BARTON ROVERS 1 ENFIELD TOWN 2

Town won the friendly game played this afternoon at Sharpenhoe Road thanks to goals from Deniz Mehmet and Liam Hope. Final Score 1-2.

Town's next game is at home to Ryman Premier Aveley on Tuesday night.

BARTON ROVERS UP NEXT

Enfield Town's pre season contniues today with a trip to play Zamaretto Central Division Barton Rovers. The Sharpenhoe Road club are managed by ex Enfield FC played Gary Fitzgerald with this afternoon's game completing an Enfield double for the Bedfordshire club as last Saturday they played Enfield 1893 FC at Goldsdown Road. That match finished 1-0 to the home side courtesy of a Neil Hughes goal.

Rovers have played two other pre season games, one against SSML Division One side Crawley Green who ground share at Sharpenhoe, losing 0-2 on the 20th July. Prior to this game they travelled to United Counties League Premier Division new boy's Peterborough Northern Star on the 17th July losing 2-1.

Other selected friendly games today featuring Ryman Division One North clubs

FC Clacton V AFC Sudbury
Hullbridge Sports V Brentwood Town
East Thurrock United V AFC Hornchurch
Mountnessing Boca V Grays Athletic
Great Wakering Rovers V Margate
Leiston V Harlow Town
Heybridge Swifts V West Ham United XI
Leyton V Thurrock
Potters Bar Town V Chesham United
Stotfold V Redbridge
Romford V Aveley
Thamesmead Town V Maidstone United
Tilbury V Bowers and Pitsea
Takeley V Waltham Abbey
Eton Manor V Waltham Forest

* cold end note - if you are going to go to one of the above fixtures please check the specific club's website for information on venue and kick off time due to the random nature of PSF games.

EARLY CONTENDER FOR GOAL OF THE SEASON AT COLNEY HEATH??

Colney Heath 0 Enfield Town 2

Town scored two second half goals to secure victory against their Spartan South Midlands Premier Division hosts in the pre season friendly game played last night in Hertfordshire. The first goal was scored by Daniel Jones, his skillful chip from just inside the edge of the penalty box could be an early season contender for goal of the season?? It was good to see the Town team spirit is still there as when Jones was celebrating his goal the other players told him he was offside and pointed towards the assistant referee. Daniel looked gutted for a few seconds but then realised it was a wind-up and joined in with the banter.

Jones, a half time substitute, capped off a good performance for Town with a shot on target which was tipped over the bar by the Colney keeper and then setting up the 2nd ringht at the end of the game when another substitute Bryan Hammat stooped to head his cross, from the right hand side, under the keeper and into the back of the net.

All in all a very encouraging performance from the Town squad. The cold end was impressed with another new player in Jay Siva who played on the left wing for the first half. He was involved in many of Town's attacks and put over some good crosses to create chances for Stuart Blackburne and Adam Wallace. Silva linked up well with Michael Bardle at left-back. Steve changed most of the side at half time but despite this throughout the 90 minutes Colney only had one real chance of note with a shot across the goal which went wide of the target.

Enfield Town Starting Line Up

Jason Holmes

Michael Bardle

Jack Wood

Lee Protheroe

Craig McKay

Dan Forward

Richard Morton

Deniz Mehmet

Jay Siva

Stuart Blackburne

Adam Wallace

Amongst the Subs were - Paul Campbell, Dave Kendal, Daniel Jones, Scott Buckeridge, Bryan Hammat, Sam Byfield, Rudi Hall and Phil Kane.

Watch the match highlights below including Daniel Jones's quality chipped goal...apologies for the shoddy camera work for the 2nd goal:

"WE'RE ALL GOING TO WEMBERLEEE!!!!" ..... TO PLAY HENDON IN THE MIDDLESEX SENIOR CUP

The draw for the Middlesex Senior Cup has been made with Enfield Town facing a tough trip to Vale Farm to face Premier Division Hendon in the first round, the game is due to played in November on a date yet to be announced. If Town are winners against Gary McCann's side it's a familiar trip to Wingate and Finchley in the second round. Other first round ties feature Enfield FC 1893 facing a home game against North Greenford United with Hillingdon Borough playing host to the Blue Square Premier big boy's in Hayes and Yeading United.

