SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER No 13
BY KAREN BROWNE
In a week that saw Roy Hodgson continue to look at youth in developing the National team with call ups for Southampton duo Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez, Jermaine Defoe overhauls Martin Chivers record for most Tottenham goals in European competitions, England’s opening batsman enjoy a run feast against Australia A (many Aussie fans regard their A side to be the second best team in the world), AP McCoy clocks up 4,000 winners, Twitter shares hit the stock market, Disney announces release date for the next Star Wars movie, tickets sell out for that much prized event The BBC Sports Personality of the Year and Tilly the West Yorkshire Goose gets to grips with her new artificial beak.
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SATURDAY 2nd NOVEMBER 2013
HAT TRICK HEROES
The weekend saw five more players add their names to the Hat Trick Hall of Fame and so taking the season’s tally to 104. With no goal times recorded in reserve team fixtures it was Kieran Bishop (FC Broxbourne Borough) who is credited with the magical 100th hat-trick of the campaign, joining him with trebles at the weekend were Andy Brown (Mursley United Reserves), Sean Foster (Sun Postal Sports Reserves), Meshach Williams (Hoddesdon Town Reserves) and Oliver Peters (Biggleswade United Reserves).
LEAGUE CHALLENGE TROPHY
The Second Round of the League Challenge Trophy kicked off with four matches with the big giant-killing coming at Totternhoe where the Division Two side knocked out Premier Division Harefield United thanks to a solitary Chris Golding strike after 52 minutes. First Division Southall were taken to extra time by Second Division New Bradwell St Peter before the visitors finally booked their place in the last sixteen with a 3-1 win, David Bitsindou giving Southall a 57th minute lead before St Peters levelled eleven minutes from time thanks to a well converted spot kick from Sam Bearman. The Londson side sealed their passage with a goal in each half of the extra period, L Baldura (100m) and Brice Boyer (115m). No problems for both Hatfield Town and FC Broxbourne Borough who both progressed against Division Two opposition, Two goals from Aaron Ewing (15 & 90+3m) were enough for Hatfield Town to defeat visiting Willen (for whom their goalkeeper preformed heroics to keep the score down) whilst FC Broxbourne were never really threatened as they saw off their hosts Wolverton Town 7-3, Kieran Bishop (3), Albert Adu-Donyinah, Alaa Oujdi, Anton Kostalas and Samir Hadi with their goals with a brace from Michael Rudniak and a single from James Byrne replying for the Milton Keynes based side.
PREMIER DIVISION
With the league leaders not in action the attention turned to the chasing pack, Hanwell Town were thankful for a late winner as they came from 0-2 down to defeat visiting Biggleswade United 3-2 at Reynolds Field. Tom Cookman (9m) and Reynaldo Carbon (15m) stunned the title favourites with their early double salvo and the hosts were grateful to Ricky Pither, who followed up last week’s treble with a brace (25 & 29m), to send the teams in at the interval all square. Leading goalscorer Bill Healey was the hero after the break with his late winner that moved Hanwell to within six points of the leaders Ampthill Town. Berkhamsted remain third as they secured a 4-0 success at Stotfold, Connor Calcutt (27), Jordon Frederick (33) and Frankie Jowle (35) put them well on the way by the interval with Frederick adding another (47) to complete the job. Colney Heath moved into fourth place with a 3-0 home success over St Margaretsbury, Jay Welsh (2m) and Rhys Lawrence (9m) sent them firmly on the way with James Eames adding the third in stoppage time to seal the win. At the other end of the table promoted London Lions continue to find life hard in the top flight as a seventh straight league defeat leaves them just two points off the bottom rung, the latest defeat coming at Oxhey Jets where the hosts edged the game by the odd goal in five. Jets had to twice come from behind to grab the win thanks to goals from Sam Phillips (33m), Adam Lowton (70m) and Warren Gladdy (84m) with the Lions goals being netted by Nicholas Landesberg (7m) and (70m). Bottom club Leverstock Green continue to show promise as their host of new signings look to knit together, a goalless first half at home to Hillingdon Borough got even better when Jose Figura put them ahead three minutes after the restart however Ruben Lourenco levelled matters from the spot eight minutes later before a brace from Rob Laney (61m & 85m) settled matters and left ‘Green’ still seeking their first league points since the opening day of the season. London Colney returned to winning ways with a hard fought 2-1 success at Tring Athletic, Danny Fitzgerald firing them ahead in first half stoppage time and Martin Collins increasing the lead on 54 minutes. The hosts fought back and a Chris Salmon goal in the 68rh minute gave them fresh heart but they were unable to breach the Colney defence again thus being denied a share of the spoils. Cockfosters made it five wins from their last five home league games with a 3-0 win over Hertford Town, Emund Protain bagging a brace (17m & 56m pen) with Adem Ali (43m) completing the scoring. The day’s other fixture saw London Tigers just see off visiting Hadley by the odd goal in five. Omar El-Bakkali opening the scoring in the 37th minute and that’s how it stayed at the interval, Hadley levelled with a 54th minute penalty from Ivan Machado however Tigers immediately restored their lead when Kehinde Adeshigbin netted in the 55th minute. Adeshigbin added his second two minutes into stoppage time and another penalty from Machado two minutes later rounded off the day’s proceedings.
