SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWSLETTER By Bill Scholes

No. 5 Saturday 22nd September Possibly the last fine warm afternoon of the year and it enabled the goalscorers to make hay while the sun shone as a total of 122 goals were recorded during the afternoon. Good job too, as Hurricane Nadine (good to see it was named after a Chuck Berry song) moved in the very next day to bring a rather disappointing September to an end with a burst of wet and windy weather. The hat trick heroes were out in force – all seven of them. Leading the way was Chas Abrahams of Aylesbury Reserves with five, closely followed by Colney Heath’s Kevin Ashwood with four. Vinnie Shrieves scored three of Crawley Green’s six, Sakho Bakare and James Armstrong both netted three times for Kings Langley, and Emond Protain and Adem Ali did likewise for Cockfosters. FA CUP with Budweiser SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND AFC Dunstable returned from their tie with Southern League Northwood with a 1-1 draw and a second bite of the cherry in Wednesday night’s replay. However, they must have mixed feelings – relief at getting a draw after being overwhelmed in the early stages and disappointment that they didn’t come back with a win after dominating most of the second half. In a game packed with incident, Northwood gained the initiative right from the start against a surprisingly hesitant AFC and took the lead after just 6 minutes when James McCluskey was allowed too much room and scored from a very tight angle. AFC continued to make unforced errors, frequently giving the ball away, and might well have conceded a penalty when keeper Sam Leggett appeared to upend Ollie Hawkins in the box. This was the first of a number of contentious decisions by the referee, and another came shortly afterwards when he dismissed the Northwood captain and centre back for pulling back Jay Blackett. Not surprisingly this gave AFC a new perspective on the game and they finished the half strongly. The second half belonged to AFC as they besieged the Northwood goal but their young keeper, James Reading, was up to the challenge. Chances came and went but with 15 minutes remaining, BJ Christie finally found the target, volleying the ball past the keeper. AFC pressed, looking for the winner, but Northwood always contained a threat and they were handed a lifeline when another contentious decision saw Dan Ryan penalised for pulling down Spencer Bellotti right in front of goal. The red half of the crowd, plus the Northwood management and players were incensed that no card, of any colour, was shown and just to make them feel more aggrieved, Sam Leggett made a fine save from the resultant penalty to keep the scores level. Both sides continued to look for the winner, but to no avail and so on to the replay, where the winners have been handed a plum home tie against Boreham Wood. After being under the cosh for most of the game, Harefield Utd hung on grimly to gain a 0-0 draw to force a replay on Tuesday night with high flying South Park from the Combined Counties League. Unfortunately, they could not reproduce the performance in the replay and went down 4-1 at Preston Park. Berkhamsted could not repeat their heroics of the last round in front of the day’s highest attendance (204) as the long arm of the law caught up with them – Met Police cruising to a fairly comfortable 3-0 win after a second half hat trick from Jonte Smith. Berko had their chances, missing a penalty after 15 minutes, and playing against 10 men for the best part of an hour, but the boys in blue proved too strong. PREMIER DIVISION Table toppers Dunstable Town had their lead cut to just one point after they only gleaned a point in a 1-1 draw away at Tring Athletic. They must have thought, however, that they had all three points in the bag until Brad Wilkinson’s very late equaliser in the 3rd minute of added on time. Chris Francis scored Dunstable’s goal towards the end of the first half. Aylesbury Utd have moved up into second spot after a first half Paul Edgeworth header gained a hard fought 1-0 win away against a young, talented Leverstock Green side. The Ducks, with a number of ex Greens in their ranks, did well to hold on for the last 10 minutes or so, after the dismissal of John