Newsletter No 14 by Bill Scholes
00:44 28 Nov 12
Saturday 24th November
The first real weather induced hiccup of the season arrived on Saturday with a total of 22 postponements from the projected fixture list. A very well done to all those clubs who did manage to get their games on in spite of the pretty awful conditions
There were just two hat tricks from the games that did survive the weather, both coming in Division One. Jamie Warne scored three for Crawley Green against Langford and Ian Thorne did likewise against Sun Postal Sports.
CHALLENGE TROPHY – SECOND ROUND
In one of the few matches to escape the weather, Wolverton hosted near neighbours Buckingham Athletic in a throw back to the old days of muddy, wet and windy conditions which saw Athletic just edge home by 2 goals to one. The match began and ended in steady rain, but the pitch held up remarkably well to ensure a good game for those spectators that braved the conditions. The first chance went to Wolverton but Tom Clark in the Athletic goal pushed it away for a corner. It was fairly even as both sides struggled with the conditions. Athletic should have gone ahead but Darrell Thompson shot was saved by Nigel Wharton in the home goal. Once again, Clark came to the Athletic rescue as he pushed another shot from Mark O’ Connor wide of the goal. The breakthrough came on 40 minutes when Andy Bennett scored from a cross by Thompson to put Athletic ahead. There was just time for another Athletic chance to be squandered before the half ended. The second half began well for Athletic but they failed to convert several chances. This allowed Wolverton back into the game and they pressed hard for the equaliser. A great shot by Wolverton’s Mark Nicholls brought an equally good save from Clark on 62 minutes. Athletic had a narrow escape when Clark fumbled a shot, but Ryan Wiffen cleared the ball almost off the line for a corner. It was mostly Wolverton now and only another great save from Clark prevented O’Connor from scoring. Just when it looked like Athletic would see the game out, Wolverton scored when O’Connor ran through the away defence to shoot the ball past Clark on 88 minutes. However with the final kick of the game, Athletic forced the winner when Wiffen converted from a free kick to score in the third minute of added time. The final whistle blew and joy for Athletic but heartbreak for a gallant Wolverton team. Congratulations must go the Wolverton to get the match on, to both sets of players for how they played the game in difficult conditions and to the match officials who all gave a splendid display.
CHALLENGE TROPHY – THIRD ROUND
Pitstone & Ivinghoe conceded a 9th minute goal at home to their Premier Division visitors Hadley, Ben Luck on the mark, but reached the half time break just the one goal down. However the second half was a different affair as Hadley ran in a further four goals from Josh Noyes, Wilson Carvalho, Alan Murray and Alexis Nicolou.
PREMIER DIVISION
League leaders Dunstable Town knew they would be faced with a hard game as they hosted Ampthill Town, fresh from their Vase success last week, and so it proved. Christian Lester headed the visitors into the lead ten minutes after the break from a well taken free kick to threaten the hosts unbeaten record, but Dunstable bounced back to level the scores 16 minutes later through leading scorer Lee Roache – another header from a free kick, this one from Newman Carney. Aylesbury Utd romped to 7-0 win over struggling Holmer Green, with a hat trick from Louis Austin, and doubles from Steve Hatch and Stacey Field – a win which allowed the Ducks to close the gap on Dunstable to four points. Holmer found themselves two down in ten minutes as Hatch headed home from a corner with just 75 seconds played, before Austin grabbed his first. It remained thus until just before half time when three goals in five minutes put United five up ( Field, Austin and Field again) and effectively killed the game. The weather continued to do it’s worst and conditions deteriorated in the second half, making football difficult but the Ducks, an apt nickname, added two more through Hatch and Austin to complete Aylesbury’s biggest win for many years. This was the third game in a row that Holmer had not found the opposition net, conceding 22 goals in the process. St. Margaretsbury were one of the sides hit by the weather and London Colney took advantage of their inactivity by moving above them into 5th spot with a 3-1 win away at Biggleswade United A brace from top scorer Matt Newman and one from Matt Sutton helped Colney to a three goal lead before Josh Dance pulled one back for the home side. Two goals from Stewart King, one a penalty, bookended Ricky Baker’s reply for hosts Stotfold, and helped Tring Athletic to a 2-1 win which moved them into the top half of the table. Leverstock Green returned to winning ways as they triumphed 4-3 in the rain at Hatfield Town's Gosling Stadium. The pitch passed a morning inspection despite the forecast being - correctly - for continuing rain all afternoon, and both sides tried their best to play football despite the dreadful conditions. Two goals from Tobi Akin and a Curt Dizon effort had put the visitors 3-0 up, before further goals from Hatfield’s Cletus Isiri and then Levy’s Harvey Zaha made the score 4-1. Isiri scored again to reduce the deficit to two, and although Darryl Smith further reduced the gap to one in stoppage time, it was too late.
