HISTORIC DAY FOR ENFIELD TOWN ON THE ISLAND

The crowd yesterday was announced as only 148. Where were the missing 603 people from the 751 that had witnessed the 2010 play-off final?  

It was a day to remember in Enfield Town's history as the 0-2 win in the FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round was the first victory since 2004 at Concord Rangers which now means we are in the draw for the 3rd Qualifying Round for the first time ever!!

No arguments as Billy Coyne handles on the line

On a very chilly and windy day at The Impact Arena the home side didn't make the ideal start to the game as Billy Coyne clearly handled on the line to save the ball going into the net. As you can see from the photo and replay it wasn't just one hand that touched the ball with both hands. It was just a moment of madness from the Concord right back. Coyne was red carded with some of the Concord player's arguing the ball had already crossed the line and asking for the referee to just give the goal to keep their team with eleven men. Liam Hope scored the resulting penalty kick to make it 1-0.

To their credit The Beachboys dug in with their manager Danny Cowley shouting instructions to go 4-3-2 after the sending off and it has to be said were probably the better side for most of what was a scrappy first half. Noel Imber pulled off a great save to his near post to keep the score at 1-0 at half time.

The second half was much better from Enfield Town with Jo O'Brien 'scoring' two disallowed goals after Imber had made another great save to deny the home side.

In the end O'Brien got what his play had deserved all day and scored the goal to make the game safe and celebrated with the travelling Town fans behind the goal to end a memorable day for the club. It wasn't a classic game but to win at Concord Rangers (where Town always seem to have no luck) for only the second time in ten matches certainly was a great result for the club. We're still on the road to Wembley and all Town fans will be watching out for the 3rd Qualifying Round draw on Monday. 

Joe O'Brien scores and celebrates with the travelling Town fans

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

FA TROPHY SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND RESULTS
involving Ryman League clubs 

Bedford Town         2 Maidstone United 3    403
Bognor Regis Town    3 Bridgewater Town 0    313
Brentwood Town       3 Lewes 3               118 
Concord Rangers      0 Enfield Town 2        148
East Thurrock        1 Thurrock 1            138 
Hampton and Richmond 2 Three Bridges 0       229 
Kings Lynn Town      6 Carshalton Athletic 1 497 
Leiston              1 Metropolitan Police 1 153
Mertsham             2 Wealdstone 6          245 
Soham Town Rangers   1 Ramsgate 2            131
Uxbridge             3 Canvey Island 3       152
Whitehawk            1 Grays Athletic 1      144 
Whitstable Town      0 Leatherhead 1         222
Wingate and Finchley 2 Hitchin Town 2        101 
Cray Wanderers v Arlesey Town - Sunday 
Kingstonian v Burnham         - Sunday 

STATISTICS - WHO WILL WIN THE RYMAN PREMIER IN 2013?

RYMAN PREMIER CHAMPIONS 2006-2012 RECORDS AFTER EIGHT LEAGUE GAMES

SEASON	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	C/S	PPG	WIN%	GSPG	GCPG
05/06	BRAINTREE TOWN	8	4	2	2	12	7	+5	14	3	1.75	50%	1.50	0.88
06/07	HAMPTON &RICHMOND	8	4	1	3	11	12	-1	13	2	1.63	50%	1.38	1.50
07/08	CHELMSFORD CITY	8	4	2	2	20	6	+14	14	3	1.75	50%	2.50	0.75
08/09	DOVER ATHLETIC	8	7	0	1	17	6	+11	21	4	2.63	87.5%	2.13	0.75
09/10	DARTFORD	8	7	1	0	27	4	+23	22	5	2.75	87.5%	3.38	0.50
10/11	SUTTON UNITED	8	7	1	0	14	4	+10	22	5	2.75	87.5%	1.75	0.50
11/12	BILLERICAY TOWN	8	4	3	1	17	9	+8	15	3	1.88	50%	2.13	1.13
AVERAGE	-	-	5.29	1.43	1.29	16.86	7.71	+10	17.29	3.58	2.16	66.07%	2.11	0.86

HTML Tables

Putting it simply it all comes down to the fact that the more games teams win the higher the chance in they will win the league title. As you can see each team that has won the Ryman Premier Divison since 2005 has had a win % of no less than 50% after eight league games. Therefore from this 2012/13 season the teams that qualify under this statistic are Hampton and Richmond, Kingstonian, Whitehawk, Lowestoft Town, Wealdstone, Margate, Bognor Regis Town and Bury Town. It all points towards the fact one of  these eight teams will be title winners at the end of the season.

Here is the table for these eight teams after eight games this season. We'll see if we can eliminate any of them working on the above figures and averages for clean sheets and goals scored etc.

TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	C/S	PPG	WIN%	GSPG	GCPG
HAMPTON & RICHMOND	8	6	2	0	11	2	+9	20	6	2.50	75.00%	1.38	0.25
KINGSTONIAN	8	4	2	2	19	14	+5	14	1	1.75	50.00%	2.38	1.75
WHITEHAWK	8	5	2	1	17	9	+8	17	1	2.13	62.50%	2.13	1.13
LOWESTOFT TOWN	8	5	1	2	18	9	+9	16	2	2.00	62.50%	2.25	1.13
WEALDSTONE	8	4	3	1	13	7	+6	15	4	1.88	50.00%	1.63	0.88
MARGATE	8	4	3	1	14	9	+5	15	3	1.88	50.00%	1.75	1.13
BOGNOR REGIS TOWN	8	4	3	2	10	7	+3	14	3	1.75	50.00%	1.25	0.88
BURY TOWN	8	4	3	1	11	6	+5	15	4	1.88	50.00%	1.38	0.75

HTML Tables

Every champion club has had at least two clean sheets in their first eight games since 2005/06.
Rule out both Kingstonian and Whitehawk on this basis?

Only once in 2006/07 has a title team had a goal difference of under +5 after eight games.
All but rule out Bognor Regis Town. Hampton and Richmond's -1 goal difference in the 2006/07 season is down to a 0-4 defeat (versus Bromley) and a 1-3 defeat (versus Chelmsford City). Discount these two games and their goal difference goes up to plus 5.

No team drawing three games in their first eight games along with a +7 or below goal difference have ever won the title.
Rule out Wealdstone, Margate and Bury Town.

This leaves either Lowestoft Town or Hampton and Richmond Borough as potential champions if these statistics are to be believed. We'll see if it's correct at the end of the season.

Key to tables -
c/s - clean sheets
ppg - points per game
gspg - average goals scored per game
gcpg - average goals conceded per game

RYMAN LEAGUE CUP THIRD ROUND DRAW MADE

The draw for the Third Round of the Ryman League Cup has been announced today. Bentwood Town who beat Enfield Town in the last round are rewarded with a trip to Thurrock. The full draw is below with Aveley's local derby versus Tilbury standing out along with the all Premier Division game between Bognor Regis Town and Whitehawk.

Thirteen Premier Division, Eleven Division One (North) and eight Division One (South) teams remain.

Aveley v Tilbury
Bognor Regis Town v Whitehawk
Carshalton Athletic v Wealdstone
Dulwich Hamlet v Herne Bay
Faversham Town v Thamesmead Town
Harrow Borough v Kingstonian
Hastings United v Three Bridges
Horsham v Worthing
Leiston v Soham Town Rangers
Metropolitan Police v Walton Casuals
Redbridge v Concord Rangers
Thurrock v Brentwood Town
Waltham Forest v Canvey Island
Whitstable Town v Maidstone United
Witham Town v Bury Town
Wroxham v Needham Market

FA TROPHY CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND

Saturday 27th October

Bedford Town v Maidstone United
Bognor Regis Town v Bridgewater Town
Brentwood Town v Lewes
Concord Rangers v Enfield Town
East Thurrock United v Thurrock
Hampton and Richmond v Three Bridges
Kings Lynn Town v Carshalton Athletic
Leiston v Metropolitan Police
Mertsham V Wealdstone
Soham Town Rangers v Ramsgate
Uxbridge v Canvey Island
Whitehawk v Grays Athletic
Whitstable Town v Leatherhead
Wingate and Finchley v Hitchin Town

Sunday 28th October

Cray Wanderers v Arlesey Town
Kingstonian v Burnham

The FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round takes place this weekend with the Ryman League represented by 16 Premier Division, 4 Division One (North) and 6 Division One (South) sides. Taking my Enfield Town hat off and placed a neutral one on the ties of the round has to be the local derby between East Thurrock United and Thurrock along with Grays Athletic (top of Divison One North) travelling to Whitehawk (third in the Premier Division).

In respect of Enfield Town's hotly anticipated game at Concord Rangers it's clear to see The Beachboys have some good team spirit going at present along with a clear never say die attitude as they recently came back from 3-0 down at League Two side Dagenham and Redbridge to record a famous 3-4 victory in the Essex Senior Cup. Harry Elmes scored a hat-trick in that game. The Daggers team that night included ex Arsenal player Gavin Hoyte, striker Brian Woodall whom was The Dagger's top scorer last season and defender Kevin Maher (over 400+ apps for Southend United).

Last Saturday they somewhat surprisingly went down 0-4 at home to Cray Wanderers but they were down to ten men in this game with the visitors scoring 3 late goals to put a gloss on the scoreline.

Last night they returned to winning ways with a 1-4 win at Romford in the Ryman League Cup where Harry Elmes was on the scoresheet once again.

