SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER No. 28
By Bill Scholes
SATURDAY 10th MARCH 2012
A very unusual Saturday in Division Two. There were 6 games played, 32 goals scored and 32 different names on the scoresheets!
Just the one solitary hat trick this week, scored by Tyrone Taylor for Ampthill against Welwyn Garden City
PREMIER DIVISION
Both Royston and AFC Dunstable were in midweek action, both winning and both scoring five goals in the process and thereby pushing Dunstable Town back down to third place. It remained thus after Saturday’s games as all three continued on their winning ways. Royston remain two points clear at the top after beating London Tigers 3-0 in front of 142 spectators at Garden Walk, Kaan Fehmi opening the scoring with a 23rd minute penalty, whilst in a match played at London Colney, Dunstable Town recorded a very comfortable 7-2 win against struggling Hatfield Town. Nathan Frater set the ball rolling after just one minute, and the remaining goals came along at regular intervals. AFC Dunstable keep the one point ahead of their very near neighbours after their 3-0 home win over Broxbourne Boro, Tony Burnett, Hayden Wills and BJ Christie all on the scoresheet. Leverstock Green succumbed to their fourth league defeat on the trot as they went down 3-1 at home to neighbours Berkhamsted. Another crowd of over 100 saw former Green’s boss Mick Vipond bring his Berko side to Pancake Lane for the first time, and inevitably three of their five former Green players appeared on the scoresheet –Dale Sears, Frankie Jowle and Matt Wardle. The third game to attract a crowd of over 100 was at Bell Close, Leighton where hosts Aylesbury Utd eventually ran out 5-3 winners over Holmer Green. The Ducks got off to a flyer, scoring after just two minutes but Holmer then had the temerity to go into a 2-1 lead inside of 20 minutes. Two goals from the Ducks restored their lead before half time, with Holmer’s cause not helped by Nott-Macaire’s dismissal for two yellows. Stacey Fields second goal helped restore Ducks two goal advantage, but back came Holmer with 20 minutes left with an Andy Shed rocket. The home side finally felt safe in the very last minute through a Dan Jones penalty. Haringey Boro’s 9 match unbeaten run came to end at Stotfold when they conceded a goal in the 5th minute of added on time to go down 2-1. Dean Fenton gave Boro a first half lead, but Stotfold hit back through Mark Bryant and Lewis Holmes. A brace apiece from Ian Cooper and Jamie Eames saw Colney Heath to a 4-0 win away at Hertford Town whilst Hanwell Town moved off the bottom after their surprise 1-0 win at home to high flying Tring Athletic. Myles Stephenson scored the all important goal a couple of minutes after the restart. Biggleswade Utd are battling hard to keep themselves out of the danger zone at the bottom and they did their chances no harm at all with a resounding 5-0 win away at Harefield Utd. All five goals came in the first half, from John Bitting, Sean Murray, Ryan Nichol, Martin Russell and David Parker. St. Margaretsbury have been slowly moving themselves up the table over the last couple of months and they have reached exactly half way and they continued their resurgence with a resounding 6-2 home win over Hadley. Elsewhere Hillingdon Boro and Oxhey Jets got through the ninety minutes without troubling the scorer.
DIVISION ONE
Leaders London Colney lost only their second league game since the end of August when they went down 1-0 away at fourth placed Harpenden Town, the sole goal coming from Ben Dawes after just three minutes. Hoddesdon Town are up to second, eight points behind the leaders, after their comprehensive 5-0 win away at St. Albans City Reserves. All the goals, including a brace from David Ayres, came in the second half. Hoddesdon have however, played four more games than Colney, and five more than Ampthill Town, whom they lead by two points. Ampthill went one better than Hoddesdon, running in six without reply against Welwyn Garden City, including a hat trick from Tyrone Taylor and a brace from Shaun Cooksey. A second half goal from Kyle Bentwood enabled London Lions to beat Amersham Town 1-0 and move up a couple of places to 5th, just above Cranfield Utd who lost 3-1 away at Chesham Utd Reserves. Cranfield could have been over the hills and away in the first half if they had brought their shooting boots with them but their recent scoring exploits appeared to have deserted them. They did open the scoring just before the hour mark, when Nathan Peacock robbed the keeper and drove home from a narrow angle, but Matt Lench equalised almost immediately. Chesham then gained the upper hand and sub Ben Edwards scored two of the easiest goals he will ever score to secure the win. The Cranfield supporters made up for their disappointment by playing “spot the Red Kites” hovering over the ground. Crawley Green drew 2-2 at home against New Bradwell St. Peter with all four goals coming in the first half. Robbie O’Dell gave the home side a dream start, scoring after just four minutes but two goals in a four minute spell from New Bradwell gave them a lead which lasted until Gary Capehorn restored parity ten minutes from the break. With