HAMPTON AND RICHMOND BOROUGH IN TOWN TOMORROW

bwin.com make Town 9/4 to win against current table topper's Hampton and Richmond Borough tomorrow afternoon. The Beavers are odds on favourites at 9/10 with the draw being 5/2.

Our visitors are unbeaten in their four league games played having won three and drawn one. They have beaten Hastings United and Thurrock at home by a scoreline of 1-0 and won 0-3 away to Hendon. Their draw came in a 0-0 result at Canvey Island.

Could Enfield Town be the first team to score against Mark Harper's team?? 

Kick off is the usual time of 3pm at The Donkey Dome.

GOALS, GOALS AND MORE GOALS IN THE HATFIELD DERBY

AFC Hatfield welcomed Hatfield Royal British Legion (or RBL for short) for a local derby game in the Hertfordshire Senior County League Division One on Wednesday night. The result was goals, goals and more goals as you'll see from the match highlights below.

RBL had already won 1-9 against Lemsford on the 22nd August...could they go one better?? Have a look at the highlights below to find out -

THREE PENALTY KICKS - AN EVENTFUL NIGHT AT THE GOSLING STADIUM

Codicote, newly promoted from the Hertfordshire Senior County League for this season, entertained Cranfield United at The Gosling Stadium in a Spartan South Midlands League Division One game. A crowd of only 17 people were present to see the home side easily beat the visitors who let in four goals (two from the penalty spot) in the first half but did improve in the second with most of their play going through their impressive central midfielder Manny Richardson (see the cold end's report of the Bedford Town Res v Beford United game from January 2011 where Richardson also had a great game for the home side - LINK HERE)

Codicote were awarded another penalty in the second half but by then Adam Furness whom had scored the two in the first half had been subbed so it was left to Leeroy Williams to take it. The kick was well saved by the Cranfield keeper. Kane Dougherty got Codicote's other goals who was playing for Langford earlier in the pre-season.

As stated the crowd at the stadium was very sparse indeed with only an handful of people present. Codicote's home at the John Clements Memorial Ground in the village is not deemed suitable for this level of football hence why the club share a few miles down the road with Hatfield Town.

If you do live in the area I highly recommend a visit to watch Codicote play as it's only £4 to get in with a free programme and the nice touch of a free cup of tea thrown in which is a tremendous value.  People of Codicote your teams needs some supporters!! Why not pop along for the FA Vase local derby game against Wodson Park this Saturday??

Above - Some pictures of the somewhat empty Gosling Stadium on Tuesday night

If you weren't one of the seventeen people present you can catch the highlights below including all five goals scored -

MET POLICE 2 ENFIELD TOWN 2

In a game TheColdEnd couldn't make this afternoon Enfield Town got a creditable 2-2 draw against the Metropolitan Police at Imber Court. Mark Kirby scored Town's first goal to make it 1-0 before The Police made it 2-1 only for Neil Johnston (making his first start of the season) made it 2-2 before half time. The attendance was 155 and although disappointing is not amongst the lowest Premier Division crowds of the season so far.

Enfield Town's next game is against the current table topper's Hampton and Richmond Borough. The Beavers move into top spot with three wins and one draw from their four games. They have only scored five goals but have not had a goal scored against them yet...Hopefully that may change on Saturday!!

Lowestoft Town are in second spot after they dropped their first points of the season in a 2-1 defeat at Margate.

With only four games played it's all a bit too early to be looking at the league positions really.

Incredibly both Sammi El Abd and Mark Knee, the Whitehawk players involved in the clash of heads at The Queen Elizabeth Stadium, both started their home game against Hendon which ended 0-0. A great result for Gary McCann's side and equally as good to see El Abd and Knee back in action so soon after the 35 minute delay in Saturday's game.

Wingate and Finchley finally got off the mark with a 1-0 home victory over Carshalton Athletic and Bognor Regis Town had a really local journey on Bank Holiday Monday to negotiate. They had an approximate 340 mile round trip from West Sussex to Suffolk to face Leiston. The Rocks ended up picking up a useful point at Victory Road.