If you fancy a flutter on Enfield Town going all the way to Wembley and lifting the famous trophy betvictor.com will give you odds of 300/1 with Concord also on these odds. I can't find any odds for the individual games at present.

All Town can do is concentrate on winning through to the next round thus putting one over our old friends and rivals from Concord. The £3,250 prize money from The FA will also come in handy for both clubs so there is not just pride riding on this game.

COME ON YOU TOWN!! 

THE COLD END RECOMMENDS...

Now and again I like to recommend some of the fantastic football blogs/websites there are out in the land of the World Wide Web. Here is a list of some of the ones I've been reading of late -

Stag Of Herts
The thoughts of an exiled Mansfield Town fan living locally in Hertfordshire whom has visited Donkey Lane a few times this season. I was lucky enough to have a chat with him after the Cambridge City FA Trophy game and a very nice man he is indeed. The fact he has written he 'punched the air in delight' at James Alexander Gordon reading "Mansfield Town 1 Forest Green Rovers NIL' whilst listening to the radio on the way north up the A10 from Enfield makes him a genuine football fan in my book. Well worth a read.

Modus Hopper Random
Always highly recommended by TheColdEnd. Graham Yapp's latest post is about the Hastings United FA Cup game versus Blackfield and Langley and shows The Pilot Field (where Town make a long midweek visit in a few weeks) to be a very interesting ground.

Non League by Public Transport
Another great non-league website with lots of photos of London and local based games. Worth a look at.

ALL SQUARE IN FANTASTIC GAME AT WHITWELL

Whitwell is a delightful little village on the outskirts of Hitchin in Hertfordshire. It has two country pubs, a village store/post office and with a drive through country lanes to get there it certainly doesn't feel like your only around 30 miles away from the hustle and bustle of Central London.

The village is also home to Whitwell AFC who play at the King George V playing fields and were champions of the Hertfordshire Senior County League Division One last season. They famously won 25 league games in a row and with only eleventh place Old Parmiterians to beat at home on the final day of the season could of set a record of being unbeaten throughout the season. Old Parms put a dent in the party somewhat by recording an unexpected 0-2 win.

The new season has been a case of adjustment at a higher level for Whitwell with 3 wins out of 8 games going into this game. All of them had come at home against Standon and Puckeridge, Baldock Town and Wormley Rovers.

The pitch at King George V playing fields has a brand new club house and changing room complex along with The Michael Atkinson Stand which inside has a Union Jack proudly displayed along with team pictures from the years gone by.

Their visitors on Saturday were Bush Hill Rangers whom were called Goffs Oak up until the end of last season but changed names when they merged with the local junior football team of the same name. They are based at Goldsdown Road and were in third place going into this game. They had won their first seven league games but in their last two matches had lost to table topper's Met Police Bushey and fourth placed (last season's champions) Baldock Town.

The Bush Hill team contained some names Enfield Town fans may recognise with Andrew Purcell (who played 2 games for the club in the 2006/07 season) along with Vince Rispoli (who played a few games in the pre-season of 2009/10) and Laurence Rispoli who has played against us for Ware and Cheshunt over the past few seasons.

Like most games TheColdEnd has seen in the Hertfordshire Senior County League this one was highly entertaining with both sides playing some good football. Bush Hill were the more stylish team with the Whitwell back line, particularly in the second half, performing heroics to repel some of the their attacks. The home keeper made two outstanding saves and was also rescued by the woodwork on no less than three occasions. Whitwell were more direct at times but it nearly did the trick to gain all three points as you'll see from the match highlights below.

The two saves were remarked upon by the Whitwell fans behind the goal at the gate end. "Your saves will be on Match of the Day tonight" one supporter said to the keeper. Well it's not MOTD but you can view them on TheColdEnd video from 6mins and from 7mins 50secs.

A word or two must be written about the referee and his assistants whom were very impressive throughout. When one or two challenges (not nasty ones....I'd like to described them as honest) went in a little late he took the players to one side and spoke to them. Job done! The Whitwell bench even applauded his actions at one stage which was great to see.

I'd recommend anyone a visit to Whitwell AFC...you can even escape from the rain inside the Michael Atkinson Stand where you'll still get a good view of the action.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS



Hertfordshire Senior County Premier Division - Current Table (Top Seven Only)

TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	LAST6
MET POLICE BUSHEY	11	9	1	1	46	19	+27	28	WWWWLW
CUFFLEY	10	7	1	2	29	17	+12	22	WLWWWW
BUSH HILL RANGERS	10	7	1	2	24	14	+10	22	WWWLLD
BALDOCK TOWN	10	7	0	3	23	13	+10	21	LWLWWW
STANDON & PUCKERIDGE	11	6	2	3	30	25	+5	20	LWDWWD
BELSTONE	11	5	4	2	35	23	+12	19	LWDLDD
LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY EAGLES	9	5	1	3	27	21	+6	16	LWWWWL

HTML Tables

As you can see from the table it's the Met Police (Bushey) who lead the way but their only defeat this season has come by a scoreline of 5-1 at current second placed Cuffley on the 13th October. Cuffley's only defeat in their last six came at fourth placed Baldock Town so it is all still to play for in the exciting race for the title.