Mullholland. Third placed Oxhey Jets sit a point behind Aylesbury after coming back from Stotfold with an excellent 4-0 win. The Jets knocked in two goals in each half including a brace from Darren Butler. In front of the Division’s best crowd of 124, the first league meeting between the two Colney sides for a few years saw Colney Heath wallop their newly promoted neighbours London Colney 6-2, Kevin Ashwood leading the way with four goals, two in each half. Kyle Powell and Aaron Clarke were also on target for the Heath, whilst Matt Newman and Dan McCafferty replied for the visitors. Although there is now a five point gap between Oxhey and the chasing pack, games in hand could easily change that situation. Ampthill continue to make a bright start to their first year in the Premier and they gained a hard earned point in a 2-2 draw with improving Hadley. Dom Petrucci and Josh Noyes had twice given Hadley the lead, but a Michael McKenzie double earned the vital point for the home side. The returning Chris Mills scored a brace for a Hanwell Town side unrecognizable from last season as they enjoyed a comfortable 4-0 home win over bottom club London Tigers, the other two goals coming from Ricky Pither and Keith Rowlands. St. Margaretsbury, whose cup runs have left them playing catch up already, moved up several places after they beat Holmer Green 2-1 with goals from Lee Roberts and Anthony Anstead. Evergreen Gareth Williams levelled up Roberts’ early strike with 6 minutes left but Anstead came up with winner a few minutes later. The Bury however must have been disappointed with a crowd of just thirteen. The local derby between Hertford Town and Hatfield Town produced a crowd of 116, and they saw Hertford leapfrog over their rivals following their 3-0 victory, which included a brace from player manager Marvin Samuels. Biggleswade Utd scored very early on (Sean Murray) and very late on (Gus Stewart) in their away fixture at Hillingdon Boro, but two quick goals from Jack Reynolds and Sam Hurrell just after the hour mark ensured the game finished all square at two apiece.

DIVISION ONE Two goals from James Ewington helped leaders Harpenden Town to a 2-1 home win over Amersham and maintained their 6 point lead at the top. However they have played 5 games more than their nearest challengers London Lions who romped home 5-0 against Chesham Utd Reserves, with goals from Michael Sacks, Guy Morris, Aron Barnes, Sam Sloma and Daniel Stanton, to maintain their 100% record. Cockfosters are hot on their heels and they enjoyed a romp of their own, winning 7-0 at New Bradwell St. Peter. Emond Protain and Adem Ali contributed three goals apiece. Seven was obviously a popular number this week as both Kings Langley and Hoddesdon Town ran in seven goals, although both did concede. Kings Langley beat Buckingham Athletic 7-1, and again two players, Sakho Bakare and Jimmy Armstrong contributed three goals apiece whilst Hoddesdon ran out 7-2 winners at home to Winslow Utd - Jamie Brandon, Dave Brunton and Ben Andreos all scoring doubles. James Wardell and Matt Brady replied for Winslow. This match was played in front of 191 spectators -the League’s largest attendance of the day, and one that was swollen by the club holding their first ever Sport in the Community day. A Vinnie Shrieves hat trick and a Marian Dubovecky double helped Crawley Green to a 6-0 win at home to Kentish Town, whilst Codicote also scored six against Bedford in a fairly feisty encounter at the Gosling Stadium. The visitors never really recovered from going two goals down in the first three minutes, and although they rallied briefly at 3-1, Codicote continued to add goals at regular intervals. On the mark for Codicote was Ray Antcliff with a pair, Joe Tyler, Leeroy Williams, Kane Dougherty and Ricky Bridge. Bedford’s sole reply came from Jamie Cole. A first half brace from Gary Walker and late singles from Jack Gregson and Ross Haskins helped Langford to a 4-2 win at home to Sun Postal Sports, despite being behind at half time to early goals from Ade Kelani and Karl Penny. A goal half way through the second period from Aaron Chapman was enough for Cranfield Utd to see off the challenge of local rivals Stony Stratford Town, whilst a penalty in the 2nd minute of added on time garnered what