FULL DRAW FOR ROUNDS ONE AND TWO

Hillingdon Borough          v  Hayes & Yeading United    
Hendon                      v  Enfield Town    
Enfield (1893)              v  North Greenford United    
AFC Hayes                   v  Hanworth Villa    
Hampton & Richmond Borough  v  Harefield United  

Round 2

Ashford Town (Middlesex)  v  Harrow Borough    
Bedfont Town              v  AFC Hayes or Hanworth Villa   
Wingate and Finchley      v  Hendon or Enfield Town   
Wealdstone                v  Northwood 
Tokyngton Manor           v  Hillingdown Borough or Hayes & Yeading United  
Enfield FC 1893           v  Hampton & Richmond Borough or Harefield United  
Staines Town              v  Uxbridge
Hanwell Town              v  Wembley

WEDNESDAY WEB RECOMMENDATIONS

First up this week is a great article from Two Footed Tackle regarding the dropping of "United" and change of kit colour, from the newly named Blue Square North side Hyde FC.

Some of you reading this may have seen this clip, if you haven't please take a look at probably the most innovative and well-thought out goal celebration ever, from a game played in the Iceland Football league. A football report asks what else have we been missing in Icelandic football?? The cold end asks can any player or club in England come with a better one??

A Charlton Athletic season ticket holder asks on Just Football whether or not Liverpool's £1.7m signing of starlet JonJo Shelvey will be a success. Will he be a future England international or the new Steven Gerrard??

The ball is round visited Grosvenor Vale on Monday where Wealdstone faced Dagenham and Redbridge in a friendly game. A nice look at a ground Enfield Town visit on Monday 16th August.
Manchester United blog The Republik of Mancunia takes a interesting look at what money has brought to Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea and of course, their rivals Manchester City.

And finally Guardian Football's report and synopsis of the England U19 v Spain U19 game is as always an excellent and most informed read.

ALL SQUARE AT TOP FIELD

Above - The Vuvuzela making an early season appearance on the terraces at Top Field.

The cold end visited Top Field, Hitchin tonight to see Ryman Premier League Hendon take on their Zamaretto Central Division hosts in a pre season friendly.

The Vuvuzela ban that has been imposed by several Premier League sides in not yet in effect in Hertfordshire - one enterprisnig Hitchin supporter amongst the crowd of 141 had brought one along to add to the atmosphere.

The first half was one where goal-mouth action was at a premium with a Hendon shot from the half-way line which went way wide of the target and a Hitchin header over the bar from a right hand side free kick the only efforts worthy of note prior to a the visitors getting a good shot on goal just prior to the break which was saved by the Hitchin keeper and then headed clear by a defender.

Hendon's back four retained the ball well and with confidence throughout the first 45 minutes but when going any further downfield it never really worked for them prior to the break.

As is tradition with pre season games several substitutions were made a half time and it seemed to do the trick for Gary McCann's side as they looked much better going forward. Substitute Aaron Morgan who was playing as trialist, having played against Hendon for Hillingdon Borough last week, looked good with his pace and strength creating several of their chances.

Both sides had a few chances with Hendon nearly breaking the dead lock when Lubo Guentchev cut in from the left hand side with his shot being comfortably but well saved by the Hitchin keeper.

The Canaries nearly won the game in the dying moments when a Hendon player put the ball across the box for a Hitchin player to pick up the ball and put a deflected shot in on goal (the defender done well to get in the way of the shot as you will see from the match highlights) which was saved by James Reading who had replaced Berkley Laurencin at half time.

FINAL SCORE : 0-0

HITCHIN TOWN STARTING LINE UP

Matin Bennett, Tony Fontenelle, Tom Pepper, Dean Gilbert, John Worsworth, Carl Williams, Ieuan Lewis, Louis Lee, Jamie Arlick, Bradley Harrison, Zak Burke.

Subs (of whom many came on) - Richard Howell, Ryan Haggerty, Tom Mustapha, Alex Copping, Aidan Byfield.

HENDON STARTING LINE UP

Berkley Laurencin, Eddie Manully, Danny Dyer, Casey Macleran, James Parker, James Burgess, Lubo Guentchev, James Busby, Aaron Lansiquot, Glenn Garner, Kevin Maclaren.

