NewsLetter

MOLTEN SPORTS
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE

NEWSLETTER No. 4
By Bill Scholes

Saturday 28th August 2010

No hat tricks in the FA Cup this time around, although there were six recorded over the weekend – two in Division one and four in Division Two. In Division two, both hat tricks came from the top of the table – Lawrence Bunker for Berkhamsted and Jamie Arthur for Sun Postal Sports. In Division Two, three of the hat tricks came against struggling MK Wanderers. Stefan Tracey scored five for Totternhoe on Saturday, and Tyrone Taylor and Dominic Lawless got three apiece for Padbury Utd a couple of days later. Aaron Lewis was the other hat trick hero, scoring three times for The 61 F.C. against Aston Clinton.

F.A.CUP Sponsored by E.ON
PRELIMINARY ROUND

Thirteen SSMFL clubs were involved at the weekend, and we have ended up with 5 definitely through to the next round, and the possibility of another two, should the replays go in their favour. Pride of place goes to three clubs – London Colney, Tring Athletic and Crawley Green. Div One London Colney knocked out Zamaretto Midlands side Marlow on their home patch. Marlow took the lead through Jermaine Roche, but Colney fought back with two goals from Danny Fitzgerald and Greg Shaw in the last 13 minutes. A goodly crowd of 126 saw Tring Athletic edge out visitors another Zamaretto side AFC Hayes ( better known to us as Brook House) 3-2. Tring’s recent additions to their forward line did the damage, Ryan Redford netting twice and Nick Jackson coming up with the winner. Two goals in the last twenty minutes saw Div One side Crawley Green claim their second Premier Division scalp – this time it was Harefield United. Goalscorers were Peter O ‘Donnell and Stuart Strange. An interesting tie was on the cards at Oxhey Jets, where the home side entertained St. Margaretsbury – both teams being without a point in the League so far – and home advantage told as two goals each from Ben Alexander and Lee Armitt saw the Jets fly home 4-1. On Sunday a crowd of 117 saw Aylesbury United, at their adopted home of Leighton Town, see off the challenge of Essex Senior League Eton Manor. The Ducks had to come from behind after going down 2-1 just after the break, but two goals in the last 25 minutes, from Leon Gordon and Ben Baines, saw them through to the next round. Cockfosters earned the right to bring Cheshunt back to their ground for a replay after an excellent 2-2 draw at Theobolds Lane. A Daryl Cox penalty gave Cheshunt a half time lead, but goals from Aaron Ewing and Nicky Stewart put the Reds in front before Chris Meikle equalised six minutes later. Colney Heath also live to fight another day after holding FC Clacton, from the Eastern Counties League, to a 0-0 draw at home, but they face a tricky trip to the seaside for the Tuesday night replay. It was a clash of two very different styles at The Gore as Chalfont St Peter were very unlucky not to force a replay against Zamaretto Midlands outfit Burnham, and if they had made the most of the numerous chances created could easily have won the game. Burnham started off brightly but the first real scoring chance fell to the Saints Jude Eboji who volleyed over from 10 yards. Chalfont controlled the midfield, with Burnham relying on the long ball, but Eboji, Lewis, Brosnan and Hughes were all guilty of wasting opportunities. Burnham took the lead on 29 minutes against the run of play, Ryan Bird firing a powerful left footed shot from an acute angle past keeper Oliver, found space at the over end but fired well wide. Burnham came more into the game in the second half, and doubled the lead after 53 minutes when Bird scrambled home. With twenty minutes to go, Terrell Lewis showed his undoubted talent to beat keeper Morris easily, and Chalfont sprung back into life and back into the game. It was backs to the wall for Burnham, but the Saints had left it too late, and the homesters held on for a 2-1 win that had seemed unlikely in the first half. Haringey Borough went down 5-1 away at Burnham Ramblers, their sole scorer being Daniel Ailey, and on Sunday Kentish Town bowed out of the Cup losing 3-1 at home to Bethnal Green United - Alan Murray being their scorer.