DIVISION ONE
Winslow United‘s fine home form continued as they proved too strong for visiting Chesham United Reserves, winning 4-1 thanks to goals from Brandon Graham (12m), Drew Mitten (34 & 35m) and Robert McDonald (75m) with Chris Mason replying for the visitors. Kings Langley’s continued charge up the table was maintained as they moved into third place with an emphatic 6-2 success at Kentish Town, Jack Johnson (36m pen) and Lee Burgoyne (43m) eased them into a two goal interval lead and after the break goals from Alessandro Campana (50m) and Adam Hallissey (75m) quickly doubled that lead. Jordon McFarland pulled one back for the hosts (84m) but ‘Kings’ quickly added to their lead with goals from Paul Insley 985m) and a second from Campana (90m) before the scoring was completed when Paul Read (90+2m) netted for the home side. Amersham Town went down 0-1at home to Codicote when Joe Tyler netted as early as the 6rh minute while Arlesey Town Reserves continued to find life hard and their struggle amongst the relegation places was confirmed when their trip to Harpenden Town resulted in a 1-3 defeat. Harry Hunt put the hosts on the way with a tenth minute strike before Lewis Foster evened matters up only for a very late brace from Ben Dawes (88 & 89m) secured full points for the Hertfordshire club. Wodson Park recovered from going behind early to defeat visiting Buckingham Athletic 2-1, Nathan Perna opening the scoring in the 2nd minute before the hosts hit back with goals from Craig Knightly (20m pen) and Sam Muir (38m). Bedford and Risborough Rangers shared the points with a 2-2 draw at McMullen Park, again the hosts had to come from behind, Danny Gray (54m) and James Shrimpton (65m pen) looked to have won the points for the Buckinghamshire side but the hosts hit back with two goals in the last twelve minutes to salvage a point, Adam Kenny (78m pen) and Craig Grieve (83m) netting the goals. The day’s other game saw Langford’s dismal season continue as the bottom club went down 1-3 at home to Crawley Green, Peter O’Donnell (12m) and Chris Gibson (37m) sending the visitors on their way although Junior Ideioli managed to halve the deficit with 22 minutes remaining the hopes were short lived when Gibson netted his second of the game three minutes later.
DIVISION TWO
A crowd of 45 were present as unbeaten Pitstone & Ivinghoe entertained league leaders Kent Athletic with the hosts showing their battling qualities as they twice hit back from a goal down to maintain their unbeaten league record with a creditable 2-2 draw. Michael Moss fired Kent into a 12th minute lead and they were to hang on to that advantage until the stroke of half time when Paolo Aqua levelled the scores. After the break the visitors regained their advantage with twenty minutes remaining when Jason Penman netted but six minutes later Mark Burfoot became the home crowd’s hero with his side’s second equalizer of the game. With the leaders dropping those two points it gave second place Hale Leys United the chance to close the gap and they did it in style with a 6-1 thumping at last season’s runners-up Aston Clinton. Alex Woodfine firing them ahead on 13 minutes only for Aston to bounce right back with a Carl Gunning strike two minutes later. Aston Goss restored the visitors lead on 35 minutes and second half strikes from Tom Brindley (65m), Woodfine (71m), Brindley (76m) and Goss (90m) completed the scoring and moved Hale Leys to within four points of the leaders. The day’s other fxture saw new-boys Grendon Rangers record their second win of the campaign with a solitary goal success at Tring Corinthians thanks to Stephen Tavender’s 44th minute effort, the result giving the newcomers vital breathing space away from the basement clubs.
