AFC Stoneham beat Moneyfields 3-0 on Tuesday night and move above them in the table to 5th.

Goals from Mat Bainbridge (x2) and top-scorer Duarte Martins was enough to seal the victory on Tuesday night, improving Stoneham’s position in the table as they look to chase down the top two.

The opening 10 minutes saw Stoneham dominate the ball, but neither team created a clear goal scoring opportunity.

Callaghan was dangerous early on with his powerful runs and he nearly set Hills up with his deep cross to the back post, however the Moneyfields defender did brilliantly to reach the ball first and put it out for a corner.

Moneyfields didn’t have too many chances in the game due to Stoneham not allowing them time on the ball, but their first chance fell to Bell, who’s volley went over the bar and didn’t trouble Parker-Trott.

Stoneham did have the ball in the net after the keeper dropped the ball from a corner, but the referee says Kramer was impeded as he tried to catch it and gave the away side a free kick.

This was then followed by a chance by Laycock after he was thread through on goal by Pennery, however the former Stoneham man puts his shot uncharacteristically over the bar.

In the 38th minute and after all their pressure, Stoneham finally took the lead after Hills stole the ball away from the defender, who was trying to shepherd the ball out of play, and his cross was met by Martins who headed it home for his 26th goal of the season.

Just before half time, Stoneham deservedly doubled their lead courtesy of Mat Bainbridge, who picked the ball up on the edge of the area and drilled the ball low into the bottom right-hand corner, giving his side a two-goal cushion at half time.

HALF TIME: AFC Stoneham 2-0 Moneyfields FC

It was a perfect start for the Purps as they scored a third just six minutes into the second half.

A skewed clearance from Kramer fell kindly for Hills, who’s blocked shot found Bainbridge and he smashed the ballacross goal and into the side netting, doubling his goal tally for the game and giving the keeper no chance to save it.

Moneyfields had their first realchance of the second half, but it was saved comfortably by Parker-Trott, who did well to keep hold of it as Cornwell was racing in to pick up any loose balls.

The substitution of Nagle only added to Stoneham’s pressure and his pacey runs against a tiring defence caused some problems but didn’t lead to a goal.

The only real option Moneyfields had was to go long and look for their wingers, but for the second game in a row, Barnes and Dyer stopped any danger.

Towards the end of the game, the referee dished out two reds cards, one for Seidan and the other for a member of the Moneyfields coaching team, both for dissent after a challenge that saw the Moneyfields’ player forced off with an injury.

The last action of the game saw Nagle being brought down on the edge of the box, but the resulting free kick from Bainbridge was tipped over the bar and the game ended 3-0.

AFC Stoneham Starting XI: Parker-Trott, Barnes, Dyer, Bulpitt, Ovington, Clarke, Callaghan, Orvis (c), Martins, Bainbridge, Hills.

Subs: Thomson, Evans, Steel, Cleary, Nagle

Moneyfields Starting XI: Kramer, Chandler, Hazell, Pile, Cain, Sargeant, Pennery, Glen, Laycock, Bell, Cornwell.

Subs: Birmingham, Wyatt, Cooper, Seidan

By Freddie Dorman