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION RESULTS 

BURY TOWN            1 CANVEY ISLAND 0       420   
CONCORD RANGERS      0 KINGSTONIAN 3         152
EAST THURROCK UNITED 1 CRAY WANDERERS 1      161
HAMPTON & RICHMOND   1 THURROCK 0            427
HARROW BOROUGH       0 HASTINGS UNITED 1     131
LEISTON              1 BOGNOR REGIS TOWN 1   225
LEWES                1 WEALDSTONE 0          589
MARGATE              2 LOWESTOFT TOWN 1      440
MET POLICE           2 ENFIELD TOWN 2        155
WHITEHAWK            0 HENDON 0              142
WINGATE AND FINCHLEY 1 CARSHALTON ATHLETIC 0 173

THREE HIGHEST CROWDS SO FAR                
668-LOWESTOFT TOWN V CONCORD (21/8)          
640-LOWESTOFT TOWN V MET POLICE (25/8)   
589-LEWES V WEALDSTONE (27/8)            

THREE LOWEST CROWDS SO FAR 
111-CRAY WAND V HARROW B (25/8)
114-HARROW B V THURROCK (18/8)
130-W&F V CANVEY ISLAND (18/8)

SATURDAY 1st SEPTEMBER 2012 FIXTURES 

BOGNOR REGIS TOWN   V MARGATE 
CANVEY ISLAND       V LEWES 
CARSHALTON ATHLETIC V EAST THURROCK UNITED 
CRAY WANDERERS      V MET POLICE 
ENFIELD TOWN        V HAMPTON AND RICHMOND BOROUGH 
HASTINGS UNITED     V BURY TOWN 
HENDON              V CONCORD RANGERS 
LOWESTOFT TOWN      V HARROW BOROUGH 
THURRCOK            V WINGATE AND FINCHLEY 
WEALDSTONE          V WHITEHAWK 

SUNDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER 2012 FIXTURES 

KINGSTONIAN         V LEISTON 

HADLEIGH SHOCK HAWKS AT BARROWS FARM

The Ryman Division One (North) sides entered the FA Cup Preliminary Round yesterday with a Hadleigh United of the Eastern Counties League causing one of the shocks by beating Harlow Town 1-2 on their own ground.

Former Leiston, Lowestoft Town and Needham Market striker Lee McGlone scored one of the goals along with another ex Leiston player in Mark Goldfinch scoring the other.

After recording a decent 0-1 win at Heybridge Swifts on the opening day of the season The Hawks have lost 3-4 at home to Aveley in a game they were 3-1 up in at one stage and suffered the shock defeat yesterday.

They face AFC Sudbury tomorrow in a league game whom smashed fellow North division Ilford 5-0 in their cup game. It was was 1-0 until the last twenty minutes when The Foxes (down to ten men) let in four more goals. Lee Boylan (2), Tom Webb (2) and an own goal wrapped things up for the Suffolk side.

NO CUP GLORY FOR THE MOTORMEN THIS YEAR

AFC Dunstable of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division were the other side to shock Ryman North opponents and what a result it was. They hit a young Redbridge side for five at Creasey Park.

Heybridge Swifts face a replay on Tuesday night at Scraley Road against Felixstowe and Walton United after a 1-1 draw. On the same night Cheshunt will travel to Potters Bar Town after a 2-2 draw a Theobalds Lane in an all Ryman North replay.

All the other sides from the Ryman North got through (aside from Romford whom lost to Waltham Forest on Friday night) including an amazing 9-1 victory for Maldon and Tiptree against Essex Senior League side London APSA. Cup fever doesn't seem to have captured the imagination of football fans in the two towns as only 34 people paid to see the game. Witham Town also recorded a big victory and had a great day out at the seaside winning 1-8 at Great Yarmouth Town.

