NEWSLETTER No. 28

By Bill Schole

Saturday 27^th March 2010

Here we go again – another very wet Saturday, and just 8 completed games out of a total of 44. More headaches for our beleaguered Fixture Secretaries, surely Spring must be coming soon – the start of the cricket season is only just a month away!!

PREMIER DIVISION

The Premier Division did manage 4 and a half games, and the big shock of the day was the defeat of leaders Chalfont St. Peter away at Oxhey Jets, who won an entertaining game 3-1, putting an end to the Saints’ 9 game unbeaten run. Despite the scoreline, it was almost nonstop relentless pressure from Chalfont, but as we all know, its goals that count…. Chalfont missed numerous chance in the first half to take a commanding lead, but had only an OG from Ian Bywater, who turned in a cross from Adam Louth, to show for their efforts, whilst at the other end the lively Lee Armitt rifled in a shot from a very narrow angle to ensure Jets went into the half time break all square. Jets took the lead 10 minutes after the break when Chris Killer lived up to his name by scoring a screamer (Uncle Eric described it as a killer goal) into the top corner. After a particularly heavy downpour and increasing, but ultimately toothless, pressure by Saints, the hosts continued to defend as though their lives depended on the result, throwing all sorts of body parts in the way…. on two occasions even the kitchen sink appeared… but the vital element of luck evaded Chalfont, and it was no real surprise when Warren Gladdy dribbled his way through a tired defence for an excellent breakaway goal to extend the lead right at the death. A large crowd of 155 at Garden Walk saw Royston Town come unstuck in their quest to regain lost ground on the leaders as they went down 1-0 to fourth place Colney Heath – the only goal of the game coming in the 47^th minute from Ian Cooper. Kingsbury London Tigers remain exactly at the half way point in the table following their 3-1 win at home to Biggleswade United. Edson Cata gave Tigers the lead on the hour mark, but Utd drew level nine minutes later through Bilal Hussan, only for Tigers to forge ahead with two more goals from Andy Pinto Noreiro and Paulius Olisauskas.  Harefield United’s late run for a top three spot continues as they had an emphatic 6-2 win at home to bottom club Kentish Town. The Hares were three goals up through Kemo Mephela, Craig Totton and Barry Williamson before Sami Sari gave them a fright with two quick goals. However, an unfortunate OG and two late goals from Jack Reader completed the scoreline. With the bad weather during the week, it was hard to find a game actually taking place but the pitch at Dunstable Town for their game against Broxbourne Borough was passed fit for play. However, just on the point of kick off, the ground was enveloped in a tremendous hailstone storm, which later turned to rain. Whilst initially the game continued and the ball travelled across the pitch well, towards half time it began to stick in places. Broxbourne had scored on 5 minutes following a corner and Dunstable had equalised on 45 minutes also following a corner kick. Thus the half ended all square. But the rain continued during the half time break and the Referee called the match off due to the condition of the pitch, which had become unplayable. This was obviously the right decision in view of the safety of the players and the inability to ensure a reasonable game of football on such a waterlogged surface. Credit must go to Dunstable to get the game on in the first place and it if had not been for the hailstones and subsequent rain showers during the first half; the match would have been completed.

DIVISION ONE

All games postponed

DIVISION TWO CUP SEMI FINAL

 One of the few games to take place on Saturday was at Broadwater where Berkhamsted are to be congratulated in having a pitch that was in pretty good shape considering the weather but it was of course heavy making pretty football at a premium. Mursley United took an early lead when Jakub Kasprzyk headed home a free kick on 10 minutes. They had another golden opportunity to increase their lead but shot over the bar from 7 yards before Berkhamsted equalised on 27 minutes when a slick move saw Jon Davies clear on the left and give the Mursley keeper no chance. Mursley weathered a fair amount of Berkhamsted pressure in the second half but exerted their own in the closing stages of the 90 minutes. Extra time brought little in the way of chances as the heavy conditions took their toll on the players. And so it went to penalties and it was a case of the goalkeepers excelling. Berkhamsted slotted the first one home but Mursley missed their first two, one being saved by Graeme Milner the Berko goalkeeper, the other being put over the bar. At this stage it looked almost certain that Berko would go through to the final. Then Mursley keeper Adam Garratt, who prefers to play centre back, took over and saved three of the four remaining penalties from Berko to make him the hero of the hour, with Mursley converting their remaining three to go through to the Final against Aston Clinton. Given that Berko had recently beaten Mursley 10-3 in a League game, the winners were understandably chuffed. The game was covered by Bucks TV, an internet television station covering Buckinghamshire. Log on to www.buckstv.co.uk and you can sit back and watch 15 minutes of the game, including interviews etc!

DIVISION TWO

All games postponed

BERKS & BUCKS INTERMEDIATE CUP 5^th ROUND

 Aston Clinton’s game at home to Windsor Great Park was another on the long list of postponements, but New Bradwell St. Peter returned from their long journey to Newbury with a 3-0 win, thanks to goals from Dave Holloway, Adam Castagnetti and Gary Flinn.

 LIAM WALSHE

 Liam Walshe refereed his last Premier Division game on Saturday at Royston Town after 11 years as a level 4 referee. He joined the league in 1997 as an old Class 2 referee (level 5 in old money) and achieved his level 4 in 1999. He reckons that he has officiated in over 250 games for the Spartan South Midlands, and at least 150 of them as a referee in the Premier Division. Whether his sums are as good or as bad as his eyesight, no one will ever know!! Liam has decided to call it a day as a level 4, because his knees aren't up to it anymore and it takes him longer to recover after a game! He is getting married in July and  Mick Ewen secretly wonders whether he is saving his energy for other purposes!!! He will not be leaving the league however, as he intends to revert back to level 5 and officiate on Divisions 1 & 2 from now on and spend a little more time in running the Middlesex Referees Academy. Liam will be sorely missed on the Premier division circuit as he is an extremely well respected official, but fortunately he will still be about next season, doing his bit on the other divisions and helping the youngsters on the referees' list.

Liam, thank you for all your efforts over the past years 

FA CUP COMPETITIONS for 2010 /11 

Letters will shortly be winging their way to ALL Club Secretaries with information on Application dates, Entry criteria, and Revised Minimum Ground Standards. Make sure you peruse in detail if you don’t want your club to miss out!

As always, please send in any news, views, items of interest etc - to

Bill Scholes

billscholes@hotmail.co.uk

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