Royalists capitulate against in-form St Panteleimon

Windsor FC suffered their fourth defeat of the Combined Counties Premier Division North season as they lost 5-0 away to promotion chasers St Panteleimon.

This was always likely to be a challenging encounter for a Windsor side still struggling to bed down a settled side in the early weeks of the season, but boss Mark Cooper (right, centre) could not have foreseen the Royalists crumbling inside the first quarter of an hour.

Nico Campbell netted St Panteleimon’s opener in the third minute before Ayub Albadri doubled their advantage in the eighth minute. A third goal followed just four minutes later from Ahmed Doukhi as Windsor folded away to the league leaders. Doukhi added his second of the game to make it 4-0 just past the half-hour mark, firing in beyond a bewildered Sam Butcher. The second half was very much about damage limitation for the visitors, and Cooper’s men were more resilient after taking on the manager’s half-time instruction, howevever, Albadri netted the home side’s fifth goal in the 91st minute.

Windsor welcome Ascot United to Stag Meadow this Saturday, with the visitors in fine form. The Yellamen edged out North Greenford United 3-2 at the Racecourse Ground last weekend to move sixth in the division.

Elsewhere in the division, Holyport FC suffered their seventh defeat of the campaign, losing 2-0 at Abbey Rangers.

It already looks like Port are set for a relegation battle this season after picking up just four points from their nine matches so far. But there were positive signs in last week’s 4-3 home defeat to CB Hounslow, and Port remain very much in touch with the sides just above them in the table.

On Saturday, Antonios Kazakis and substitute Marcus Williams were on the scoresheet as the home side claimed a routine win.