NEWSLETTER No. 25

By Bill Scholes

Another cold Saturday but at least we were spared the wind of last week.

Doesn’t time fly when you are having fun – two thirds of the season already gone - just three months left but I’m sure there are a number of twists and turns to come in the race for promotion, and the battle against relegation, and that’s across all three divisions.

SATURDAY 28^th January 2012

There were 5 hat tricks this week, with the quickest coming from Lee Roache of Dunstable Town who scored three times in the first half, all within a 24 minute period. In Division One, there were three goals apiece for Jimmy Warner for London Colney, Robbie 0’Dell for Crawley Green and Bilal Butt for Tokyngton Manor, whilst Tariq Kotey scored a rare hat trick for MK Wanderers.

PREMIER DIVISION

Royston Town recovered from their Vase disappointment with six of the best at Harefield Utd to maintain their 4 point lead at the top. The Hares had the temerity to take the an early lead through Jack Reader, but the Crows hit back with doubles from Matt Standen and Kaan Fehmi and singles from Luke  Robins and Tom Malins. The biggest crowd of the day (128) was at Berkhamsted to see visitors Dunstable Town keep up the pressure with a 3-0 win, thanks to a Lee Roache hat trick in the first half hour. On the same number of points, and separated only by goal difference, are AFC Dunstable who kept pace with a hard earned 2-0 home win over  a spirited Oxhey Jets – a goal in each half from Craig Butler and Dean Whitaker sealing the points and making it 11 wins on the trot. There is a gap of 12 points between the top three and the chasing pack, headed by Haringey Borough who kept their noses in front with a narrow and hard fought 4-3 win away at Leverstock Green. Aylesbury Utd needed a very late goal from Joey Acheampong before they overcame the stubborn resistance of London Tigers, eventually running out 2-1 winners and moving up to seventh spot. Colney Heath rather surprisingly went down 2-0 at home to Stotfold, for whom Josh Bronti and Lewis Holmes scored second half goals. Tring Athletic paraded a new striking partnership of Mickey Swaysland and Martin Griggs, both making their debuts having signed from Tring Corinthians and Amersham respectively, in their away game at Hadley. As he has done on numerous occasions in the past, Swaysland had an immediate impact, scoring both of Athletic’s goals whilst Nick Chrysanthou and Dom Petrucci replied for Hadley. Two out of the bottom three clubs enjoyed rare wins, and the third so nearly made it three out of three. Third from bottom Hatfield Town surprised Hillingdon Boro with two first half goals from Lee Newman and Daryl Smith whilst Holmer Green had a narrow 2-1 at home to Hertford Town. On a pitch with some definite sticky areas, both defences looked unsure at times, with the Hertford forwards looking slightly the livelier, but it was Holmer who took the lead on the half hour mark through midfielder Gary Lines. Hertford’s new centre back pairing looked unsure at times with one long ball often sufficient to pierce the rearguard, allowing Holmer to gain the ascendancy,  but with one or two of Holmer’s players more concerned with chirping away at the officials, they were unable to add to their lead. It looked as though this lack of discipline could prove costly as Hertford got back on level terms immediately after the Jaffa break, with Lee Roberts, who proved a handful all game, stole in behind a static defence to shoot home. This goal gave Hertford confidence and they began to look the more likely to score the next goal, but they found the returning custodian Charlie Fanner in splendid form to thwart their attacks. It was however Holmer who claimed the vital next goal, Lines supplying Andy Shed with the opportunity to head home with just under twenty minutes left. Hertford threw on all their subs, but Holmer held on for a very important three points. Bottom club Hanwell Town were three minutes away from recording their sixth victory of the season, leading Broxbourne Boro 2-1 courtesy of goals from Keith Rowlands and Mo Harkin, but Dan Broom spoiled the party with a late equaliser. The wins for Holmer and Hatfield have brought Biggleswade Utd into the relegation scrap at the foot of the table as they lost 2-1 away at St. Margaretsbury, despite Chris Butler giving them the lead after only two minutes. An OG and a late goal from Chris Powell sealed their fate.