RYMAN DIVISION ONE (NORTH) FA CUP RESULTS
Preliminary Round

AFC DUNSTABLE 5 REDBRIDGE 0
AFC SUDBURY 5 ILFORD 0
BIGGLESWADE UNITED 0 WARE 1
CHATHAM TOWN 2 PEACEHAVEN & TELSCOMBE 1
CHESHUNT 2 POTTERS BAR TOWN 2
FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED 1 HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS 1
GRAYS ATHLETIC 1 TAKELEY 0
GREAT YARMOUTH TOWN 1 WITHAM TOWN 8
HALSTEAD TOWN 0 BRENTWOOD TOWN 6
HARINGEY & WALTHAM DEVELOPMENT 1 WALTHAM ABBEY 2
HARLOW TOWN 1 HADLEIGH UNITED 2
MALDON AND TIPTREE 9 LONDON APSA 1
NEEDHAM MARKET 6 GORLESTON 2
ROMFORD 1 WALTHAM FOREST 4
SOHAM TOWN RANGERS 5 BURNHAM RAMBLERS 1
TILBURY 5 BRANTHAM ATHLETIC 1
WHITTON UNITED 0 AVELEY 3
WROXHAM 2 GREAT WAKERING ROVERS 0

The Essex Senior League still has two teams left seeking more glory in Basildon United (1-0 victory at home against Haverhill Rovers) and Southend Manor (0-2 winners at Kirkley and Pakefield). Eton Manor, Takeley, Haringey and Waltham Development, London APSA, Burnham Ramblers and Great Wakering Rovers all suffered defeats and said goodbye to the FA Cup for this season.  Both face tough games against Ryman Premier opposition as Basildon welcome Thurrock to Gardiners Close for a local derby game and Southend Manor take a trip to Leiston.

The Spartan South Midlands League is still represented by the afformentioned AFC Dunstable, Tring Athletic (who face a home replay on Tuesday against Ashford Town (Middx)), Berkhamsted, Colney Heath or Stotfold (who replay in midweek), Harefield United, London Lions, Dunstable Town and possibly St Margaretsbury should they win their replay against Leighton Town.


FA CUP 1st QUALIFYING ROUND FIXTURES
ties involving Ryman Premier, Ryman Division One (North), ESL and SSMFL sides.
to be played on the weekend of Saturday 8th September
all division sides highlighted in bold

RYMAN PREMIER

Tilbury v Lowestoft Town
Basildon United v Thurrock
Bury Town v Canvey Island
Leiston v Southend Manor
Concord Rangers v Needham Market
East Thurrock United v Witham Town
AFC Kempston v Hampton and Richmond Borough
Enfield Town v St Mags/Leighton Town
Hendon v Cheshunt/Potters Bar Town
Harrow Borough v St Albans City
Wingate and Finchley v Royston Town
Wealdstone v Biggleswade Town
Faversham Town v Margate
Bognor Regis Town v Epsom and Ewell
Greeenwich Borough/Sidley United v Cray Wanderers
Redhill v Lewes
Beckenham Town v Met Police
Lordswood/Pagham v Carshalton Athletic
Guildford City v Kingstonian
Whitehawk v Sittingbourne
Hastings United v Chatham Town

RYMAN DIVISION ONE (NORTH)

Tilbury v Lowestoft Town
Soham Town Rangers v Maldon and Tiptree
Wroxham v Brentwood Town
Concord Rangers v Needham Market
East Thurrock United v Witham Town
Grays Athletic v Norwich United
Aveley v Hadleigh United
Waltham Abbey v Beford Town
Hendon v Cheshunt/Potters Bar Town
Hastings United v Chatham Town
Hemel Hempstead Town V Waltham Forest
Ware v Hitchin Town
Felixstowe & Walton/Heybridge Swifts v AFC Sudbury
Walton Casuals/Thamesmead Town v Worthing

