AFTER THEIR confidence-boosting away win at Bridon the previous week, Stansfeld routed Meridian last Saturday to move up to eighth in the table.
Harry Gamble grabbed a brace as his side scored five second-half goals.
Stansfeld went in front in the fourth minute when Jake Williams had a snap-shot from just inside the area but the away goalkeeper got down smartly to push the shot around the post. The resulting corner was only half-cleared to Luke Rooney who fired a left-footed effort towards goal and Gamble finished from close range.
Stansfeld dominated most of the first half without creating any more clear-cut chances. Meridian did have a small period where they put Stansfeld under pressure, but the hosts managed to weather the storm and went into the break with their one-goal lead.
Stansfeld had four good chances to increase their advantage in the first fifteen minutes after half-time, but a combination of wasteful finishing and good goalkeeping denied them.
Stansfeld were then thankful to their own stopper George Lush as he made two fine saves from rare Meridian attacks.
After those escapes, Stansfeld ramped up the pressure and scored three times in five minutes through Gamble, Joe Minter and Williams to all but wrap up the points.
And in the closing minutes Stansfeld added another two goals, one an own goal after a cross from Gamble, before Michael McKenna sealed an emphatic win.
Man of the match: Harry Gamble
Stansfeld Reserves got their first win of the season beating Fleetdown 2-0 with goals from Jack Gibbons and Joe Stowell. Sixteen-year-old James Almond made a promising debut in the Stansfeld goal.
Stansfeld’s 3rd team’s struggles continued as they went down 3-1 to Club Langley with their sole goal scored by Pat Harvey.
This Saturday’s fixtures:
1st team vs Greenways – Home (League: 3pm)
2nd team vs Bexley – Away (League: 2.45pm)
3rd team vs Chipstead – Away – (League: 2.45pm)