Saturday saw more SSML drama on a windswept afternoon which brought about a goalkeeper scoring and a penalty incident that saw a spot kick taken three times all being saved by the custodian.
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SATURDAY’S HEADLINES
Bedford are one of nine clubs with a 100% league record. Biggleswade United, Edgware Town, MK Gallacticos, Pitstone & Ivinghoe, Sarratt and Winslow United recorded their first wins of the campaign. Saturday brought about 110 goals from the 25 games (an average of 4.40 per game) with Zamar Beckford (Sarratt) leading the way with a four goal haul while three other players netting hat-tricks.
26 September Stats: 25 games played of which 14 were home wins, 7 were away wins and 4 draws.
100% league record to date: Bedford, Bovingdon, Codicote, Colney Heath, Harefield United, Leighton Town, Pitstone & Ivinghoe, Rayners Lane and St Panteleimon.
Saturday’s Highest Attendances: 117 Colney Heath v Baldock Town, 104 Harpenden Town v London Colney and 103 Ampthill Town v New Salamis.
Season’s Highest Attendances to date (Premier Division Clubs): 300 Harpenden Town v Aveley (FA Cup), 250 Harefield United v Leighton Town (FA Cup) and 170 Leighton Town v Mildenhall Town (FA Cup).
Season’s Highest Attendances to date (Division One Clubs): 315 New Salamis v West Essex (FA Cup), 285 Winslow United v Newport Pagnell Town (FA Cup) and 236 New Salamis v Colney Heath (FA Cup).
Season’s Highest Attendances to date (Division Two Clubs): 103 Codicote v New Bradwell St Peter, 90 Totternhoe v MK Gallacticos and 75 Bovingdon v Totternhoe.
Saturday 26th September
PREMIER DIVISION
Saturday’s Premier Division fixtures brought about a feast of goals with the ten games averaging five goals per game, Biggleswade United and Leighton Town led the way with both clubs scoring five times on their travels. For Biggleswade United it was a most welcomed first league points of the season, trailing at the interval to an early penalty the Bedfordshire club struck five times in the second period to win 5-2 at North Greenford United. An empty stadium at the Brache (due to EFL restrictions) saw Crawley Green welcome unbeaten Leighton Town, the visitors more used to noisy surroundings did not allow the eerie settings distract them and quickly found themselves two goals up and went on to complete a nap hand with three further strikes after the interval to win 5-0. Oxhey Jets saw off visiting Dunstable Town 4-0 with prolific marksman Lewis Putman bagging a hat-trick. Tring Athletic have found it a bit of a struggle this campaign and are still seeking their first points of the season after losing by the odd goal in five at Arlesey Town to remain bottom of the standings. Edgware Town fought back from 0-2 down to win 3-2 at Aylesbury Vale Dynamos while Eynesbury Rovers ran out 2-1 winners at home against Broadfields United. Harefield United were another side to come from behind (1-3) to take all three points at home against Newport Pagnell Town winning 4-3. Harpenden Town faced neighbouring London Colney at Rothamsted Park and came out on top in a fiercely contested ‘derby’ by four goals to two, while Colney Heath moved to the top of the table as they overcame visiting Baldock Town 2-1 in front of the day’s highest attendance (117). The day’s other action saw Wembley return from the long trip to Potton United with maximum points after winning by the odd goal in five. Full results and goalscorers are listed below.