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE

Basildon United v Thurrock
Leiston v Southend Manor

SSMFL

Colney Heath or Stotfold v Harefield United
Dunstable Town v Ashford Town (Middx) or Tring Athletic
Enfield Town v St Mags or Leighton Town
London Lions v AFC Dunstable
Uxbridge or Wembley v Berkhamsted

TEN MEN WHITEHAWK TOO GOOD FOR TOWN

Whitehawk, second favourites for the league title, recorded an impressive 1-3 victory over Enfield Town at The Queen Elizabeth Stadium yesterday. It was looking good for Town after the visitors were reduced to ten men when their player Joe Keehan was adjudged to have handled in the box and was red-carded reducing them to ten men. Liam Hope made it 1-0 with the resulting spot kick and nearly made it 2-0 with a looping shot from outside of the box which crashed off the angle of post and bar.

Whitehawk showed what a quality side they are and in the space of a few minutes prior to the break were 1-2 up. The impressive Josh Jones thumped home a shot from outside of the box before Scott McGleish headed home at the far post following a fantastic cross from Jeryhl Hughes on the right hand side. Hughes (an ex Crystal Palace youth player who has had spells at Yeovil Town in the football league and at Blue Square South level with Dover Athletic) had a superb game on the right side of midfield.

The second half was delayed for some 30 minutes following a sickening crash of heads between Whitehawk players Mark Knee and Sammi El Abd. Knee was able to walk off the pitch with a cut to his head but it was more worrying for El Abd who was apparently knocked out for up to two minutes. Thankfully after being treated on the pitch for around half an hour the reports are he is okay. The Cold End and I'm sure all Enfield Town supporter's and staff send best wishes out to both players.

Town pushed for an equaliser and arguably played better than on Tuesday night with Jordon Lockie and Liam Hope testing goalkeeper Chris Winterton but it was the ten men who broke to make it 1-3 to seal the three points. Hughes with only Noel Imber to beat passed to Jones who slotted the ball into the net.

A crowd of 375 saw the game which eventually finished at 5.40pm as we also had a delayed kick off at 3.15pm following traffic problems for Whitehawk.

Apologies for the lack of video footage but as I had my little boy with me yesterday I was unable to film and keep any eye on him as well. He had just turned 5 years old and summed up the game by telling me on the way home that at least the two men injured are alright even if Town didn't win.

Elseswhere in the Ryman Premier Division only pre-season title favourites Lowestoft Town have a 100% record after three games. They won 2-1 at home to Met Police yesterday who Enfield Town travel to on Bank Holiday Monday. Wingate and Finchley are the only side without a point as they lost again yesterday going down 2-1 at Hastings United.

WHITEHAWK IN TOWN ON SATURDAY

Big spending Whitehawk visit The Queen Elizabeth Stadium on Saturday afternoon for what will be the first fixture between the south coast club and Enfield Town.

The Hawks were Division One (South) champions last season and have added to their already strong squad over the summer in preparation of their first Premier Division campaign.

Defender Matt Lawrence has joined from Gillingham where he made 65+ starts in two seasons. The 38 year old has also played for Crystal Palace, Millwall, Wycombe Wanderers and Fulham in the football league.

Centre forward Scott McGleish who played for Bristol Rovers and Barnet (on loan) last season has also moved to The Enclosed Ground. He had played in the football league from 1994 for various clubs including Leyton Orient and Colchester United. McGleish started his career in the Edgware Town attack alongside Town manager Steve Newing during the 1993/94 season before earning a move to Charlton Athletic.

Both Lawrence and McGleish were on target in their 1-2 win at Cray Wanderers on Tuesday night. The Hawks were 1-0 down up until the 89 minute when Lawrence made it 1-1 with a far post header and McGleish amazingly found time to win the game. Cray even pushed for an equaliser in added time and managed to hit the post in a thrilling finish to the match. McGleish also scored The Hawks goal in their opening day home 1-3 defeat to Lowestoft Town.

bwin.com make Enfield Town 2/1 for the match with the visitors on evens and a draw at 5/2.

