Stone Old Alleynians open league season with battling win over Studley

Author: Phil Johnson
Published: 11th August, 2025 @ 22:08
Updated: 11th August, 2025

Stone Old Alleynians won their first league game of the season with a closely fought 2-1 victory over Studley.

With both teams having been knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup in the previous week’s matches, both were keen to start their league fixtures with a positive result.

Dream start for the Old Boys

Within a minute of the kick off, the Old Boys had scored. Alleynians launched their first attack, managing to work the ball through to last season’s top scorer, Jack Tomlinson. Despite the linesman’s flag being raised, Tomlinson went on to slot the ball home. He had been in an offside position when he received the ball but the referee had spotted that the ball had been deflected to him by a defender, and as a result he had been played onside. After consultation by the officials, the goal stood and Alleynians had a very early 1-0 lead.

Stone Old Alleynians defender Joe Baxter prepares to tackle a Studley player in the opening minutes of the match. — Joe Baxter moves in to close down a Studley attacker during the early stages at Kings Park.

Studley push for a leveller

After such a chaotic start, both sides settled into the game, passing the ball around the midfield without making any real threat to either goal. However, in the 14^thminute, Studley went close when their lively No.9, Chris Uwabor, broke through the Alleynians defensive line, unleashing a shot which was well saved by home goalkeeper Raajan Gill.

In the 24^th minute, there was a huge shout by Studley for a penalty. From a freekick on the edge of the Stone penalty area, the ball was struck powerfully and appeared to hit a stray Alleynian arm. Despite protests from the Studley players, the referee adjudged that it was not a penalty and waved away the appeals.

Studley players raise their arms appealing for a penalty after the ball hits an Alleynians defender’s arm in the penalty area. — Studley players appeal for a penalty after the ball strikes an arm inside the Alleynians box — the referee waves play on.

Alleynians were finding it quite difficult to make any real impression on the Studley goal, while the visitors were looking more than likely to equalise. Uwabor forced home keeper Gill into a good save with a shot from 15 yards and then, two minutes later, Gill had to race off his line to beat Uwabor to the ball. The goalkeeper just got his hand to the ball first while the visiting No.9 went down like the proverbial “ton of bricks” appealing for a penalty. The referee, who was close to the incident, waved away the loud appeals for a spot kick.

Harper pounces on keeper’s error

In the 45^th minute, Alleynians’ young winger Harry Harper chased a long ball from out of the home defence. The Studley keeper, Divin Emmanuel, got to the ball first and attempted to clear it. Fortunately for Alleynians, he completely miskicked it, which allowed Harper to run on and steer the ball into an empty net, giving the home team a 2-0 lead at the break.

Harry Harper celebrates scoring Alleynians’ second goal after rounding the Studley keeper following a miskick.

Half time: Stone Old Alleynians 2-0 Studley

The 2^nd half saw Studley seeing a lot of the ball without creating any real chances. However, in the 52^nd minute, they made an attack down the left wing. They crossed the ball into the middle, giving their No.8, Zaki Kamali, the opportunity to fire in a shot at the home goal. Fortunately for the Old Boys, keeper Gill was well placed to pull off another good save.

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Although Alleynians’ attacks were rare, their winger Harry Harper looked dangerous every time he got hold of the ball. He had a number of effective runs with the ball, taking on and beating a number of defenders as he tried to create chances for his fellow forwards.

In the 62^nd minute, Studley went close to pulling a goal back when the dangerous Uwabor got on to the end of a cross into the home box, but he prodded his shot just wide. Four minutes later, after a tussle in the home penalty area, a visiting player ended up on the floor and a penalty was awarded to Studley. No cards were shown and Studley’s No.8, Zaki Kamali stepped up and smashed the ball confidently into the top corner, making the score 2-1, giving his side the hope of a comeback.

A Studley player falls in the penalty area under a challenge from Alex Harrison, leading to a spot kick for the visitors. — Studley are awarded a second-half penalty after a challenge in the box from Alex Harrison.

The Old Boys were now under pressure with Studley looking dangerous as they looked for the equaliser. They created a number of shooting chances forcing home keeper Gill to save a series of goal bound efforts.

The closest they came to the equaliser was when the dangerous Uwabor again, got through onto goal after beating a number of defenders. Gill came to his side’s rescue again, diving at the feet of the dangerous forward to get hold of the ball and ensure that the game ended with the final score of 2-1 to Stone Old Alleynians.