PREMIER DIVISION

The top four sides remain the same, all on 15 points, even though only two played a league game. Three have identical goal differences, but Hillingdon Borough top the pile, just, by dint of having scored two more goals than Chalfont St. Peter. Hillingdon went into a two goal lead at half time against Stotfold, courtesy of goals from Aaron Lansiquot and Ryan Welsh, but although Paul Garrett pulled one back straight after the break, the Boro held on before Oliver Hawkins made it safe with 7 minutes left. Royston Town popped down the A10 to Broxbourne Borough and returned with a comprehensive 5-1 victory. Tom Malins, Ryan Lockett and Dean McElvoy put the Crows three up before Daryl Mitchell reduced the deficit with a penalty in the 65th minute, but McElvoy’s second and one from Will Turl completed the scoring. Sitting just below the top four are Hanwell Town who beat Kingsbury London Tigers 3-2; thanks to a Blaise O’Brien second half goal. Tigers took an 11th minute lead through Edson Cata , but Charlie Baverstock and an OG put Hanwell in front, before Mohamed Bettamer brought Tigers level just before the break. Managerless Hatfield Town are up to 6th place following their 5-2 win at home over Langford. The visitors took the lead through Mark Wright, but two goals just before Jaffa time from Jason Beck and John McGrandles gave Hatfield the advantage. Two further goals from Matt Standen and one from Terry Caswell brought the total to five, whilst Langford needed an OG to double their score. Leverstock Green moved up several places after their 4-0 win away at Biggleswade United. On the mark for Green were Lee Stobbs, Charlie Gorman, Andy Cracknell, and Louis Austin, and they even had the luxury of missing a penalty at the end. Holmer Green moved into the top half of the table, just, as they recovered from a 16th minute Michael Moss goal at home to Dunstable Town to run out 2-1 winners, thanks to a brace from Dean Allen.

DIVISION ONE

Three sides gained maximum 6 points over the last week, and as a result have vastly improved their league positions. At the top, Berkhamsted are now three points clear of their nearest challengers after their 5-0 win away at Stony Stratford. They did have to wait until the hour mark before they opened the scoring, but come one, come five. Lawrence Bunker hit a hat trick, and Matt Wardle and James Armstrong both contributed late goals. In second place, boasting the only other 100% record, and in their highest SSMFL position to date are Sun Postal Sports, who needed a very, very late Jamie Arthur goal to eventually run out 3-2 winners at home to New Bradwell St. Peter. Arthur’s winner was his third strike of the afternoon, whilst Bradwell’s replies came from Shaun Carr and Stephane Kenoagma. It was also good week for Bedford who moved up into third spot after their 1-0 win away at Welwyn Garden City. Joel Fisher scored the all important goal after 28 minutes. Harpenden Town dropped a couple of places to fourth as they went down 3-2 at home to fifth-placed Bedford Town Reserves. Tamba Nepor gave the visitors an early lead, but goals from Aaron Clarke and Ant Burns put Town in front with 20 minutes left. However, Tom Damon brought the scores level, and an OG with ten to go brought victory to Town Reserves. Amersham Town are still searching for their second win of the season after relinquishing a 12th minute lead, given to them by Adam Birch, in their away game at Ampthill Town. Stuart Reynolds levelled the scores before half time, and Danny Pilgrim notched the winner with 19 minutes left. Two goals from Adam Bone and Roy Marsden enabled Buckingham Athletic to beat newcomers London Lions 2-0, whilst the other new boys St. Albans City Reserves beat Cranfield United with a 56th minute goal scored by Dom Petrucci. The game between Wodson Park and AFC Dunstable ended in a 0-0 draw.

DIVISION TWO
SATURDAY and MONDAY

Padbury United maintained their place at the top with two wins in three days. On Saturday they won 4-2 away at Kent Athletic and followed that up with a massive 11-2 whopping of luckless MK Wanderers. Both Tyrone Taylor and Dominic Lawless recorded hat tricks. Hot on their heels are Totternhoe who also claimed 6 points over the weekend – beating MK Wanderers 8-0, including five from Stefan Tracey, and winning 5-1 at home to Caddington, including two more from Tracey, on Monday. Mursley United beat Pitstone & Ivinghoe 2-1, but then went down 4-0 to local rivals Winslow United, for whom Lee Dawson scored a brace. The 61 FC took closer order, taking the maximum 6 points from their two home games, beating Aston Clinton 3-2 and then local rivals Kent Athletic 2-0. Despite taking the lead twice at The 61 FC, Aston Clinton fell to a 3-2 defeat on Saturday, but followed that up with a 1-0 win over near neighbours Risborough Rangers, who were perhaps still celebrating their 3-1 win over Old Bradwell United. The latter made a good recovery, beating Brache Sparta 4-2 a couple of days later. Brache had returned from Bucks Student Union with a 2-0 win earlier, but the Students recovered from making the long journey up to Bletchley Town to record a 5-3 victory. Bletchley also lost 3-1 at home to Caddington on Saturday and remain rooted to the foot of the table, as yet without a point. Tring Corinthians beat Winslow United 2-1 but fell 3-2 to their neighbours Pitstone & Ivinghoe.

There will no Newsletter next week due to holidays, but normal service should be resumed the week after. Please send all news and views, as usual, to

Bill Scholes : billscholes@hotmail.co.uk