Town are one of only four clubs left with a 100% record after two games. Lowestoft Town, Canvey Island and Hampton & Richmond Borough make up the quartet. Lowestoft entertain Met Police and the other two sides play each other on Canvey Island.

RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION SATURDAY FIXTURES 

BOGNOR REGIS TOWN   V EAST THURROCK UNITED 
CANVEY ISLAND       V HAMPTON AND RICHMOND BOROUGH 
CARSHALTON ATHLETIC V CONCORD RANGERS 
CRAY WANDERERS      V HARROW BOROUGH 
ENFIELD TOWN        V WHITEHAWK 
HASTINGS UNITED     V WINGATE AND FINCHLEY 
HENDON              V BURY TOWN 
KINGSTONIAN         V MARGATE 
LOWESTOFT TOWN      V MET POLICE 
THURROCK            V LEWES 
WEALDSTONE          V LEISTON 

ENFIELD TOWN V WINGATE AND FINCHLEY HIGHLIGHTS

What an unbelievable game it was that occurred at The Queen Elizabeth Stadium on Tuesday evening. If you didn't see the game and don't know the result TheColdEnd won't spoil it for you so you can watch the highlights below..well worth looking at!!

GREAT DAY OUT AND THREE POINTS!!! - THE GLORY DAYS ARE BACK

What a fantastic day out at Lewes we all had on Saturday afternoon. The Dripping Pan is a great non-league ground and the welcome the travelling fans received from the Lewes faithful was what our level of football is all about. Fans mixed throughout the game and there was even a mobile hot pie salesman roaming the picturesque stadium during the game.

The match will be well written about elsewhere so TheColdEnd will provide some pictures of the day and the all important match footage. The travelling fans from Enfield made loads of noise and it was a great atmosphere all day as Liam Hope and Mark Kirby were the goalscoring heroes for The Town. To single Kirbs and Liam out would be unfair as every player who got onto the pitch for Enfield Town worked so hard for the three points in absolutelty sweltering conditions.

One of the best moments was when two of the travelling supporters managed to pursuade a local resident to let them into their flat so they could hang their flag off the balcony which overlooked the ground.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

MATCH PICTURES

THE MOBILE HOT PIE SALESMAN - GENIUS!!!

TOWN FANS WITH THE FLAG ON THE BALCONY

CONFIRMATION NICKY CAN COUNT. 1-2 TO THE TOWN!!

KIRBS CELEBRATES HIS GOAL

LIAM HOPE CELEBRATES TOWN'S WINNER AND IS MOBBED BY THE TEAM IN FRONT OF THE LEWES KOP

THE BIG DAY TODAY - RYMAN PREMIER LEAGUE

Enfield Town start their Ryman Premier Division campaign today with what promises to be a very memorable trip to The Dripping Pan to play Lewes. We've even made it onto the Sky Sports News Ticker where Ryman Premier fixtures and results can be seen!! 

It looks like it's going to be a scorching hot day too with the sun out all day and temperatures up as high at 26.  This time last year Town fans were travelling to Ilford in the rain!!!!

bwin.com are offering odds for today's Ryman programme across all three divisions with Town's chance's of victory currently rated as an outside 3/1, the draw is 5/2 and the home side are hot favourites at 7/10.

The game of the day in the Premier Division comes a short distance further South in Brighton where the top two in the betting for the title face off. Newly promoted Whitehawk (27/20) face Lowestoft Town (29/20) with the draw rated at 5/2.

RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION FIXTURES 

BURY TOWN            V CARSHALTON ATHLETIC 
CONCORD RANGERS      V BOGNOR REGIS TOWN 
EAST THURROCK UNITED V KINGSTONIAN 
HAMPTON AND RICHMOND V HASTINGS UNITED 
HARROW BOROUGH       V THURROCK 
LEISTON              V CRAY WANDERERS 
LEWES                V ENFIELD TOWN 
MARGATE              V HENDON 
WEALDSTONE           V MET POLICE 
WHITEHAWK            V LOWESTOFT TOWN 
WINGATE AND FINCHLEY V CANVEY ISLAND 

A POINT EACH AT COLES PARK

Coles Park, the home of Haringey Borough, where Essex Senior League Haringey and Waltham Development currently ground share is currently the subject of some much needed improvements. What will be the newly refurbished club house and was shut on my visit on Wednesday night for HAWD's ESL clash with Sporting Bengal United but it looks like it'll be very nice indeed when is it opened along with some new covered terracing being built to the side of the main stand. See the pictures below for how the new developments are coming along -

HAWD had started their season well with a 2-2 draw at home to Enfield 1893 and a 1-3 win away at Hanwell Town in the FA Cup along with a 1-0 defeat in the opening game at Hullbridge Sports.Their visitors had only played one game in the FA Cup which ended in defeat at Cockfosters. Mile End Stadium, their home, is currently being used for the Olympics and Paralympics meaning their first home game will be on Saturday 22nd September against Enfield 1893.

Sporting Bengal United had a familiar face to Enfield Town fans in the centre of their midfield. Known affectionately during his stay with Town as 'The King of Columbians' - Steve Velandia was pulling the strings in the centre of the park for the away side throughout the ninety minutes.

A small crowd recorded at 28 witnessed a scrappy but entertaining game that ended all square. HAWD looked the better side in the first half and Sporting Bengal grew into the match having some good chances during the second period so a 2-2 draw was just about the right result.

HAWD face Ryman Division One (North) side Waltham Abbey at Coles Park in the FA Cup on Saturday 25th August and then get their Vase campaign underway with a Friday night fixture at home to St Margaretsbury on the 31st August.

The home side's late equaliser denied Sporting Bengal their first away victory since their 1-2 win at Burnham Ramblers on Tuesday 20th December 2011.

Watch the match highlights below including all four goals -



Sporting Bengal United are represented on the web via the Bangladeshi Football Association UK page but details are limited as to the players in their squad. The same goes for Haringey and Waltham Development whom unfortunately don't have an official web presence at all.

STALEMATE AT CHALK LANE

Cockfosters and Southall met in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One in a game which will unfortunately not live long in the memory. Both sides are expected to be involved at the top end of the division at the business end of the season so this game was eagerly anticipated by followers of both sides.

Entertainment wise the game was not brilliant as defence and midfields of both sides were on top aside from the away side hitting the post with a well struck shot from outside of the box and the home side unable to capitalise when the Southall keeper (whom had played very well not putting a foot wrong up to that point) dropped the ball in front of goal. The resulting shot trickled just past the post.

'Fosters have a number of familiar faces in their squad for 2012/13. Ex Towner's Richard Morton (playing very well at centre back), Paul Marks (Captain and centre midfield) and Dennis Maharjan were in the starting XI alongside non-league veteran Fergus Moore whom played a few games for Town reserves last season. Fabio Valenti is also one of manager Mick Roche's assistants. Ex Tokyngton Manor forward Edmond Protain (44 goals in 25 starts last season) also started for the home side and will score goals again this season.

Southall, promoted from the Middlesex County League, look a really strong side all over the pitch as well. At the back they look very good and will not concede many goals which is the basis for a good season in my book. Their impressive goalkeeper Gary Jallow has played for Hayes, North Greenford United, Chalfont St Peter and Mangotsfield United. He also holds 16 full international caps for Gambia.

The Enfield connections also continued in that one of the Assistant Referee's was John Taverner whom was a regular face at Southbury Road in the glory years of the 1990's.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS ARE BELOW
check out Southall hitting the bar from 1min 14secs

ENFIELD TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB LAUNCH NEW WEBSITE

Enfield Town Football Club have launched a new official website to coincide with the club's first season in the Ryman Premier Division. The new site can be found at www.enfieldtownfootballclub.co.uk

LONDON LIONS CREATE A LITTLE BIT OF FA CUP HISTORY

London Lions, of the Spartan South Midlands League Division One, made FA Cup history in their Extra Preliminary Round game against Essex Senior League Clapton on Saturday.

