Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 14/15/16 April - SSML Results/Reports

[Rhodes]

The midweek fixtures:

Tuesday 14 April (kick off 7.45pm unless stated)

Premier Division 

Biggleswade United v Cockfosters

Kempston Rovers v Harpenden Town

Winslow United v AFC Welwyn

Division One 

Buckingham FC v Belstone

Leighton Town Reserves v Huntingdon Town

Letchworth Garden City Eagles v Langford

Long Buckby AFC v Shefford Town & Campton

Rothwell Corinthians v Everett Rovers (kick off 8.00pm)

Royston Town Reserves v Eaton Socon

Rushden & Higham United v Cranfield United

Stotfold Reserves v Ampthill Town

Wellingborough Whitworth v Desborogh Town

Division Two 

Eynesbury United v Tring Corinthians AFC

Milton Keynes Irish Reserves v Codicote

Newport Pagnell Town Development v Old Bradwell United

Wednesday 15 April (kick off 7.45pm unless stated)

Division Two

Aston Clinton v Pitstone & Ivinghoe (kick off 6.30pm)

SSML Reserve Division

Old Bradwell United Development v Buckingham FC Reserves (kick off 6.30pm)

Tring Corinthians AFC Under 23's v New Bradwell St Peter Development (kick off 6.30pm)

Hertfordshire FA Charity Shield Final

Baldock Town v Tring Athletic (at the Hertfordshire FA County Ground, Letchworth)

Thursday 16 April (kick off 7.45pm unless stated)

Premier Division

Cockfosters v Haringey Borough

Division One

Irchester United v Belstone (kick off 8.00pm)

SSML Reserve Division

Winslow United Development v AFC Welwyn Development

Edited April 13 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

21 hours ago, Rhodes said:

Tuesday 14 April 
Premier Division 
Winslow United v AFC Welwyn

It's 'D Day' and 'Groundhog Day' all rolled into one at Elmfields Gate for their final League game of the campaign and a win over AFC Welwyn, who have nothing to play for, will see them crowned as Champions for what will be by far the biggest achievement in the Club's 135 year history:

[Rhodes]

On 13/04/2026 at 14:21, Rhodes said:

Tuesday 14 April 
Division One 
Rushden & Higham United v Cranfield United

The match programme from Hayden Road this evening:

https://online.fliphtml5.com/oxuvb/Cranfield-2526/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRLOSNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBVc0tYZG1FbDNiTXhZVExGc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvqlk0pB5gyXkQyTHnLawN_s9f5MUO3AaFUkYv0ZMDjYI6XjyFoE5bj-MIT5_aem_amTkoYZy1jSuiBfcY0rzRQ#p=1

[Rhodes]

Tuesday's results including AFC Welwyn's shock 3-2 win at Winslow United:

Tuesday 14 April 

Premier Division 

Biggleswade United 2 Cockfosters 3

Kempston Rovers 1 Harpenden Town 1

Winslow United 2 AFC Welwyn 3

Division One 

Buckingham FC 1 Belstone 0

Leighton Town Reserves 4 Huntingdon Town 0

Letchworth Garden City Eagles 1 Langford 2

Long Buckby AFC 3 Shefford Town & Campton 1

Rothwell Corinthians 1 Everett Rovers 4

Royston Town Reserves 0 Eaton Socon 3

Rushden & Higham United 0 Cranfield United 4

Stotfold Reserves 2 Ampthill Town 1

Wellingborough Whitworth 1 Desborough Town 5

Division Two 

Eynesbury United 0 Tring Corinthians AFC 3

Milton Keynes Irish Reserves 7 Codicote 1

Newport Pagnell Town Development 2 Old Bradwell United 1

[Rhodes]

Last night's results, congratulations to Baldock Town on surprisingly lifting the Hertfordshire FA Charity Shield:

Wednesday 15 April 

Division Two

Aston Clinton 0 Pitstone & Ivinghoe 1

SSML Reserve Division

Old Bradwell United Development 1 Buckingham FC Reserves 1

Tring Corinthians AFC Under 23's 2 New Bradwell St Peter Development 3

Hertfordshire FA Charity Shield Final

Baldock Town 3 Tring Athletic 2 (at the Hertfordshire FA County Ground, Letchworth)

[Rhodes]

On 14/04/2026 at 12:26, Rhodes said:

Thursday 16 April 
Premier Division 
Cockfosters v Haringey Borough

Can Haringey Borough win the Premier Division Championship this evening at Chalk Lane:

[Winslow Boy]

Done it on goal difference. Given the disparity in resources it’s a tough one to take. I’d rather they’d win it by points. 

[Rhodes]

You have to feel for Winslow United however congratulations to Haringey Borough on winning the Premier Division Championship on goal difference, the first 'dead heat' since 2008/09 when Biggleswade Town and Harefield United finished on the same number of points:

Thursday 16 April 

Premier Division 

Cockfosters 0 Haringey Borough 0

Division One

Irchester United 1 Belstone 1

SSML Reserve Division

Winslow United Development 1 AFC Welwyn Development 0

[Rhodes]

11 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

Done it on goal difference. Given the disparity in resources it’s a tough one to take. I’d rather they’d win it by points. 