MONDAY 4th NOVEMBER 2013
HERTS SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP FIRST ROUND
Oxhey Jets never recovered from a delayed kick off due to players being stuck in traffic and having fallen behind in the first minute at Top Field to their more illustrious opponents Hitchin Town, the Calor League Premier Division side ran out comfortable 4-0 winners.
TUESDAY 5th NOVEMBER 2013
It was certainly a night of fireworks as Hoddesdon Town rocketed to the evening’s biggest win, a sparkling performance saw Tring Athletic overcome higher league opponents Ware while the clash of the Premier’s top two clubs in the Dudley Latham Memorial Cup was a damp squib as a waterlogged pitch caused the fixture at Reynolds Field to be postponed.
PREMIER DIVISION
The night’s only game saw Harefield United defeat visiting London Tigers 3-1, a result that saw the hosts climb to seventh in the table thanks to goals from Jack Reader (2) and Daniel Fleming with Bamba Kavanly netting the consolation for the visitors.
DUDLEY LATHAM MEMORIAL CUP SECOND ROUND
Berkhamsted booked their quarter final spot with a convincing 4-1 win over AFC Dunstable at Broadwater. Joshua Chamberlain (31m) and Jordon Frederick (35m) put them firmly in the driving seat and after the break goals from Frankie Jowle (60m) and Connor Calcutt (85m) sandwiched a Carl Ibbotson effort in the 64th minutes.
DIVISION ONE
Codicote recovered from going behind to a Chris McCarthy 21st minute strike to secure a point at Gosling Stadium against Harpenden Town thanks to David Iwediuno’s strike in the 39th minute. Winslow United recorded their first away league success of the season when they triumphed 3-1 at Stony Stratford Town. Claude Seanla opened the scoring in the 36th minute and a brace from Ashley farmer (55 & 59m) put the game beyond the reach of the hosts although they did managed a consolation with Craig McClanaghan’s strike twenty minutes from time.
BERKS & BUCKS SENIOR TROPHY QUARTER FINAL
Holmer Green crashed out of the competition when going down on their travels 1-5 to Reading Town at Scours Lane, Ryan Tackley’s 89th minute goal the only joy against their Hellenic League opponents.
HERTS SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP FIRST ROUND
London Colney were greeted by the night’s biggest attendance, 256 watching them do battle with Football League side Stevenage at the Lamax Stadium. The hosts fielding several players with Football League experience advanced with a 4-0 win although Colney did give a good account of themselves and were applauded off the park for their efforts. Having met on Saturday in the SSML Colney Heath and St Margaretsbury locked horns again at The Recreation Ground although the hosts fielded a very much changed side with no less than six of their U18 side starting the game. The visitors proving too strong, running out 2-0 winners thanks to a brace from Joss Lillis (23 and 81m). The night’s biggest winners also came in a game featuring two SSML sides, Hoddesdon Town thumping Leverstock Green 7-1 at Lowfield, Ben Andreos (13), Lorenzo Scibelli (26 & 45) and Tyler Hatherly (37) killing the tie off by the interval. Adam Bolle made in 5-0 in the 74th minute before Leverstock scored the goal of the game one minute later when Ashley Harewood-Williams volleyed home a rocket from 25 yards but the hosts sealed their win with two goals in the final nine minutes, Hatherley and Bolle both adding their second of the night. Tring Athletic claimed the biggest scalp of the evening when defeating Ryman League Ware 3-1 in their own back-yard, Trevor Gibbs, Graham Hall (from the spot) and Martin Skinner netting their goals. London Lions crashed out in their first venture in the competition, going down 0-5 to a much fancied Cheshunt while the night’s remaining tie saw Hertford Town advance into round two thanks to a penalty shoot-out success at Sawbridgeworth Town, the two sides locked a 2-2 after 90 minutes and 3-3 after the extra thirty minutes, Charlie Smith, Adam Lawton and Brandon White netting the regular goals to set up the epic shoot-out which went to sudden death before the visitors triumphed 3-2.