The Lions emphatic and stylish 4-0 victory on their debut in the FA Cup with Budweiser (to give it it's 2012/13 full name) and their website states this makes them the first all Jewish side to win a tie in the world's most famous football competition. Wingate FC may hold this record as they played in the 1948/49 competition beating Acton Town 1-8 away before losing 3-4 at Ruislip Manor.

A long way from Wembley - The FA Cup kicks off for 2012/13 in August

The game was played at Hemel Hempstead Town's Vauxhall Road ground where The Lions are sharing for some of their games for this season as well as playing some of their league games at their Rowley Lane home in Barnet. The Stag's home is a fantastic non-league ground with covered large banks of terracing at each end which have a somewhat unique angle looking down onto the pitch. A seated stand and a small stand are on either side of the pitch which was in a fantastic condition for the game.

Some views of Hemel Hempstead's Vauxhall Road ground

On paper this was Step 6 of the non-league ladder against Step 5 of the non-league ladder but it was the home side who dominated proceedings from the off with their close passing style of play catching the eye of all the spectators basking in the summer sunshine.

The Lions had within their ranks Sam Sloma (number 9) on the video whom spent several years with Dagenham and Redbridge and has the honour of scoring The Dagger's first football league goal. Enfield Town fans will know Sam from his time with Wingate and Finchley in the Ryman Division One (North).

For TheColdEnd it was Josh Kennet (number 7) whom stood out on the right hand side of midfield for the home side. He even switched to the left at times and caused the Clapton back line numerous problems throughout the match. He showed he is a very skillful tricky player with a fantastic touch, a turn of pace and great awareness of whats going on round him. He also can pick a pass and put some good crosses into the box. At only 25 years old it is TheColdEnd's opinion that he could easily play at a higher level of football and certainly wouldn't look out of place in the Ryman Premier Division or above. He started his career as youth with Millwall and Tottenham Hotspur and in the Football League with Oxford United. He has also represented Didcot Town and Israeli Premier Division side Maccabi Herzliya. He is definitely a player to look out for on this performance.

It was Kennet whom set up the first goal crossing from the right hand side for Darren Stanton to score The Lions first ever goal in the FA Cup.  Aron Barnes made it two when his shot from outside of the box was fumbled into the net by Clapton's unlucky keeper Mason Durell. In between the goals Kennet nearly sealed a wonderful 12 man flowing passing move by the Lions when Durell managed to touch his shot onto the crossbar. If it was Barcelona that concocted the move it would of been purred about by commentators and pundits worldwide. Watch it from 3mins 37secs on the video below.

Cup fever hits the terraces of Hertfordshire

Ben Ellis and Sam Sloma both added the scoreline in the second half with fine finishes from outside of the box. Clapton looked more dangerous and direct from set-pieces but never really troubled Mario Cenolli in the home goal. 

On the plus side for the East London side they look more well organised than when I saw them lose 3-6 at home to Sawbridgeworth Town in October 2011. Under new boss Chris Wood they will improve as the season progresses.

London Lions continue their Cup adventure when they face fellow SSMFL (Premier Division) side Oxhey Jets at home in the Preliminary Round on Saturday 25th August.

The Ton's last FA Cup win came way back in season 2005/06 (their last as an Isthmian League side) when they defeated Stotfold 1-2 at Roker Park in the Preliminary Round. Since then Biggleswade Town, Northampton Spencer, Stewarts and Lloyds Corby, Kingsbury London Tigers, Stanway Rovers, Stanstead and London Lions have recorded victories in cup ties.


The FA Cup hasn't sprinkled it's magic on Clapton FC for a few years.
Ton's Peter Moore hold his head in his hands as Mason Durrell (Goalkeeper) lies on the ground having made a mistake to let in London Lion's second goal.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS ARE BELOW

TOWN AND CITY SHARE FIVE GOALS

Enfield Town welcomed Southern League Premier Division side St Albans City to the Queen Elizabeth Stadium on Tuesday evening in the last but one of their pre-season friendly matches.
City, managed by Enfield FC football legend Dave Howell, had former football league star Micah Hyde amongst their starting XI along with very tall centre defender Moussa Diarra and central midfielder Hector Mackie - all of whom have played first team football for the Clarence Park side.

