South Premier League

Purley Walcountians 4 Staines 5

DESPITE one of their best performances of recent years, Purley Walcountians ended up on the wrong end of a nine-goal thriller against high-flying Staines at Woodmansterne last Saturday.

Purley are now eight points adrift of the new league leaders, but had their finishing been better they could have been just two behind.

A fast-paced first half ended 3-3, with PWs going a goal down early on before restoring parity through Graham Lester and twice taking the lead courtesy of Barney Hilsdon and an Alex Mowat penalty stroke.

Staines made it 4-3 in the second half, but when John Jaunty – a surprise inclusion after recovering from a hamstring injury – drew his side level again it looked like PWs could go on to take all three points.

However a controversial umpiring decision allowed Staines to retake the lead despite PWs protests that defender Darren Saunders had been obstructed in the build-up.

With their goal under siege in the dying minutes, Staines held out for a win that sent them top, and had coach John Oliver lamenting what might have been.

"The margins for error in this league are so small," said Oliver. "We've thrown away five points in the last two weeks because of lapses in concentration and it is very frustrating.

"We could now be joint top rather than back in the chasing pack, but the fact the league is so open this season means that we can quickly get back into the title mix."

Purley visit seventh-placed Teddington on Saturday, with Oliver confident that his squad will return with three points.

The second XI got back to winning ways with a 4-0 victory at Richmond Griffins in Surrey Division Two, while the thirds snapped a run of three consecutive defeats with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against a strong Barnes XI.

The fourths remain third in their league after a 1-0 home victory against Leatherhead.