Knebworth, promoted from Division One last season, currently prop up the table with eight defeats in their eight matches. It doesn't get easier for The Super K's as they travel to Bush Hill Rangers this Saturday in what should be a routine victory for the home side. Met Police Bushey welcome Belstone and in-form Cuffley go to Letchworth Garden City in what is the game of the weekend.

WHITWELL V BUSH HILL RANGERS - COMING SOON

TheColdEnd could not make the Bognor Regis Town v Enfield Town match on Saturday afternoon but was able to visit the extremely nice Hertfordshire village of Whitwell to watch their Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division game against Bush Hill Rangers which turned out to be a great game of football. It's been a busy couple of days for me lately so match highlights will follow hopefully by tomorrow night sometime.

Apologies for no updates of late but the match highlights take many hours to edit and put together. Hopefully these are worth the wait.

Regards

TheColdEnd

10/3 TOWN TO CAUSE AN UPSET ON THE SOUTH COAST

bet365.com make Enfield Town outsiders to win at Nyewood Lane tomorrow. Bognor Regis are odds on at 8/13 to win with Town at 10/3 and the draw being 14/5. The Rocks, Division One (South) play-off winners last season, have played four league games at home so far with a record of 1 win, 1 draw and 2 defeats. They have made a good steady start to their season and are currently in sixth place.

They currently added some continental style to their squad with the signing of Spanish midfielder Pau Casassa Busquets. He has played for FC Martinenc who are a semi-professional side from the Basque region of Spain with Busquets signing for the south coast side whilst studying at a local university.

Matthew Partridge has also recently signed on loan from Premier League side Reading. He is 6ft 3inches and was captain of Reading under 18's side last season.

It's a tough start to Town's run of four Ryman Premier Division away games which also includes trips to Canvey Island, Hastings United and Carshalton Athletic.

Elsewhere in the league, current table topper's Hampton and Richmond Borough are 8/11 to win at Leiston (11/4) and second placed Kingstonian (1/2) entertain Carshalton Athletic who are 4/1 to win.

Other fixtures are Concord Rangers v Cray Wanderers, Harrow Borough v Canvey Island, Lewes v Wingate and Finchley and Thurrock v Margate.

The Cold End wishes the best of luck to all six of the Ryman Premier Division sides whom are in action in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round.

Lowestoft Town travel to Blue Square Premier side Braintree Town, East Thurrock United go to Blue Square South Chelmsford City, Hendon go to Blue Square North side Corby Town, Bury Town go to Blue Square South Dorchester Town with Hastings United and Metropolitan Police facing what some people not in the know may call 'easier' ties. The players and fans of both sides will know there are no easy games at this stage of the FA Cup!

Hastings United entertain Wessex League side Blackfield and Langley and the Met Police travel to Combined Counties League side South Park. Both step 5 sides will be looking to cause an upset to reach the first round proper of the competition and extend their already very impressive cup runs.



 

COD & HOD SERVE UP A CUP CLASSIC AT THE STADE DE GOSLING

Both Codicote and Hoddesdon Town came into Tuesday night's Spartan South Midlands League Challenge Trophy Second Round game having been knocked out of the FA Vase the previous weekend.

The Cod Army had played 120 minutes of football against the London Lions on Sunday where they narrowly lost out 2-1after extra time.

The Lillywhites had played local rivals Hertford Town on Saturday at Lowfield with the Premier Division visitors recording a 3-5 victory.

The Challenge Trophy is the Spartan South Midlands League Cup with all three division's teams entering and this was the first second round game to be played for the 2012/13 competition.

The 46 people who were in attendance had a choice of staying in and watching England on the box or coming along to this game. Those that came along obviously made the right choice as the roof was on at The Gosling Stadium (aka Stade De Gosling) and the game went ahead with no problems.

If you don't know the result of the game I won't spoil it for you and recommend you watch the extended 20min+ highlights below -

WAS NON-LEAGUE DAY A SUCCESS IN THE RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION?

TheColdEnd wasn't at Donkey Lane for Enfield Town's 1-3 defeat to Cray Wanderers yesterday so I'll skip over the match which is currently being well debated on the not-the-etfc messageboard.