had looked to be an unlikely point for Welwyn Garden City in their home game against Wodson Park. The visitors had taken a first half lead through Jack Stingemore, but Jason Coughlan tucked away the all important penalty. DIVISION TWO Newcomers Wolverton Town hosted the current table toppers The 61 FC on a bright sunny day in Milton Keynes and it was the visitors who ran out winners by 2 goals to nil. The 61 FC started well and dominated the opening twenty minutes, but without creating a clear-cut chance. However, The 61 FC had two great chances to open the scoring when on 21 minutes, Bradley Currington was through but Nigel Wharton in the home goal blocked his shot. On 34 minutes another one on one with keeper Wharton by a visiting player saw the goal bound shot cleared off the goal line by Wolverton defender Karl Kiernan. Whilst Wolverton came into the match towards the end of the half, their best chance fell to Dale Collins who lobbed his shot over Karl Fisher in the visitor’s goal but also over the bar. Thus the half ended goalless. The second half saw Wolverton come into the game more but still The 61 FC dominated play. An early Town chance fell to Mark O’Connor but he shot wide from a good position. Back came the visitors and they should have scored on 70 minutes but Currington headed wide from in front of goal. Just when the watching crowd thought that the game was going to be goalless, The 61 FC scored. From a right wing cross, John Frost powered his shot into the corner of the Town net on 78 minutes. It was all The 61 FC now and another goalbound effort was headed off the Town line by a defender. With Town pushing up for the equaliser, the visitors scored their second goal when a clearance from keeper Wharton was headed back to Arthur Wallace to race clear of the home defence to score on 84 minutes. Town responded with a shot that went wide but the game drifted to a conclusion for a comfortable win for The 61 FC. They retained their one point lead over Aston Clinton who had a comfortable 4-1 win at home to Kent Athletic, despite going a goal down after just 53 seconds. Peter Weirich brought the scores level before the Tallyn brothers went to town, adding the next three goals – Matt scoring one more than Andy. Aylesbury Reserves move up to 3rd after their up and down season continues with a 6-3 home win over Caddington, Chas Abrahams netting five times. Two of the three unbeaten sides, Risborough Rangers and Mursley Utd met at Windsors, Horsenden Lane, and both still remain unbeaten after the 1-1 scoreline. Leon Read put Rangers ahead from the penalty spot on the hour mark, but Paul Hollingsworth ensured the points were shared five minutes later. Perennial front runners Totternhoe have not enjoyed the best of starts to this campaign and they lost 4-1 away at Hale Leys Utd, for whom Shayne Almond scored a brace. Also finding the net for the homesters were Kumar Hamid and Tom Brindley, whilst Stefan Tracey scored for Totternhoe. Broxbourne Boro won their second game in their new league beating Old Bradwell Utd 2-1 away, the winner coming from an unfortunate OG in the very last minute. Pitstone & Ivinghoe looked to have all three points in the bag, leading 2-0 away at Tring Corinthians with just three minutes left, but two very late goals from Ben Gomm and Ben Gray ensured the points were shared. LET THEM EAT CAKE Those that have been around the South Midlands scene over the years will know of the home made fruit cake made by Val Haynes when visiting New Bradwell St. Peter. The delicious cake was sadly missed when both John & Val left New Bradwell last season. However, Both Val, John and, importantly, the cake, have reappeared at League newcomers Wolverton Town. With John now president of Wolverton, Val’s cake has appeared on the menu once again.

F.A. Carlsberg VASE – DRAW FOR THE FIRST ROUND PROPER To be played on Sat 13th October AFC Dunstable v Hatfield Town Amersham Town v Flackwell Heath Aylesbury United v Kidlington Barking v Dunstable Town Clapton v Cockfosters Colney Heath v Sporting Bengal United Hadley v Berkhamsted Hoddesdon Town v Hertford Town Oxhey Jets` v Hanwell Town Ampthill Town have received exemption until 2nd Round All news, views etc for inclusion in the Newsletter to Bill Scholes [email protected]