Subs (of whom many came on) - Craig Vargas, Jon-Jo Bates, Dave Reading, Aaron Morgan, Fabian Sims, Matt O'Brien, Mariuz Serwin, James Reading.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS -

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE FIXTURES RELEASED

The 40th season of the Essex Senior League kicks off on the 7th of August with a total of seventeen teams making up the Division. 2009/10 runners-up Witham Town who were denied promotion to the Ryman League have to be considered favourites for the title along with a clutch of other teams who were up the in the top half of the division last season including Champions Stansted, Enfield 1893 (newly merged with Brimsdown Rovers), Burnham Ramblers and Bethnal Green United amongst others.

Here are the opening fixtures for the league:

Saturday 7th August

Barking             v Enfield 1893
Basildon United     v Stansted
Bowers & Pitsea     v Bethnal Green United
Clapton             v Burnham Ramblers
Mauritius Sports    v Hullbridge Sports
Takeley             v Eton Manor
Witham Town         v Barkingside

Tuesday 10th August
*All League Cup Group games*

Witham Town         v Bethnal Green United
Barking             v Mauritius Sports
Burnham Ramblers    v Bowers & Pitsea
Sawbridgeworth Town v Basildon United
Clapton             v Barkingside
Hullbridge Sports   v Southend Manor

Saturday 14th August
*FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY GAMES*

Saffron Walden Town  v Mauritius Sports
Kentish Town         v Stansted
Clapton              v Stanway Rovers
Burnham Ramblers     v Hoddesdon Town
Bethnal Green United v Basildon United
Bowers & Pitsea      v Dunstable Town
Takeley              v Hertford Town
Cockfosters          v Hullbridge Sports
Witham Town          v Wembley
Tring Athletic       v Enfield 1893
London APSA          v Halstead Town
Eton Manor           v Bedford

Sunday 15th August
*FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY GAMES*

Hadley      v Barking - KO 1pm @ Potters Bar Town FC
Barkingside v Southend Manor

Saturday 21st August

Basildon United     v Barkingside
Bowers & Pitsea     v London APSA
Burnham Ramblers    v Barking
Eton Manor          v Takeley
Hullbridge Sports   v Enfield 1893
Sawbridgeworth Town v Mauritius Sports
Southend Manor      v Bethnal Green United
Witham Town         v Clapton

The pick of the opening day's games has to be Witham's game at home to Barkingside or Champions Stansted going to Gardiners Close to face Basildon United.

The second weekend of the season sees the magic of the FA Cup beginning with two all ESL ties being Bethnal Green United V Basildon on the Saturday and Barkingside entertaining Southend Manor on the Sunday. There are eight ESL v Spartan South Midlands League games with the match between Hadley and Barking on Sunday bound to attract a larger crowd than usual with a number of neutrals attending. Who will win the battle of the leagues with more teams qualifying for the Preliminary round?? The magic of the FA Cup will decide.

Maritius Sports, Clapton and London APSA all traditional strugglers in the ESL, face tough games against Eastern Counties League opposition, with Witham starting on the road to Wembley against The Lions of Wembley from the Combined Counties League.

After the excitement of the Cup it's back to league action on the 21st August with Bethnal Green United taking a trip from East London to the seaside in Essex to face Southend Manor.

NO GOALS AT HERTINGFORDBURY PARK

It was the Spartan South Midlands League versus the Ryman League this afternoon at Hertingfordbury Park as Hertford Town welcomed Waltham Abbey for a pre season friendly.


The first thing that struck the cold end when entering the ground was the condition of the pitch. It was very dry, bumpy and patchy all over. Hopefully for Hertford's players and supporters it'll be in a better state once the proper season kicks off.

Today's game was one of few chances or goalmouth action. The best attempt at breaking the deadlock being from Abbey in the first ten minutes who drew a great save from the Hertford keeper with a shot from the edge of the six-yard box. Abbey had a few other half chances in the first period but nothing really to write home about. Hertford were poor going forward and didn't have a decent chance of note I can recall throughout the game.

One of Hertingfordbury Park's End's is renamed.

Abbey played in the their away kit of yellow in the first half and their home kit of white and green hoops in the second half. Being pre season there was substitutes-a-plenty at half time (Abbey didn't just change their kit but almost all of their team) and during the second half, with a few refreshment breaks as the Sun was beating down making it a rather pleasant day for the spectators who had gathered. The good weather and the pitch not being in the best states didn't make for the best conditions for Soccer.