It was designated non-league day yesterday where fans of league clubs and anybody who doesn't normally attend were encouraged to attend their local club to watch a game. The below table shows if the day was a success for the Ryman Premier Division clubs -

Attendance A is the attendance clubs had yesterday.
Attendance B is the attendance the clubs last had for a league home fixture on a Saturday afternoon.

CLUB	ATTENDANCE A	ATTENDANCE B	+/-
BURY TOWN	532	451	+81
CANVEY ISLAND	476	320	+156
CARSHALTON A	204	675	-471
ENFIELD TOWN	433	320	+113
HAMPTON	616	509	+107
HENDON	179	157	+22
LOWESTOFT TOWN	845	591	+254
MARGATE	542	483	+59
MET POLICE	122	135	-13
WEALDSTONE	703	402	+301
WINGATE & FINCHLEY	262	124	+138

HTML Tables

To see nine out of the eleven clubs post some impressive increases on their crowd figures shows that Non-League Day was a success for the Ryman Premier Division. It would be nice to see some of the 113 extra fans who came to Donkey Lane yesterday make a return visit. The drop in crowd at Carshalton is the only downside really but I believe they had a special offer on for the match v East Thurrock United which attracted 675.

betvictor.com offer odds on weekend's Vase game

betvictor.com are offering odds on this weekend's FA Vase games with some of the more astute non-league gamblers looking to earn a few quid hopefully. Please remember to gamble responsibly.

There are some good odds with Cockfosters rated at 10/11 to win at Clapton (5/2). Cockfosters, although a Step 5 side playing at a Step 5 side's ground, should win this one. The Tons have only won one of their thirteen league and cup games so far which was in the last round of the Vase at Hillingdon Borough. They have lost their last two games 0-5 and 1-4. Cockfosters are free-scoring having smashed in and are currently on a winning run of six games. They have tripped up once in the league losing surprisingly to Kentish Town 0-2 at home so beware but they should win this one so 10/11 looks good!

Diss Town (17th in Eastern Counties League Premier Division) travel to Hullbridge Sports (14th is Essex Senior League) in what looks like an evenly matched game. The away side are a massive 9/2 to win the game and when you look at the fact the home side have won one of their last 10 games those odds look value. Diss have a pretty miserable record in the league (2 wins from 13 games) but did win their last league game at FC Clacton. Sports are 1/2 and the draw is 3/1.

COLD END BESTS BETS
Cockfosters to win @ Clapton - 10/11
AFC Dunstable to win against Hatifeld Town - 4/7

OUTSIDE CHANCE
Diss Town to win at Hullbridge Sports - 9/2

THE ROCKS CONTINUE TO BE TOWN'S BOGEY SIDE

With twenty minutes to go in Tuesday night's game anyone who had invested in the 2/1 bet365.com were offering for a home win would of been counting their winnings out as Enfield Town were much the better side and were 2-0 up through Tyler Campbell and Liam Hope.

The Rocks goalkeeper Richard Wray had pulled off a number of good saves from a fantastic Jonathan Hunt volley in the first half and a Liam Hope shot in the second half to keep the score down. Hope also had a great chance to score when on the line but the ball seemed to come at him to quickly allowing it with a slice of luck to land in Wray's grasp.

Joe O'Brien was very impressive in midfield putting in some hard graft and good play. His defence splitting pass made the second goal for Liam Hope. If Enfield Town had taken one of the chances they created in the second half the game would of been all over but credit to East Thurrock United who showed why they are such a highly rated team as they made a remarkable come back to shock the home side and it wasn't without some controversy along the way.

Their first goal was well taken by Sam Collins but in the same period of play Craig McKay had put in a great tackle on a Rock's player only for him to scream out and go down injured. With Noel Imber's loud voice bellowing 'put it out' 'put it out' the away side carried on playing and scored. Perhaps a lesson learnt for the Town player's in that play to the whistle. Slightly controversial maybe?

The second goal resulted from a scramble right in the six yard area. The large build of Hakeem Araba won a header on the edge of the penalty box and with the Town defender's desperately trying to clear it it was Araba (whom played in the Blue Square South for Bromley last season) to pass the ball into the net.

Somehow you just knew when that one went in there would be a sting in East Thurrock's tail and they didn't disappoint the small number of their fans and officials who had travelled from Essex. After a swift one-two at the edge of the box between Sam Higgins and substitute Kye Ruel allowed him space and time to loft the ball into the box for Kris Newby to place a diving header into the net and game over 2-3. The controversy lie within the build up to this goal as many fans present thought Jordon Lockie was fouled when jumping for the ball with Higgins who was, as mentioned, involved in creating the goal. I have looked at the replay many times and still can't make my mind up?? Have a look on the video (from 18mins 40secs) and make a judgement for yourself?