Winslow Boy - Apologies, I expect this will make depressing viewing for you from groundhopper and blogger 'Mullerered Sports' who was in attendance at Chalk Lane:

[Rhodes]

On 17/04/2026 at 09:21, Rhodes said:

Thursday 16 April 
Division One
Irchester United 1 Belstone 1

The match programme from Alfred Street last night:

https://publuu.com/flip-book/1050778/2428478?fbclid=IwY2xjawRO0w1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeWzrziIhMq938AfSqB1djAw1P6tNP3_i6osfc-LL7ii51iGnOHdFI-GJqPHY_aem_Bjz7aZvcyxv4g2OvpVYWrg

Edited April 23 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

42 minutes ago, Rhodes said:

Thursday 16 April 
Premier Division 
Cockfosters 0 Haringey Borough 0

Chalk Lane was unsurprisingly awash with groundhoppers from another Forum last night to witness Haringey Borough win the Championship:

Cockfosters 0 Haringey Borough 0. Spartan South Midlands Premier (5th v 2nd). Admission: £10. Programme: £2. Crowd: 630.
Only one choice tonight for those of us in and around the metropolis.
The equation was starkly simple: If Haringey avoided defeat in this their final league fixture, they would leapfrog leaders Winslow, who played their last league game on Tuesday night, and become champions on goal difference.
On Tuesday, Winslow had squandered their chance to seal the deal by losing 3-2 at home to AFC Welwyn, whose Manager Scott Patmore was present this evening. I wonder if he was recognised by any of the hundreds of Haringey supporters present here to thank him.
As it was, Winslow were hoping Cockfosters could do them the biggest of favours. The home side, safely qualified for the play-offs, still have two more league games left after tonight and would want home advantage in the end of season lottery.
Anyone who has been to Chalk Lane knows this is an intimate venue but the vastly-larger-than-normal crowd behaved sensibly enough to ensure all went smoothly off the field.
The first chance was when Haringey's Adrian Clifton cut into the box but his shot was weak and straight at home keeper Connor Sansom.
It quickly became apparent that the hard and bouncy pitch would ensure both teams taking a direct approach.
George Lutaaya for Cockfosters fired wide of goal, the ball bouncing off the hedge at that end.
A scare for the home side when Jonathan Hippolyte raced on to a through ball but Sansom was quick to come out of his area and clear with his head, though the visitors claimed use of a hand.
The last action of the half was when Hippolyte raced down the right, Sansom was fast out of the traps but the Haringey forward centred from the byline. However the danger was cleared.
Early in the second half a Cockfosters chance when a Junior Moses free-kick from the right found an unmarked Mike Evans but his header went over.
Haringey sub Leo Pola lashed a loose ball high over the crossbar. Herson Alves for the visitors then fired a free-kick from the left straight at Sansom.
As the final whistle loomed, Cockfosters had a spell of pressure that culminated with a scramble which saw the ball deflected wide of goal. But there were no further heart-in-mouth moments for Haringey who saw out the remaining time to edge over the line.
Haringey's supporters invaded the pitch while I made my way to the station across the neighbouring cricket club. I have to say the outfield was like a cabbage patch, wouldn't fancy fielding on that.

[Rhodes]

53 minutes ago, Rhodes said:

Thursday 16 April 
Premier Division 
Cockfosters 0 Haringey Borough 0

Well known groundhopper 'Tales From The Riverbank' from another Forum was also in attendance at Chalk Lane:

As stated by the esteemed Nagasaki after AFC Welwyn's scarcely believable away win over Winslow two days prior there was only one place to be in and around the capital and that was at Chalk Lane where the levels of tension were most evident over the course of:
Cockfosters 0 v 0 Haringey Borough - Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division.
Programme 28 pages £2.00 - Admission £5.00 (c) - Att. 630.
To which could be added the levels of relief shown by the celebrating players, officials and supporters of the championship winning visitors after they secured the draw that they required to win the title by a superior GD of just three goals.
The pre match conundrum for the Haringey management must have been how to approach this contest. Should they attack from the start in the hope of securing an early advantage which would surely reduce the levels of apprehension or do you pack the defence in the hope that you prevent the hosts from taking the lead. From observation the visitors game plan was one that they pushed forward early on but when they failed to take the lead then they became much more defensively orientated especially over the course of the second half where the defensive formation proved to be an insurmountable barrier for the Cockfosters attackers to penetrate,
Interesting to note that on more than one occasion that the visitors in the early stages were operating with a more attacking orientated formation than what was expected and it nearly provided an early goal when a succession of well directed passes saw Adrian Clifton easily shrug off his marker but his shot was kept out by the legs of Connor Sansom.
It was clear from the start that Cockfosters were not prepared to play a supporting role over the course of the evening and both Junior Moses and George Lutaaya posed a threat on the left. These two co-ordinated well but the latter's attempt to curl a shot into the top right corner was lacking the required amount of curl as it ended up over the bar. Soon after a good cross also from the left delivered by Moses could only be glanced wide of the far post by Teddy Stacey positioned right in front of goal.
For both teams it was clear that the importance of the occasion was having an effect as play was often scrappy in nature and with none of the quarter chances that either team created posing much of a threat to either goal it was not a surprise to see the first half end goalless with Cockfosters having had slightly the better chances and Haringey having had slightly the better possession.
One of several scary moments for the visitors over the course of the second half arrived within minutes of the restart when Dillon Jones in the Haringey goal became stranded as he attempted to reach a long ball forward that he was never going to reach, fortunately for him there were no Cockfosters forwards available in the penalty area to take advantage of the cross that was delivered. Soon after the visitors concerns were heightened when Moses' free kick from the right saw Mike Evans' rise highest but his header was fractionally over the Haringey bar.
As the second half continued the Haringey defence was playing ever deeper and was becoming ever more difficult to penetrate, though as Cockfosters only had to gain an advantage once the sense of concern was still very much apparent as a back heel from Egan Ntege did not quite have the pace to reach the goal-line even though it travelled past Jones who had once again advanced too far from his line.
There was a degree of temporary respite for the visitors when they had a rare foray forward when Coby Rowe headed over the bar but then there would have been a sense of disappointment as Herson Alves' free kick was directed straight at Sansom when the expectation of those assembled in the penalty area was that the free kick was going to be flighted into their direction.
In the final minutes there were scary moments aplenty for the visitors as Lutaaya headed wide at the back post and in stoppage time there was a scramble where Barnes had to react quickly to save a close range shot from Adebola Sotoyinbo. In the end the visitors just about held on to successfully cross the SSMLP championship finishing line. an achievement that saw hundreds of the visitors supporters celebrating on the pitch. An achievement also in that with sixty percent of the season completed, Haringey were languishing in upper mid table with the play offs being the likely outcome to their season, however an eighteen match unbeaten run coupled with both the teams above them being unable to match their long unbeaten sequence and the divine intervention of AFC Welwyn in what was surely one of the most unlikely outcomes to a match this season, two days before means that Haringey will be able to return to Level Four after a one season away. Highly likely that Cockfosters play-off match will see them travel with the probable destination Risborough Rangers.
The presence of AFC Welwyn manager Scott Patmore remained unnoticed this end but he should have not had to put his hand in his pocket all evening to pay for any drinks and also that it would be seen to be good practice for both Cockfosters and Haringey to extend a deep sense of gratitude towards AFC Welwyn. For the visitors the reasons have been extensively outlined above, for Cockfosters the AFC Welwyn win on Tuesday almost certainly tripled the gate and the amount of food and drinks sold greatly exceeded what would have been the case if the match was simply to decide respective play off positions. For the hosts it continues what has been a remarkably successful season and there is still the possibility of promotion, the SSML Premier Division Cup (a further game against Haringey) and last but not least a trip to Wembley for the Vase final.
As usual arrived far too early and when whiling away time sitting on a bench in the adjacent cricket pitch the poor state of the outfield was noticed though the square had been partitioned off over the course of the previous seven days. A good outward journey was matched by the perfect connections of the return leg where we had a swift departure from Cockfosters and minimal time waiting at Finsbury Park, Blackhorse Road and Barking meaning that The Riverbank lock was turned at 23.25. It is suspected that based on the celebrations of the Haringey entourage on social media, their arrivals back home were somewhat later.

[Rhodes]

6 hours ago, Rhodes said:

Thursday 16 April 
Premier Division 
Cockfosters 0 Haringey Borough 0

Haringey Borough are unsurprisingly 'full of it' today following their Premier Division Championship win at Cockfosters last night and no doubt a crate of Krug or Bollinger champagne arrived at Hemel Hempstead Town's Vauxhall Road ground today following AFC Welwyn's 3-2 win at Winslow United on Tuesday evening, it was noticeable that AFC Welwyn boss Scott Patmore was in attendance at Chalk Lane:

[Rhodes]

On 15/04/2026 at 16:56, Rhodes said:

Tuesday 14 April 
Division One 
Rothwell Corinthians 1 Everett Rovers 4

Highlights from the action of Everett Rovers impressive win at Sergeants Lawn:

[Rhodes]

Additionally, see photographs, courtesy of photographer 'Local Bus Driver', of the 0-0 stalemate at a packed Chalk Lane to confirm Haringey Borough as Champions of the Premier Division and promotion back to Step 4 at the first time of asking: 

[Rhodes]

On 17/04/2026 at 17:00, Rhodes said:

Tuesday 14 April 
Division One
Royston Town Reserves 0 Eaton Socon 3

Photographer Amelia Ratcliff was in attendance at Garden Walk to witness this convincing Eaton Socon victory, see 200 photographs:

Edited yesterday at 14:44 by Rhodes