The two pictures above show the condition of the pitch didn't make for good football

So, the cold end can't really make judgement on the Waltham Abbey side who will play Enfield Town in the first game of the Ryman North season on the 21st August.

As with all pre season games it doesn't matter what happens until the real stuff gets underway.

FULL TIME - HERTFORD TOWN 0 WALTHAM ABBEY 0

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS BELOW

IT'S THE COLD END'S BIRTHDAY!!

The 24th July 2010 marks the cold end's first birthday. Since the blog began I have met and spoken to so many friendly people from other non-league football clubs all over the UK. The cold end would simply just like to say thank you for all the support and kind words you have sent over the last twelve months.

To mark the special occasion here is a selection of highlights from the cold end's first year -

Enfield Town fan's travelled in huge numbers to Canvey Island on the 1st May to watch the play off final. Despite a huge effort in a spirited fight back from going 2-0 down Town eventually lost out 3-1 to Concord Rangers who were promoted to the Premier Division of the Ryman League. Every Town fan present that day was rightly proud of the team and management who achieved so much over the season. The foundations have been laid for hopefully a great 2010/11 season.



Prior to the Concord Rangers game was the night of the season and probably Enfield Town's history when a 3-2 victory away at Wingate and Finchley was recorded in a simply brilliant display by all the team. On the terraces it was a triumphant and most memorable return to the halcyon "glory glory" days (and nights) of Southbury Road with even 'Give us an E' being belted out by the huge number of Town fan's present. Highlights of the match are above.

On the 16th February 2010 the cold end visited Hoddesdon Town who were scheduled to play Kings Langley in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One. When I saw the pitch I turned round thinking the game was surely going to be called off. To my surprise the game actually went ahead!!

Ben Hammond takes on the East Thurrock defence during the 0-0 draw on the 13th February.

Bob and Dave watch the Enfield Town V Northwood game at Goldsdown Road on the 20th February.

The 27th February saw Town's much anticipated trip to Lowestoft called off due to a waterlogged pitch. The match between Wingate and Finchley and Waltham Forest took place despite a torrential downpour in the second half. Pedro Knight of The Stags tried his best not to pick up a yellow card but didn't succeed in his appeal to the man in the middle.

On the 6th March Enfield Town took on Thamesmead Town at Goldsdown Road. Prior to match the players and supporters impeccably observed a minute's silence in memory of footballing legend Keith Alexander who so sadly passed away on 3rd March.

Town fan's shelter from the elements watching the game versus Heybridge Swifts in March

The enigma that is The Toonstar Tipper 'revealed' his true identity to his loyal fans on the cold end during the 2009/10 season. TT made a tidy profit on his recommended bets along with The Director who made a gain in his Ryman Legue suggested gambles... Let's hope 2010/11 is a bookie bashing one.

The Copthall Stadium, Barnet. Home to Spartan South Midlands League side Kentish Town under floodlights prior to the local derby with Kingsbury London Tigers in September.

Another ground with a running track. Travelling fans watch Town crash out of the FA Cup at Stompond Lane in late September.

New club Southill Alexander take on SSML side The 61 FC in the Bedfordshire Senior Trophy in October.

Harlow Town's Shaun Gliddon scores against Maldon Town to set off the unique sound of The Hawk's air raid siren.

Steve Newing looks on at Concord Rangers in October

Town beat a Leverstock Green side which contained future Towner Ben Hammond in the FA Cup in August.

Town fans populate the Potter's Bar Kop in December.

Proper soccer watched by Loyal Fans. Maldon Town away in December. You can't beat non-league football!

Who can forget the big freeze which caused havoc with the playing schedule in December and January. Here we see Hertford Town covered in snow and Langford's cold end prior to their game at home to Oxhey Jets which finished 4-4 on a freezing day at the end of December.

And finally, the cold end's favourite video clip of last season. Stuart Blackburne caps a unbelievable come back from the Town. After a truly awful showing in the first half Ware were 3-0 up and cruising to victory. The home side didn't count on Town's fighting spirit!!! **The cold end apologies for the industrial but celebratory language from a well known Enfield Town fan**