3-2 Arlesey Town v Tring Athletic (Carvalho [2], Dimov) / (Short, Nimoh) Attendance: 68
2-3 Aylesbury Vale Dynamos v Edgware Town (Lambeth, Workman) / (Beach, Mooney, McGleish) Attendance: 91
2-1 Colney Heath v Baldock Town (Boodhoo, Devine) / (Furness) Attendance: 117
0-5 Crawley Green v Leighton Town (Collier [2], Mealing [2], Frederick) Attendance: 0 (Behind Closed Doors)
2-1 Eynesbury Rovers v Broadfields United (Brown, Hatch) / (Richards) Attendance: 94
4-3 Harefield United v Newport Pagnell Town (Shaw [2] [1 pen], McCorkhill, Pacquette) / (Crawley [2], Opponent Own Goal) Attendance: 45
4-2 Harpenden Town v London Colney (Scott [2], Rickman, Anthony) / (Costa, Simmons) Attendance: 104
2-5 North Greenford United v Biggleswade United (Mills [2] [both pens]) / (Parkinson [2] [1 pen], Clayton, Taylor, Morgillo) Attendance: 72
4-0 Oxhey Jets v Dunstable Town (Putman [3], Giordmaina) Attendance: 71
2-3 Potton United v Wembley (McArdle [2]) / (Laws-Cochrane [2], Fehmi-Gil) Attendance: 95
DIVISION ONE
The top two both made it three wins from three on Saturday, leaders St Panteleimon thumping five past London Tigers on route to a 5-2 win over their visitors while Bedford also won by the same scoreline at Enfield Borough, one of the visitors goals coming from goalkeeper Michael Hudson whose free kick sailed through the hands of his opposite number albeit aided by the strong wind. It was 4th v 3rd at Ampthill Park Stadium where Ampthill Town welcomed New Salamis, both clubs having a 100% record after winning their opening games, and in front of a large crowd (103) both remain unbeaten after a 1-1 draw. The day’s Division One biggest winners were Winslow United who cruised to a 6-0 home success over Langford a result that sees the Bedfordshire club slump to the foot of the table. A solitary goal was enough for Shefford Town & Campton to overcome visiting Park View while Stotfold shared the points with visiting Milton Keynes Irish following a 1-1 draw. Elsewhere Rayners Lane edged out Amersham Town, the hosts winning by the odd goal in three London Lions defeated visitors Buckingham Athletic with a solitary goal from Max Kyte. Full results and goalscorers (where known) are listed below.
1-1 Ampthill Town v New Salamis (Cerminara [pen]) / (C Georgiou) Attendance: 103
2-5 Enfield Borough v Bedford (Ennin, Harris) / (McLeod-Bentley [2], Hudson, Ward, Pickard) Attendance: 25
1-0 London Lions v Buckingham Athletic (Kyte) Attendance: 38
2-1 Rayners Lane v Amersham Town (Noyes, Ali) / (Rivers) Attendance: 66
1-0 Shefford Town & Campton v Park View (Unknown) Attendance: 49
1-1 Stotfold v Milton Keynes Irish FC (Forsythe) / (V Shrieves) Attendance: 76
5-2 St Panteleimon v London Tigers (Unknown) / (Arthur, Smith) Attendance: 27
6-0 Winslow United v Langford (Coles [3], Collins [2], Woolley) Attendance: 85
DIVISION TWO
Codicote moved to the top of the standings with a 6-1 win over bottom club The 61FC (Luton), the Hertfordshire side recovered from falling a goal down in the first minute to win convincingly against their Bedfordshire hosts. Morning leaders Berkhamsted Raiders found themselves trailing 0-2 at the interval at Tring Corinthians FC before two goals in the second period earned them a share of the spoils. Old Bradwell United will no doubt be practising their penalty taking this week following a thrice taken spot kick were all saved by the MK Gallacticos custodian, first Darryl Smith then Jamie Cox both were denied from the spot, the eagled eyed assistant referee flagging for the keeper’s feet leaving the goal-line, cue a 10 minute delay while the referee spoke to several members of the hosts management team along with spectators before showing the red card before Peter Maxey stepped up to complete the unwanted treble. Shell-shocked by events the visitors then conceded twice to gift the hosts the three points. Sarratt recorded their record SSML win with a 7-1 success against visiting Mursley United. Pitstone & Ivinghoe, having been the bye team last week, kicked off their league campaign with a 2-1 win at New Bradwell St Peter. Elsewhere Totternhoe were beaten by the odd goal in three at Bovingdon and Aston Clinton were held 2-2 at home by league new boys Berkhamsted Comrades. Full results and goalscorers listed below.
