Trojans v Clifton All Whites – GCE Fleet United Counties League Division One – 25th July 2026
**Finney’s Late Header Earns Staveley MW Opening Day Victory**
Staveley MW kicked off their league campaign with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Clifton All Whites, with Ainsley Finney’s late winner sealing all three points after an entertaining contest at Inkersall Road.
With three players unavailable due to holidays, Staveley were forced into changes, although Clifton arrived in a similar position with several absentees of their own.
Staveley made a bright start, with Finney immediately showing his quality by holding the ball up well and bringing teammates into play. Freddie Norris then looked to release Joel Ward with an early forward pass, but the move was snuffed out for a throw-in.
Clifton’s first threat came after four minutes when Darshan Lemard burst down the left before squaring across the box. The danger wasn’t over, but Jack Deakin produced an excellent tackle to deny Mylo Baker a clear sight of goal.
Staveley won the game’s first corner through Joel Ward. His initial delivery was too flat, but after the ball was worked back to him, his second cross caused real problems before being flicked away just ahead of Tim Whitaker at the far post.
The breakthrough arrived after nine minutes. A dangerous through ball from Ewan Catt just outside the right corner of the area found Joel Ward, who was on hand to apply the finishing touch and give Staveley a deserved 1-0 lead.
Charlie Wood became the first player into the referee’s notebook shortly afterwards before Carter Tingle almost doubled the advantage, shrugging off two or three challenges before firing narrowly wide from a tight angle.
Although Clifton enjoyed spells of possession, with Mylo Baker and Darshan Lemard proving their main attacking outlets, they struggled to test Mitch Leivers in the Staveley goal. At the other end, a superb passing move through the thirds ended with Charlie Wood switching play brilliantly to Ewan Catt, was ruled offside by the officials flag.
Jack Deakin then went close with a strike from the edge of the area that drifted just wide, before Clifton fashioned two good opportunities in quick succession. A fine pass over the top released Baker, but Leivers produced an excellent save before the resulting corner came to nothing. Moments later Lemard again found space on the left, but his low ball across goal drifted harmlessly wide.
The visitors levelled on 33 minutes from a controversial free-kick Charlie Wood looked to have stopped another Darshan Lemard dribble by stopping the ball at the feet of the flying winger the impact of which caused him to fall over the dead ball rather than Woods leg. But in a game of opinions the only one that matters if the referee. The delivery was headed back across goal by Riece Bartram, allowing Mylo Baker to steer the ball home at the far post to make it 1-1.
Staveley responded positively. A poor clearance from the Clifton goalkeeper, Zac Noon gifted Staveley a corner, from which Dan Grierson’s header was eventually cleared. The pressure continued to build as Finney volleyed over from another corner before both he and Ewan Catt were denied, the latter requiring an excellent save from Noon.
Finney’s relentless work rate earned another free-kick late in the half. Bobbie White’s low delivery almost found the striker before play quickly switched to the other end, where Clifton won a corner that Riece Bartram headed wide after the initial danger had been cleared.
Right on the stroke of half-time, Staveley regained the lead. Recycling possession from a free-kick, Finney held the ball up superbly before releasing Joel Ward, who calmly picked his spot to make it 2-1.
Staveley began the second half with the same attacking intent, as Finney, Ewan Catt and Joel Ward all had opportunities inside the opening minutes, although Clifton continued to look dangerous through the impressive Baker and Lemard.
Staveley’s momentum was disrupted when Ewan Catt was forced off following a lengthy injury delay, with Michael Wilson replacing him. Soon afterwards, Clifton threatened from a corner as Mitch Leivers bravely collided with the post while preventing the visitors from equalising, requiring treatment before continuing.
Ward then somehow missed what looked the simplest chance of the afternoon after the ball was played across the six-yard box, while Leivers was again called into action to smother at the feet of Baker as the game became increasingly end-to-end. Carter Tingle and Finney both went close during an exciting spell.
Clifton eventually found a second equaliser on 68 minutes. Lemard once again burst down the wing before finding Riece Bartram, who got across his marker at the near post and fired an excellent finish into the roof of the net.
Tom Wood replaced Charlie Wood with 20 minutes remaining before Staveley made further late changes, introducing Ollie and JJ Cutts for Freddie Norris and Joel Ward as they searched for a winner.
That decisive moment arrived in the final minute of normal time. A superb Cater Tingle delivery into the box was met by Ainsley Finney, who powered home a header to spark celebrations and seal a deserved 3-2 victory.
It was an entertaining opening-day contest between two committed sides, but Staveley’s attacking intent and perseverance were rewarded with a dramatic late winner to get their league campaign off to the perfect start.