DIVISION ONE

A Jimmy Warner hat trick and a brace from Matt Newman saw leaders London Colney to a comfortable 5-1 win at home to Amersham Town who remain in the bottom two. Colney’s nearest challengers Ampthill Town warmed up for their important clash with the league leaders on Tuesday night with a workmanlike 2-0 win away at bottom club Sun Postal Sports – both goals coming from Tyrone Taylor in the first half. Hoddesdon Town remain in third spot after a narrow 3-2 win away at Bedford, skipper Gary Simmonds contributing a brace. Hoddesdon are just three points away from that important second promotion place, but they have played four more games than Ampthill. However they do now have a six point cushion between themselves and fourth placed Kings Langley who lost 2-1 at home to London Lions. Josh Kennet scored both the Lions goals in the first half and despite having a player sent off in the second period, they hung on for the win. Harpenden Town’s match away at Kentish Town was postponed but if they win their games in hand on Hoddesdon they could still get up to challenge the Lilywhites for third spot. Chesham Utd Reserves continue to have a good first season in the SSMFL and they continue to enjoy a place in the top six after their 3-1 win at home to New Bradwell St. Peter. A brace from Tobi Akin and one from Lewis Rolfe put Chesham three up before Gary Ridgeway pulled one back for the visitors. An action packed game at Cranfield ended with Langford on the wrong end of a seven goal thriller. The home side, who took the lead on 4 minutes when Enzo Carrillo scored from close range, added a second on 25 minutes from the penalty spot, converted by Max Risby. However, two goals in two minutes from James peters immediately before the break brought Langford back on level terms. Nathan Peacock put Cranfield back in front immediately after the restart and made it a personal double just after the hour to restore the two goal cushion. Despite losing Ashley Fitton to a red card a few minutes later, Langford kept battling away and although Paul Garrett’s headed goal on 81 minutes was just reward for their efforts, finding the equaliser proved beyond them as Cranfield had numerous chances to make the game safe. Two goals in the second half saw Cockfosters to a 2-0 home win over Buckingham Athletic and move up into the top ten as a result, whilst three goals from Tokyngton Manor’s Bilal Butt was enough to see them to a welcome 3-2 win over visiting Wodson Park. Lee Macdonald’s goal, immediately before the half time break, was enough for Welwyn Garden City to claim all three points at home to St. Albans City Reserves and give the Citizens their third win in the last 8 days. A second half hat trick from Robbie O'Dell helped Crawley Green come from 2-1 down to run out 5-2 winners against Stony Stratford Town. On a heavy pitch in front of an extremely entertaining and witty home crowd Crawley dominated the early exchanges and pressure finally told in the 34 minute when Lee Hayward collected a cross from James McCarthy and drove the ball past Stony custodian Anderson. Less than a minute later Town were level through Greg Tite who turned in a ball at the far post. A twice taken penalty, converted by Lee White on the stroke of half time, put Stony 2-1 up at Jaffa time. On 58 minutes, O’ Dell scored the first of his three to level, the scores and with 25 minutes left, Jamie Warne put Crawley back in front before O’Dell went on to complete his hat trick.