EXTENDED MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
nearly 20 mins of action from Donkey Lane




So another league defeat for The Town but a large number of positives to take from the game. Cray Wanderers visit The Lane on Saturday's 'non league day' with entrance reduced to only a fiver why not come along and support your local side!

It's now seven league games against The Rocks and Town have a miserable record of no wins, two draws and five defeats. The full record is below.

ENFIELD TOWN V EAST THURROCK UNITED RECORD

	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	AVG CROWD
HOME	4	0	1	3	4	13	-9	1	243
AWAY	3	0	1	2	0	4	-4	1	197
TOTAL	7	0	2	5	4	17	-13	2	220

HTML Tables

TOWN BACK IN RYMAN LEAGUE ACTION TOMORROW NIGHT

After nearly a month Enfield Town return to Ryman League action tomorrow night when East Thurrock United visit Donkey Lane. The Essex side recorded an impressive 3-0 home victory over Maidstone United on Saturday and come into the game unbeaten in seven league and cup games.

If you fancy a bet on the game bet365.com are offering odds with the visitors favourites at evens. Town are 2/1 to win with the draw being 13/5.

There are six other Ryman Premier games taking place over the midweek. Wealdstone welcome league leader's Kingstonian tonight with ninth placed Canvey Island entertaining second placed Whitehawk in an interesting game. Aside from the night to forget in the FA Cup 5-0 defeat at Hitchin The Hawks have a decent record in league and cup games. They have won two, drawn two and lost one. The Islanders have played four games at home and only won one but have yet to concede a goal with the last three matches against Hampton and Richmond Borough, Leiston and Wroxham (FA Trophy) all ending 0-0. The home side are 8/5 with Whitehawk slight favourites at 6/5 and the draw 13/5.

The public of Brighton seem yet to latch onto the Hawks success with crowds of only 50 and 74 recorded in their last two home games against Bury Town in an FA Trophy replay and on Saturday against Wingate and Finchley in the league.


RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION MIDWEEK FIXTURES

Monday 8th October
Wealdstone v Kingstonian

Tuesday 9th October
Canvey Island v Whitehawk
Carshalton Athletic v Bognor Regis Town
Enfield Town v East Thurrock United
Hampton and Richmond Borough v Lewes
Margate v Concord Rangers
Wingate and Finchley v Harrow Borough

There is also nearly a full fixture list in the Ryman Division One (North) with table topper's Potters Bar Town facing a tough home fixture against Brentwood Town who are currently in 13th but have games in hand over most teams in the division. Second placed Tilbury and Third placed Maldon and Tipree should record home wins over struggling Redbridge and Ilford. Fourth placed Cheshunt welcoming fifth placed Grays Athleticto Theobalds Lane is the game of the night in the division.

RYMAN DIVISION ONE (NORTH) MIDWEEK FIXTURES

Tuesday 9th October
Cheshunt v Grays Athletic
Harlow Town v Soham Town Rangers
Maldon and Tiptree v Ilford
Potters Bar Town v Brentwood Town
Thamesmead Town v Waltham Abbey
Tilbury v Redbridge
Witham Town v Ware

Wednesday 10th October
Romford v Chatham Town
Waltham Forest v Heybridge Swifts

RYMAN LEAGUE CLUBS LEFT IN THE FA CUP

The draw for the FA Cup (with Budweiser) Fourth Qualifying Round has been made today with many teams just one step away from a possible big money game with a football league side in the First Round Proper. Only three sides |(Bury Town, Lowestoft Town and East Thurrock United) from the Ryman League are definitely through and they have been handed tough draws all away from home at Blue Square South and Blue Square Premier opposition.

Lowestoft Town go to Braintree Town with Bury Town going to Dorchester Town and East Thurrock United make a local trip to Chelmsford City.

Met Police face a home replay against Eastern Counties League side Dereham Town. Hastings United travel to Southern League Premier Division side Hitchin Town tonight with Hendon and Thurrock both facing Blue Square South opposition (Eastbourne Borough and Welling United) at home following impressive draws at the weekend.

 

Getting to the 4th Qualifying Round stage will have already won the three Ryman Premier clubs £15,000 from the FA prize fund with another £12,500 on offer for a win in the next round.  

 

Bishops Stortford, who beat Enfield Town in the 2nd Qualifying Round, only managed a draw at Southern League Central side Chalfont St Peter. After a 1-1 draw the two sides replay tomorrow night at Woodside Park. The Saints did beat Charshalton Athletic in the previous round so are clearly no push overs.

 

Two Ryman sides may (if they win their replays) will face the two lowest ranked sides definitely through in the competition. The Met, If they beat another of the lowest ranked side's in Dereham Town, will travel to play Combined Counties League side South Park. Wessex League side Blackfield and Langley await the winners of the Hastings United and Hitchin Town replay tonight.