just 15 minutes left on the clock, basement dwellers Sun Postal Sports led Langford 2-1 at home and looked on course for a second successive victory, but two goals in the last 10 minutes from James Osbourne and Kim Forsythe turned the game around enabling Langford to run out 3-2 winners. A goal in each half, from Dave Pigden and Lorenzo Ferrari, was sufficient to see Cockfosters to a 2-0 win away at Stony Stratford Town. Buckingham Athletic hosted Bedford at Stratford Fields, but it was not a game that will live long in the memory banks as the two sides battled out a drab 1 –1 draw. Bedford had much the better of the opening minutes and should have scored on 11 minutes but the ball was headed wide of an open goal. Again Bedford could have scored on 16 minutes but another header failed to find the Athletic net. Nothing was seen of the home attack and Wayne Simpson in the Bedford goal did not have to make a save during the whole of the first half. Bedford continued their assault on the home goal and a good save by keeper Paul Warnecki kept them out. Just on half time another Bedford chance went begging when a player miss-kicked in front of the Athletic goal. Thus the half ended with Athletic still in the game and Bedford rueing all those misses. Whatever manager Jim Gunn said to the Buckingham players at half time worked as they had the better of the opening minutes. Simpson made a good save and the follow up shot was cleared off the goal line. Bedford responded with a shot that cleared the home bar from a good position. Athletic should have taken the lead, but Andy Bennett through on goal saw his shot blocked by Simpson. Again another player through on the Bedford goal shot the ball wide of the far post. Just when the watching spectators despaired of seeing a goal, Athletic scored on 85 minutes when substitute Josh Fagan raced clear to see his shot go in off a Bedford post. With timing running out, Bedford mounted a last ditch attack and from a right wing cross Alex Taylor headed in from close range on 90 +1 minutes. In the end neither team really deserved to win this match which was not the most enjoyable spectacle for both sets of supporters. Sun Postal remain rooted to the bottom of the table, but just three points cover the four clubs above them who themselves are beginning to be cut off from Wodson Park, who now have a 10 point cushion following their 4-0 win away at Kentish Town. Wodson’s goals included a penalty double from Robbie Green.
DIVISION TWO
No change in the top 6 places. Leaders Aston Clinton had a comprehensive 6-0 win at home to Kent Athletic – six different names appearing on the scoresheet, whilst second place Mursley Utd racked up a 5-1 win away at Tring Corinthians – again five different scorers. Totternhoe, despite taking a two goal lead inside twenty minutes, were held to a 3-3 draw at home to Bletchley Town – again in this game all six goals were attributable to six different scorers! Risboro Rangers closed the gap between themselves and Winslow Utd to two points after their 4-0 home win against Caddington – yes, you’ve guessed it, four different scorers again. Hale Leys Utd moved out of the bottom three after their big 5-2 win at home to MK Wanderers, seven different scorers again, and finally completing the picture, Old Bradwell Utd won 2-1 at home to Pitstone & Ivinghoe.
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY AT SUN POSTAL SPORTS FC
Sun Postal Sports FC is an ambitious club that as of yet has not lived up to their expectations. We are therefore looking to undergo a major transformation. To achieve this however we have identified that we need a fresh, dynamic approach, with new committed and experienced personnel to drive forward the senior football section. We are keen to hear from individuals or consortiums that would be keen to be involved in taking the football team forward. We are seeking expressions of interests from people who could fill the following posts: Chairman, Hon Secretary, Hon Treasurer Programme Editor, Website Coordinator, Club Sponsor and First Team Manager. The existing officers have identified that a new impetus is required and will remain as Committee Members during a transitional period to assist any new persons joining the club. If you are interested in being part of an exciting transformation and to take forward the football club to new levels please e mail in the first instance stating your name, contact details and position interested in. We will then be in contact and arrange to meet with you.
PLEASE NOTE: APPLICATIONS FOR THE POST OF FIRST TEAM MANAGER ARE TO BE RECEIVED BY 5.00PM FRIDAY 23RD MARCH 2012.
NEW MANAGEMENT AT COLNEY HEATH FC
New 1st team manager at Colney Heath is Glen Parry. He replaces Gary Phillips who has left to join Stevenage Borough. Parry recently left Cheshunt, a club he had represented for a number of years, having had a brief spell in caretaker charge of the Ambers towards the end of 2011. Also joining as Coach is Mark Beels, who had a spell as manager at Broxbourne Borough. Frank Patrick stays in the Management set up after steering the side to 4 consecutive league wins as caretaker assisted by Jamie Forster.
All news / views etc to Bill Scholes