediate League (Western)

Premier Division

Saturday 25th March 2023

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.04

Shottermill & Haslemere 2 Worplesdon Phoenix 2, attendance 26

12’ 1-0

61’ 1-1 (pen)

71’ 2-1

73’ 2-2

@ Haslemere Recreation Ground

Old Haslemere Road

Haslemere

GU27 2NN

No Admission or Programme.

When I last saw Shottermill & Haslemere play a home game, it was in a Haslemere Hospital Trophy group match, where they drew 3-3 versus Liphook United, which was played on a Sunday afternoon back in March 2006. That game was at Woolmer Hill Sports Ground, but this season they have moved to Haslemere Recreation Ground, home of the local cricket club and the only ground I hadn’t previously visited in this league.

The match was 7th versus 4th (out of 9) in the league table. Bottom club Merrow have now pulled out of the league, so I assume only one club will now be relegated at the end of the season, so it is very much a three way battle between today’s hosts, plus Hambledon and Manorcroft United to avoid the drop.

Shottermill should really have taken the three points here, having had enough chances to have sewn the game up. As it turned out, the point may go a long way to ensure their survival. They went ahead early, chesting down a cross and finishing with a first time shot into the far top corner. They could have doubled their lead within a minute, but missed a one on one chance that the ‘keeper saved. Worplesdon had a chance to level, but missed a penalty on twenty five minutes, shooting wide of the target. Just after the hour mark they did level it up, this time converting from a penalty that was awarded for a foul. Shottermill edged back in front ten minutes later, when a diagonal free kick was headed back across the six yard box and nodded down into the far corner. They were only in front for a matter of minutes though, when a free kick was chested down and finished high into the roof of the net, to make it 2-2.