 

South Park and Blackfield/Langley whom started out in the Extra Preliminary Round have won an extra £2,750 on top of the £15,000 prize fund. I'm sure some of the national newspapers will want South Park to get through as they can conjure up some imaginative headlines about the American Cartoon featuring Kenny and Cartman etc! 

 

FA CUP 4th QUALIFYING ROUND DRAW

ties involving Ryman League Clubs

 

Chelmsford City v East Thurrock United

Braintree Town v Lowestoft Town

Dorchester Town v Bury Town

 

South Park v Dereham Town/Metropolitan Police

Hastings United/Hitchin Town v Blackfield & Langley

Histon/Corby Town v Eastbourne Borough/Hendon

Welling United/Thurrock v Chalfont St Peter/Bishops Stortford

 

 

A WELCOME WIN FOR THE CITIZENS

Match played on Wednesday 3rd October 2012

Both Kentish Town and Welwyn GC had been struggling to find any sort of form going into this Division One cup game at Herns Lane. TheColdEnd had seen both sides in action earlier in the season and both had resulted in 8-1 away deafeats (against Hoddesdon Town and Langford).

It was The Citizens who came out on top in this one which for the first 20 minutes or so was played in torrential rain with all of the 30 spectators in attendance huddling under the covered stand opposite the dug outs. With the Champions League games on television up and down the country this was proper football!

All the goals and highlights are below -

STOTFOLD EDGE OUT UNITED IN LOCAL DERBY

MATCH PLAYED ON TUESDAY 2nd OCTOBER 2012

Biggleswade United welcomed their local rival's Stotfold to Second Meadow on Tuesday night for a Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Cup game. Both sides have been struggling for any sort of form this season with both sides struggling towards the bottom of the Premier Division.

United went into this game a record of only two wins in fourteen games where they scored only 13 goals and last midweek (Tuesday 25th September) they had crashed out of the League Challenge Cup at home to Division One Sun Postal Sports (0-4). Stotfold hadn't done much better with the same record of two wins in fourteen league and cup games.

Both teams struggled to create many proper goal-scoring opportunities during the game with the away side just about shading it in the second period with a goal at the beginning and end of the half. Sean Herr go the first and Robert Groves scored the second.

United have a very tough trip to second placed Aylesbury United on Saturday with Stotfold making the short trip down the A1 to play Hatfield Town.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS BELOW

CONCORD AWAY IN THE TROPHY

Town take on Concord in the 2009/10 FA Trophy

Concord score their first goal in the Ryman North 2010 play off final

The draw for the FA Trophy was made earlier today and it paired Enfield Town with our old rival's Concord Rangers. It'll be two times in five days as Town will face Rangers at home in the Ryman League on Tuesday 23rd October and then travel to Thames Road for the Trophy game.

The games will be the eighteenth and nineteenth occasions when The Beachboys and Enfield Town have played each other with the Essex club being somewhat of a bogey side for us. Saturday 30th October 2004 goes down as an important date in the history of our club when at the seventh time of asking in league fixtures Town finally won against Concord. Lee Smith famously scoring all the goals in an emphatic 0-4 victory.

Top - Some of the Town fans who travelled to the 2010 FA Trophy game
Bottom - A few more made the trip in the play-off final

The most well known game between the two sides came on the 1st May 2010 when the Ryman North play-off final was won by Concord Rangers at Thames Road in front of 751 people.

In fact as you can see Thames Road (their stadium is now known as The Aspect Arena)  has never been a great place for Enfield Town so maybe we are due a result there?? I hope so anyway.

ENFIELD TOWN V CONCORD RANGERS  

1. Saturday   6th October   2001 Essex Senior League    Away Lost 1-4   185   
2. Wednesday 28th November  2001 Essex Senior League    Home Lost 0-1   308 
3. Saturday  14th September 2002 Essex Senior League    Away Lost 0-1   150 
4. Saturday  12th December  2002 GB Trophy 2            Home Won  2-1   190  
5. Saturday   8th March     2003 Essex Senior League    Home Lost 1-2   258   
6. Saturday  11th October   2003 Essex Senior League    Away Drew 1-1   200 
7. Saturday  3rd  January   2004 Essex Senior League    Home Draw 3-3   310    
8. Tuesday   21st September 2004 Essex League Cup       Away Draw 1-1    95     
9. Saturday  30th October   2004 Essex Senior League    Away Won  4-0   190 
10.Tuesday    7th December  2004 Essex League Cup       Home Won  2-0   183   
11.Saturday  30th April     2005 Essex Senior League    Home Lost 0-1   379 
12.Saturday  23rd August    2008 Ryman Div 1 (N)        Away Lost 0-3   215 
13.Tuesday   10th March     2009 Ryman Div 1 (N)        Home Won  2-1   160 
14.Saturday  31st October   2009 FA Trophy 2Q           Away Lost 2-0   198 
15.Tuesday   24th November  2009 Ryman Div 1 (N)        Home Won  2-1   182 
16.Saturday  13th March     2010 Ryman Div 1 (N)        Away Draw 1-1   182 
17.Saturday   1st May       2010 Ryman Div 1 (N) P/O    Away Lost 3-1   751 
18.Tuesday   23rd October   2012 Ryman Premier          Home ????
19.Saturday  27th October   2012 FA Trophy 2Q           Away 