DIVISION ONE
A second half hat trick from Jamie Warne helped Crawley come from a goal down to run out comfortable 4-1 winners against Langford. Crawley created the better chances in the opening 25 minutes. After 2 minutes JJ Billy ran from the halfway line evading 2 tackles but put his shot in to the side netting. Lee Loasby then set up Billy but his effort was well collected by Grant Beckwith in the Langford goal. Langford replied after 13 minutes with a shot from Gary Walker which was easily saved by Dean Bull. Shortly after Adam Reid had a shot deflected wide and from the corner Lee Loasby headed just wide. After 18 minutes Chris Gibson set up Billy who rounded the keeper but was unable to keep his shot on target. Crawley literally paid the penalty for their missed chances when Lee Loasby conceded a penalty after 32 minutes. Jamie Osborne made no mistake from the spot kick to put the hosts 1-0 in front at the break. Crawley started brightly after the break and after 52 minutes Stuart Strange made a good run into the box and his shot was handled by Jas Genesis. Jamie Warne blasted in the penalty to put Crawley level. Jamie Warne then turned provider after 64 minutes when his cross from the left was met by Chris Gibson. Beckwith made an outstanding save from Gibson but the rebound fell to Loasby who set up JJ Billy to make it 2-1. Beckwith then saved efforts from Gibson and Adam Reid before Jamie Warne scored again after 79 minutes.Warne collect the ball on the edge of the box from a Sean Downey header and calmly lobbed the ball over Beckwith to make it 3-1. O’Donnell then set up Jamie Warne who smashed the ball past Beckwith to make it 4-1 after 84 minutes. Langford failed to register one shot on target in the second half as Crawley dominated the 45 minute period. In the only other game in the Division, Bedford had a comfortable 4-0 win away at Sun Postal Sports, helped in no small part by a hat trick from Ian Thorne. Josh Sturniolo was also on the mark for the visitors.
DIVISION TWO
With leaders Aston Clinton in Cup action, The 61 FC had the opportunity to go top but they could only manage a point as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to local rivals Kent Athletic. Adam Currington put the visitors in front just before the break, but The 61 FC had to wait until 5 minutes from the end for Arthur Wallace’s point saving equaliser. Totternhoe’s 4-0 win away at Caddington, which included a brace from Adrian Millard, enabled them to move above The 61 FC and into second place. Ross Morrissey and Jonny Clarke also found the net for Totternhoe. Risborough Rangers, still with games in hand, moved up several places following their 5-2 win at near neighbours Hale Leys Utd. Andy Hird put Rangers in front midway through the first half, but two goals in 5 minutes from Carl Moreton and Sean Coles for Hale Leys bookending a goal from Rangers Jamie Shrimpton, brought level pegging at 2-2 just after the break. However, a second from Shrimpton, an OG and a late goal from Ben Williams saw Rangers safely home.
ANAGRAM RECORDS TROPHY – SECOND ROUND
Aston Clinton moved into the Third Round after a 2-0 win at home to Herts County league side Cuffley. Both goals came in the last half hour from Kevin Mealor, the ex Holmer Green, Burnham, Aylesbury Utd and Aylesbury FC player. Old Bradwell Utd put up a brave fight before going down 4-2 away at the holders, Letchworth Garden City Eagles. Bradwell’s goals came from Pete Madigan and Fabio Marques-Moldes.
OCTOBER TEAM OF THE MONTH AWARDS
The winners of the awards for The October Team of the Month were as follows:
PREMIER DIVISION Oxhey Jets
DIVISION ONE Cockfosters
DIVISION TWO Tring Corinthians
Congratulations to all three recipients and may their (newly presented Molten) balls run kindly, as they say in the Trade. Thanks to Andy Passman and Mid Beds Soccer for their continued sponsorship of these Awards.
F.A.VASE – SECOND ROUND UPDATE
Amersham Town have admitted to playing an ineligible player in their 1-0 win over Rye Utd and the F.A. have therefore removed them from the competition and re-instated Rye who will now host South Park in the Third Round. This news means that we have just 4 clubs,- Ampthill, Dunstable Town, Oxhey Jets and Hertford – surviving to contest the Third Round.
All news, views etc for inclusion in the Newsletter to
Bill Scholes
billscholes@hotmail.co.uk