Liam Hope scored twice for Town with one being a great free kick and Leon Osei carrying on his scoring form from the Potters Bar Town game by adding the third with a fine finish. St Albans City, with some young players in their side, played some good football at times and tested Town keeper Alex Rossis (on for Noel Imber in the 2nd half) on a number of occasions. Their goals came from David Parkinson (also known by his nickname of "Bullet" who has played for London Colney and Barton Rovers) and Layne Eadie. Parkinson's goal was down to a very rare mistake by Mark Kirby - best to get them out of the way in pre-season why it doesn't matter Kirbs????

Enfield Town's last pre-season friendly game takes place on Saturday at home to Blue Square South side Hayes and Yeading FC.

H&Y currently include in their squad ex Cape Verde International player Pele aka Pedro Monterio (whom Southampton and W.B.A both paid £1million for in 2006 and 2007), Ex Enfield FC player Mark Bentley and ex Spurs youth team striker Kudus Oyenuga (whom spent time on loan at MyPa in Finland, Bury and St Johnstone) so it'll be a really good test for Steve Newing's side in preparation for the Ryman Premier League season which starts on Saturday 18th August.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
*including each goal although City's 2nd goal was only just captured on camera

HATFIELD TOWN LIFT THE DALTON SHIELD

The Dalton Challenge Shield which was first contested by local rival's Hatfield Town and Welwyn Garden City back in 1950 was revived on Saturday afternoon for the first time since 2005.

OFFSIDE??? WGC's 10 and 11 look well on-side when the ball is played but were flagged offside on this occasion

The competition is named after Charles Dalton whom is the former managing editor of the Welwyn Hatfield Times Newspaper. Up until kick off on Saturday there had been twenty two meetings between the two clubs with Hatfield on 9 wins, Welwyn Garden City on 12 with one draw in 1953/54.

Summer half time team talks - Mike Hollister and Scott O'Donoghue speak to their squads at the break

In what was essentially a pre-season friendly, this was at times a really keenly constested game, with tackles flying in from both sides. Both sides should be playing in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One for the forthcoming campaign following Hatfield Town finishing bottom of the Premier Division last season but they received a reprieve following the problems at Broxbourne Borough whom have had to reform and start again from Division Two level.

Hatfield keeper handballs outside the box??

Hatfield Town chairman Chris Maloney desribes that the desicision to say yes when invited to stay in the SSMFL top division was probably the easiest that he has made during his time with the club.

Both managers in Mike Hollister (Hatfield Town) and Scott O'Donoghue (WGC) will take lots of positives from this game which was always closely fought over the 90 minutes. The Citizens had the best of the play in the first 45 minutes with a shot cleared off the line just prior to half time. They played some good football and but for a little bit more sharpness up front they would of scored at least one goal in TheColdEnd's opinion. Hatfield's keeper was also lucky not to be red-carded for touching the ball to his hand outside of the area in order to stop a goal-scoring opportunity. Had this been an official league game it would of been an early bath I think??

The above sequence shows Hatfield rattling the crossbar

Hatfield scored the winner on 61 minutes when a poor goal kick by The Citizens keeper was seized upon by Matt Hodges who was able to slot the ball home with an easy finish. They then had a wonderful opportunity to make it 2-0 when a shot from a cross from the right hand side unluckily rattled the cross bar.

The final scored ended up 1-0 to Hatfield Town which is the same as it was in 2005 when the Shield was last contested.

So it wasn't just Great Britain's famous Olympic heroes of Jess Ennis, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford whom received medals at a stadium with a running track in the South East of England on Saturday 4th August 2012!!! 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS ARE BELOW