The Sheers equalled their best run in the competition of 2021 -22 winning 3-0 at home to Little Common who play in the Southern Combination Football League Premier Division. The Commoners had in their squad Lewis Hole who had played 704 appearances scoring 409 goals who made an appearance in the second half coming on as a substitute.

Both sides in the early stages looked to work each other out with the Sheers getting the first chance with Kareem Foster’s shot going wide of the post on 8 minutes and the Commoners chance fell to Sam Adams who failed to get the ball under control.

Sheers took the lead on 10 minutes with Aiden Larkin turning his defender to slide in Kareem Foster who burst through the visitors defence to square the ball into Emeka Okakpu to score. On 12 minutes a glorious chance for the Sheers fell to Ethan Leeks who completely missed his chance of scoring a header at the far post. The Commoners responded with a volley from Liam Ward that sailed over the Sheers bar. Sheers went 2-0 up on 19 minutes with Jake Horn’s shot coming off the post to Emeka Okakpu who made no mistake in taking his second goal. On 23 minutes the visitors came close to scoring from a free kick by Russell Eldridge that skimmed the Sheers post. Sheers went further ahead on 23 minutes from Ben Portbury’s cross into the crowded Commoners box that found the head of Dan Watts who placed his header neatly passed keeper Finn Holter. The visitors on 27 minutes almost pulled a goal back from a shot that hit the Sheers post. 29 minutes Ethan Leeks for the Sheers goes close with a volley. On 36 minutes the visitors Captain Paul Feakins shot was saved by the Sheers keeper Drew Churchwell. On 38 minutes Aiden Larkin feeds Kareem Foster who shoots low that keeper Finn Holter is equal to the shot.

Half Time 3-0.

The match turned sour in the first minute of the second half with a Commoners poor tackle on the Sheers captain that led to Jake Horn responding with a kick back. Referee Charlie Roberts after liaising with his Assistant Ben Knights sent off the Sheers captain with only a caution to the Commoners player. This moment of madness dented the match that failed to recover back to the first half showing.

Substitutions were made on the hour with Elliot York & Anton Vorukov replacing Aiden Larkin & Ethan Leeks and a further change on 66 minutes with Alfie Burton replacing goal scorer Emeka Okakpu. On 69 minutes the visitors No 9 Kenny Pogue’s header was saved by keeper Drew Churchwell. 80 minutes Harvey Valter replaced Kareem Foster. The Sheers continued to defend their lead to see out the match with the visitors continuing to press the advantage of the extra man. Sheers final substitution came on 86 minutes with George Mackie replacing Matt Bryant.

Churchwell, Bryant (Mackie G 85) Mackie C, Horn, Watts, Portbury, Ajibola, Foster (Valter 80), Okakpu (Burton 66), Leeks (Vorukov 60), Larkin (York 60)