Southall this season are playing their home games at the ground of Hayes & Yeading. The SkyEx also poses as the training ground of fictional team, “AFC Richmond” in the Apple TV show, Ted Lasso. Could we “Believe” in another win over Southall after last seasons pair of 3-0 victories?

The game kicked off and started at a fairly frantic pace. That momentum almost instantly swung in favour of Moneys. Inside three minutes, James Franklyn found himself just inside the box but with his back to goal, as Jordan Pile screams “set”. JP ran onto the ball just outside the box and with a left foot shot, he Pile-drives it down to the keepers left. A fantastic finish and it put Moneys in the early lead.

The rest of the second half was a fairly even affair, maybe just about leaning towards Moneys in terms of threatening movement, but it just lacked a cutting edge in the final third. Southall did put some pressure on in the last 10, which resulted in Rudi Blankson earning himself a yellow, whilst defending from the front.

Half-Time: Southall 0-1 Moneyfields

The second half got underway with almost as quick success as the first. Around 7 minutes into the second half, Moneys moved out from the right side of defence and into midfield. New signing Faris Khallouqi continued the cross-field and forward movement, passing across to Franko. Faris ran between the right back and right centre half, as Franko passed around the right back into Faris’ path as he entered the box. A couple of step-overs, a smart turn back inside towards goal with a fantastic touch to give him breathing room from the defender, he was able to unleash a shot that the keeper couldn’t handle. A fantastic bit of skill and Moneys are looking comfortable.

A smart sub followed from Manager Callum Glen, as he brought on Asad Ssemwogerere for his Moneys league debut, in place of Faris Khallouqi. Asad fresh and fast legs along with a little more to offer in terms of defence, were a good addition to help manage that two goal lead.

On the hour, Smarty made his only real save as an effort from close range brought a superb stop from the Moneys stopper. A few moment later another Moneys debutant in the form of Ibrahim Busari earned himself a yellow for a mis-timed challenge by the young full back.

Just after 70 minutes, two more subs were made just a few minutes apart, as Ngombi replaced Blankson and O’Connell replaced Payce.

Tom Cain managed to talk himself into the referees book on 77 for some over-zealous protests at decisions Caino and the ref didn’t agree on. Keeper Cal Smart almost straight after got a yellow card  for “delaying the restart” by taking a free kick both not where the ref said he’d asked it to be taken.

Franko’s fantastic shift of two assists came to an end on 86 as more defensive cover was brought on in the shape of Yumo Wan. Just four minutes of added time followed and Southall couldn’t mount any kind of other notable challenge on goal, so Moneys walked away with three points, two goals and a clean sheet.

Full-Time: Southall 0-2 Moneyfields

Moneys XI: Smart, Gates, Busari, Pile, Jeffes, Cain, Khallouqi [Ssemwogerere 54], Cooper, Payce [O’Connell 74], Blankson [Ngombi 70], Franklyn [Wan 86]

Subs [not used]: Holubec