STOTFOLD SHOCK TOWN

UP FOR THE CUP & ON THE ROAD TO WEMBLEY - STOTFOLD FC

Enfield Town’s FA Cup Road to Wembley started and unfortunately finished yesterday afternoon as Stotfold of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division made the most of their good fortune of being reinstated into the competition by producing a shock result.

The Eagles had themselves been on the end of a ‘giant killing’ losing at Kings Langley in the Extra Preliminary Round on Saturday 20^th August. The Spartan Division One side’s result had been overturned due to the fielding of an ineligible player.   

Despite having a large amount of the possession Town couldn’t really trouble the home keeper until Dean Pennant’s 35^th minute shot from outside the box went under the keeper and into the net. Stotfold came back at Town and equalised with a well worked and taken goal just prior to the break.

Town continued to control the game but never really troubled the home goal as numerous attacks broke down against a  well drilled and organised Stotfold side who closed down and frustrated the attacking Town players throughout the game.

KIRBY'S EFFORT HITS THE POST. IF ONLY IT HAD GONE IN?? IT MAY HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT STORY FOR TOWN

When a Mark Kirby effort hit the post you just somehow knew it wasn’t going to Town’s day. In the 75^th minute Glen Lamacraft rose first to head a cross from right to left past the dive of Rob Blackburne to make the score 1-2.

STOTFOLD'S WINNING GOAL. GLEN LAMACRAFT RISES TO HEAD THE CROSS HOME PAST ROB BLACKBURNE

From then on Stotfold did as they had done all afternoon and closed the game out to earn an away day at Ryman Premier Division Billericay Town along with some well received FA prize money.

So an extremely disappointing and frustrating afternoon as despite having much of the possession in the game it was the home side who took their chances (converted 2 of their 3 real goal attempts) and deserved to go through.

The Cold End wishes Stotfold the best of luck in the next round. Town fan’s received a very nice welcome at a great ground to watch football at which on non-league day was in the true spirit of the game. The food hut was brilliant with cups of tea and coffee being served in china mugs...you won’t get that at Wembley Stadium!!

Town’s next two league games at home to Needham Market and away at Harlow Town are now very important games where Steve Newing will be looking for his team to make a big bounce back from this result.

A DISAPPOINTED STEVE NEWING TALKING TO HIS TROOPS AFTER THE GAME

Town’s next two opponents had mixed fortunes in the Cup against teams from the Eastern Counties League. The Marketmen has a good 4-1 win at home to Felixstowe and Walton whereas The Hawks had a nightmare afternoon on the Norfolk coast going down 2-0 at Gorleston.

RYMAN DIVISION ONE (NORTH) FA CUP RESULTS
SATURDAY
Stotfold 2 Enfield Town 1
Cheshunt 0 Southend Manor 0
Leiston 5 FC Clacton 0
Kings Lynn Town 2 Soham Town Rangers 1
Hadleigh United 1 Heybridge Swifts 4
St Ives Town 0 AFC Sudbury 0
Maldon and Tiptree 9 Ipswich Wanderers 0
Gorleston 2 Harlow Town 0
Potters Bar Town 1 Broxbourne Borough 3
Tilbury 3 Biggleswade United 1
Great Wakering Rovers 1 Oxhey Jets 1
Cheshunt 0 Southend Manor 0
Waltham Forest 1 Ilford 1
Waltham Abbey 6 Ware 1
Colney Heath 0 Brentwood Town 1
Cockfosters 1 Redbridge 2

Thamesmead Town 3 Burgess Hill Town 0
Chatham Town 1 Croydon Athletic 0

SUNDAY
AFC Dunstable 2 Grays Athletic 3
Romford 3 Royston Town 2

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS (OR LOWLIGHTS IF YOUR A TOWNER) ARE BELOW...ALL THREE GOALS ARE INCLUDED