2-2 Aston Clinton v Berkhamsted Comrades (Desmond [2]) / (Wootton, Seodi) Attendance: 60
2-1 Bovingdon v Totternhoe (Oakley, Ogboro) / (Clarke) Attendance: 75
2-0 MK Gallacticos v Old Bradwell United (D Smith, J Smith) Attendance: 35
1-2 New Bradwell St Peter v Pitstone & Ivinghoe (Bosoka) / (Groom, Hubbard) Attendance: 70
7-1 Sarratt v Mursley United (Beckford [4], Peterson [2], Rita) / (Anderson) Attendance: 30
1-6 The 61FC (Luton) v Codicote (Boffah) / (Price [3], Gutzmore, Bennett, Wylie) Attendance: 26
2-2 Tring Corinthians AFC v Berkhamsted Raiders (T Bennett, H Bennett) / (Boswell [2] [1 pen]) Attendance: 23
AND FINALLY
You couldn’t make it up – Alcohol spray used on a football club’s coach to protect against coronavirus left the driver unable to take players and staff to an away match. Oxford United had to change at their hotel and travel to their game at Accrington Stanley by car. It is thought some of the spray in the air was picked up by a device that stops the coach driver starting the vehicle if alcohol has been consumed. The club started the game at the bottom of League One on Saturday. Karl Robinson, the club’s head coach, told BBC Radio Oxford before the match: “Our coach has just broken down so we’ve just had to get changed at the hotel and make our way.”This week has certainly been sent to test us. We had four players test for Covid-19 on Thursday.” He added that they also have “flu going round”. Oxford eventually won the match 4-1. ‘Crazy thing’ BBC Radio Oxford’s Nathan Cooper said: “[Oxford have] got quite a technical bus that not many at this level have got.”When you get on board it sprays a sort of alcohol gel – a fine mist spray – which obviously helps with the current situation, so it sterilises the bus. Somehow that ended up affecting the bus itself.” He added: “It’s a crazy thing to happen but first of all you’ve got to say hats off to the club for trying. Not every club at this level has been doing that.” Testing players for coronavirus is not mandatory in the Football League.
Don’t forget that every Sunday afternoon the Non-League Show on Three Counties Radio (Herts, Beds & Bucks), a show all about local non-league football. The popular show presented by Ollie Bayliss has been increased to two hours each week and moves to a new day and time, every Sunday afternoon from 2.00pm – 4.00pm and is the perfect opportunity to catch up with our local non-league scene at all levels.
For those who missed it then you can catch up here:-
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08rjrhh
Two of the SSML’s finest officers were out and about on Saturday and both have supplied their own words from their travels:-
Mad Scot Bill Hamilton was in attendance at the idyllic Hertfordshire village of Sarratt to present the Division Two club with a special award to mark their impeccable Respect performance over a period of three months before the enforced shutdown in March. Along with a sizeable bunch of locals, he was treated to a five-star performance as Sarratt ran up their highest score since joining the League two seasons ago. Five up by half-time, they ran out 7-1 winners with Zamar Beckford rattling in four goals and Craig Peterson two. Luca Rita also got his name on the scoresheet. Graham Anderson got Mursley’s meagre consolation in a game they will be anxious to put behind them.
While Mike Taylor popped along to Colney Heath – Delighted to report that Dave Brock was presented with his ‘’50 Years of Service Medal’’ from the Football Association. Manager Ryan Thompson made this award to Dave prior to the match against Baldock Town, Dave no doubt was probably just as pleased with the result, making it a fine afternoon at The Rec. As many of you will know, Dave has been a servant of ‘The Colneys’ for many, many years and a genuinely likeable personality. On behalf of the League and on behalf of all those Match Officials who have shared a cup of tea with Dave over the years…’’Well done son and keep up the good work’’…we need folk like you around!!!
The result of this week’s Team of the Day Poll with 156 votes cast is:-
Sarratt 37.8%
Biggleswade United 35.9%
Edgware Town 17.9%
Winslow United 8.3%