Monday/Tuesday 3/4 August - SSML Results/Reports

[Rhodes]

The midweek Premier Division fixtures including this evening's AFC Welwyn v Baldock Town at Hertingfordbury Park:

Monday 3 August (kick off 7.45pm)

Premier Division

AFC Welwyn v Baldock Town (at Hertford Town FC)

Tuesday 4 August (all kick off 7.45pm)

Premier Division

Arlesey Town v Kempston Rovers

Colney Heath v Wormley Rovers

Enfield FC v Tring Athletic (at Potters Bar Town FC)

Everett Rovers v Aylesbury Vale Dynamos

Harlow Town v Kings Langley

Harpenden Town v Risborough Rangers

Newport Pagnell Town v Biggleswade United

Potton United v Dunstable FC

Sawbridgeworth Town v Cockfosters

Edited August 4 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

A win for AFC Welwyn last night at their new Hertingfordbury Park home:

Monday 3 August

Premier Division

AFC Welwyn 2 Baldock Town 0

[Rhodes]

Last night's results:

Tuesday 4 August 

Premier Division

Arlesey Town 1 Kempston Rovers 4

Colney Heath 0 Wormley Rovers 2

Enfield FC 1 Tring Athletic 2 (at Potters Bar Town FC)

Everett Rovers 4 Aylesbury Vale Dynamos 2

Harlow Town 2 Kings Langley 1

Harpenden Town 1 Risborough Rangers 4

Newport Pagnell Town 0 Biggleswade United 4

Potton United 4 Dunstable FC 1

Sawbridgeworth Town 2 Cockfosters 1

[Rhodes]

1 hour ago, Rhodes said:

Tuesday 4 August 
Premier Division
Sawbridgeworth Town 2 Cockfosters 1

Well known groundhopper 'Tales From The Riverbank' was in attendance at Crofters End:

Sawbridgeworth Town 2 v 1 Cockfosters - Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division.
Programme 16 pages £2.00 - Admission £5.00 (c) - Att. approx. 180.
Impressive win for the hosts but a contest where Cockfosters will be collectively peeved that they did not obtain a point after having the better of play of much of the first period after a decidedly shaky start and then dominating much of the second period but were let down by poor defending which let to the Sawbridgeworth winner and then could not force a late leveller.
On a pitch which was almost equal amounts green and beige colours of grass and also lumpy and during the second half dusty, the hosts made the early running scoring an early goal when Warren Kayembe had plenty of time and space on the left to deliver a low cross into the middle that was firmly dispatched by Sam Hicks through the raised hands of Gene Ghag in the Cockfosters goal.
After such a successful 25/26 season for the visitors with them reaching Wembley in the Vase and also reaching the SSMLP POF, it was clear that many of the players that played such a role in their success would depart for clubs higher up the food chain and it was duly noted that there were only two Cockfosters players who played in the Vase final and who played in this contest.
Experienced manager Terry Spillane has brought in plenty of new players of which the most noticeable was Hassan Nalbant another player who has graced the turf of Wembley playing for Romford when they reached the Vase final just over two years ago (just seems like yesterday). Nalbant is a decent striker, but for much of the opening half hour he ploughed away remorselessly and often a little selfishly.
Initially, the closest that the visitors came to levelling was a curling shot aimed from the edge of the area by Lee Dykes which travelled the wrong side of the upright. After this was seemingly Nalbant single handedly against the Sawbridgeworth defence. Good defensive cover afforded by Joshua Fox ensured that Nalbant was unable to create anything meaningful, however just after the half hour a good pass directed across the eighteen yard line by Ouwatobi Coker found Nalbant in space. What was not expected from what was a promising position was a completely sliced shot which travelled at ninety degrees and ended up closer to the linesman on the far side than the home goal.
Eventually Nalbant's persistence paid off with a deserved equaliser finding himself once again in space and he was able to lob Coker's pass forward over the advancing Jimmy Parker into the corner. A level outcome at the interval was a fair reflection of the first half but one where Sawbridgeworth could easily have retaken the lead when the impressive Tom Millett found space on the left and his rising shot was only narrowly wide of the far post.
An enjoyable first half was matched over the course of the second period. Very frenetic for long periods with players seemingly oblivious to the cloying humidity. Early chances for both teams with Millett once again going close for the hosts and at the opposite end Nalbant once again creating space but no doubt disappointed that his low cross across the face of the goal failed to generate an attacking touch.
As the second half progressed it was remarked to the also present PMW that the quota of goals for the evening had been used up. Thankfully, this assertion was proved to be incorrect as within five minutes Sawbridgeworth scored what was ultimately the winning goal. Excellent long ball forward by Millett for Austen Garrod to run onto, defensively the covering Cockfosters rearguard really should have closed Garrod down more conclusively but the latter's pace plus the lack of a challenge the space required and Garrod was able to place a shot between Ghag's dive and the near post.
A difficult to defensively navigate final twenty minutes for the hosts could have been avoided almost immediately after they retook the lead, when Hicks found himself in plenty of space twelve yards out but ended up shooting tamely straight at Ghag. As a result of them remaining just a goal behind, the visitors pushed relentlessly forward and they were boosted when Matty Newman rejoined the fray after having to sit out ten minutes after disputing a referees decision.
The difficulty for the visitors though was a combination of missed opportunities, excellent defending especially from the commanding Fox and also a lack of good fortune as a angled drive from Coker left Parker completely static but rebounded back into play off of the far post. Good fortune continued to elude the visitors when Dykes' low cross was sliced perilously close to his own near post by Stephen Smith. In stoppage time, Ghag joined the mass of players in the home penalty area to no effect, but in the end the hosts just about managed to hang onto their lead to give them their second win of the season, joining four other clubs in the division who have also won both of their league matches this season. At the opposite end of the table, Cockfosters are among five other clubs that have lost both of their opening league games, though with a dramatically changed team from last season it is not surprising that it will take time for the team to blend together.
First visit here for very nearly fourteen years and apart from the direction of travel from the station to the ground, there were very few recollections of the surrounds. The seated area is a little off centre but in such sultry conditions, there were no desire to stand for ninety plus minutes apart from this the only cover is the overhang from the clubhouse, which of course were not required.
Slow outward journey with a points failure leading to cancellation of Greater Anglia services off of Stratford, though over the course of the half hour wait there was a few drops of a mysterious wet substance that fell from the sky which I am sure led to several other waiting passengers dancing the briefest jig of delight. Unlike conditions elsewhere, the Stratford shower lasted merely five minutes and barely damped the ground.
Return journey was easier, breaking the journey at Broxbourne to make use of the Oyster and to save a few pounds for future trips. Indoors four minutes into Wednesday.