DIVISION TWO

It’s beginning to look more and more like a two horse race for the Championship as both of the top two clubs won, whilst the 3^rd and 4^th placed clubs both lost. Aston Clinton head the pile, by a single point, after gaining a hard fought victory over hosts Winslow Utd by three goals to one. The visitors were put through their paces early on by a determined Winslow side and the first real chance fell to the home team. However the right wing cross was headed wide of the Clinton goal and a great chance was missed. Paul Bowley in the Winslow goal had to make two good saves to keep Clinton out as the visitors began to find their rhythm. Clinton keeper Shaun Smith had a lucky escape as he fumbled a shot round the post, which could easily have gone in. Just when the half looked to be goalless, Winslow scored when captain, Phil Martin, took advantage of some defensive confusion to shoot the ball into the corner of the Clinton net on 44 minutes. The second half saw Clinton in full control as they dominated play and it seemed only a matter of time before they scored. But some dogged defence from Winslow and some erratic finishing from Clinton ensured the home team kept the slender lead. On 60 minutes a good save by Bowley was helped by a following header being kicked off the Winslow goal line.  A rare Winslow attack saw a shot go just over the Clinton bar from a good position but Smith in the visiting goal was largely untroubled. It was like the Alamo in the Winslow half but they could not hold out and Clinton equalised on 77 minutes when Alex Woodfine scored at the far post. Worse was to follow for Winslow as their attack broke down and Clinton raced away for Tom Brindley to score on 81 minutes. Bowley made another great save to deny Clinton, but this was to no avail as Clinton notched their third goal on 88 minutes when Brindley took advantage of a defensive mistake to convert a square pass and score from close range. This was a good match to watch, well refereed with no cautions. For over an hour Winslow made it tough for Clinton, but the visitors’ class eventually shone through to get the valuable three points. The 61 FC, who have yet to lose a league game, are hot on the leaders heels after completing a 1-0 win away at 4^th placed Totternhoe. Mursley Utd lost 1-0  at home to a Peter Cooper goal for Old Bradwell Utd whilst MK Wanderers moved off the bottom of the League following their 5-2 win at home to Hale Leys Utd. Tariq Kotey was the hero with three goals as MK recorded only their win of the season whilst Mama Dou Ciss scored both of Hale Leys goals. Replacing MK at the bottom are Tring Corinthians, who lost 2-0 away at Kent Athletic whose scorers were Wayne Hymus and James Ingram.

BERKS & BUCKS INTERMEDIATE CUP- 5^th ROUND

Our last remaining candidate bowed out of this Cup as Risboro Rangers went down 3-1 away to a strong Bucks CC side, despite taking the lead through Jamie Shrimpton after 20 minutes. However, two OG’s in the second half were their undoing.

 PRICE OF A CUPPA SURVEY – REVISITED

It has been brought to my attention that the actual results of the above survey, painstakingly compiled by Karen Browne of Welwyn Garden City, were not attached to this Newsletter last week. Hopefully that has now been rectified, and I have therefore repeated my summary comments below.

HOW TO SHOW A GIRL A GOOD TIME

Attached are the results of a survey which Karen Browne, Sec of Welwyn Garden City, has recently conducted amongst all SSMFL clubs as to the cost of a day out at any of our games. Sadly a number of clubs didn’t have the decency to reply –they are shown in red on the attached Results sheet – but certainly there are some interesting variations. Below are some tongue- in-cheek findings.

Premier Division: Admission charges are fairly standard, either £5 or £6, with the exception of Aylesbury Utd who charge £7. If you include refreshments and a programme, it will cost you over a tenner at Hertford, St. Margaretsbury and Royston, whereas it’s only just over £7.00 at AFC Dunstable and Stotfold. Mind you, you might get hungry at Creasey Park!

Division One: Not surprisingly the variations are greater here. Admission prices vary from Free to £5.00. The cheapest day out is at New Bradwell, where the admission is free and a cuppa is only 50p, whereas it’s nearly £9.00 to go to Kentish Town. I’m not sure what they put in the tea at Chesham, but I reckon it should be brandy for the price!

Division Two: The smallest sample of the three Divisions, but admission is free at almost all grounds apart from Winslow and Risborough. Taking tucker into account, the cost of a day at Winslow is dearer than at most Div One grounds. Cheapest by far is at Totternhoe, but you had better stop at Macky D’s first if you get peckish.

It would be very nice to complete the survey, so if you are one of those clubs that hasn’t filled in the questionnaire, please do so and make Karen a very happy bunny.

All news / views / tittle tattle, etc to Bill Scholes

billscholes@hotmail.co.uk

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