	P	W	D	L	GF	GA
HOME	8	4	1	3	12	10
AWAY	9	1	3	5	9	16

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This season, Concord's third in the Ryman Premier, has beeWn a real mixed bag results wise. They recorded a decent 0-3 away win at Southern League Premier Division Kettering Town in the last round of the Trophy as well as taking Blue Square South side Welling United to a replay in the FA Cup which they narrowly lost 2-1 at Park View Road.

Currently in the league they have played six games and won only one which was a 1-2 away win at Carshalton Athletic. Their last two league results have been 2-2 draws at Hendon and at home to Wealdstone. They face away trips to Margate and Wingate and Finchley and a home game versus Bury Town before the two Enfield Town games.

They are now managed solely by Danny Cowley after joint-boss Danny Scopes left during the summer. Cowley is assisted by ex Canvey Island and Waltham Abbey boss Glen Alzapiedi.

Striker Tony Stokes has been appointed captain for the 2012/13 season and he is a player to look out for. He graduated from the West Ham United FC academy before moving to Ujpest FC in Hungary. He returned to England in 2010 and caught the eye of many football league clubs during the 2010/11 season. He still remains with The Beachboys.

Ex Waltham Abbey forward Harry Elmes is another quality centre forward at Concord and has apparently turned down bigger money offers to stay loyal with the club.

Defender John Easterford (who scored Rangers first goal in the Enfield Town play-off final in 2010) has returned after spending the last two seasons with local rival's Canvey Island.

Michael Jordan is their current goal keeper who signed in the summer from Blue Square South side Boreham Wood. He started his career at Arsenal and has also played for Chesterfield, Eastbourne Borough and Farnborough.

Midfielder Jacob Cleaver, signed from Essex Senior League champion's Witham Town during the summer, has played in most games this season and has apparently attracted football league and Scottish league scouts.

The Enfield Town fans and players know that any game against Concord Rangers is always tough and this season will be no different.

Of the 22 Ryman Premier teams who played in the FA Trophy 1st Qualifying Round over the weekend there are 13 teams definately through to the 2nd Qualifying Round with Bury Town v Whitehawk, Canvey Island (v Wroxham) and Hampton and Richmond (v Hythe Town) facing midweek replays. Five teams are out - Hastings United and Hendon both losing against other Ryman Premier clubs with Margate and Harrow Borough beaten by Ryman Division One (South) side's Maidstone United and Whitstable Town.

FA TROPHY 1st QUALIFYING ROUND RESULTS
involving Ryman Premier clubs

Saturday
Bognor Regis Town 4 Ilford 1
Bury Town 0 Whitehawk 0
Canvey Island 0 Wroxham 0
Carshalton Athletic 3 Heybridge Swifts 0
East Thurrock United 4 Hastings United 0
Enfield Town 4 Cambrdige City 1
Hampton and Richmond Borough 1 Hythe Town 1
Kettering Town 0 Concord Rangers 3
Leiston 2 Hendon 1
Margate 1 Maidstone United 2
Redbridge 0 Met Police 5
Romford 1 Thurrock 3
Thamesmead Town 0 Cray Wanderers 1
Wealdstone 3 Chertsey Town 1
Whitstable Town 2 Harrow Borough 0
Wingate and Finchley 2 Potters Bar Town 1

Sunday
Kingstonian 2 Eastbourne Town 1
Lewes 1 Lowestoft Town 0

The Met Police's 0-5 victory at Redbridge was watched by just 37 people with just 40 people at Bayliss Avenue to watch Thamesmead Town v Cray Wanderers. The highest crowd was the 475 who saw Margate lose against Maidstone United.

FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round Draw
involving Ryman Premier sides
to be played on the weekend of Saturday 27th October

Bury Town or Whitehawk v Grays Athletic or Ashford Town
Bognor Regis Town v Bridgewater Town or Hemel Hempstead Town
Brentwood Town v Lewes
Concord Rangers v Enfield Town
Cray Wanderers v Arlesey Town
East Thurrock United v Thurrock
Hampton and Richmond or Hythe Town v Three Bridges
Kings Lynn Town v Carshalton Athletic
Kingstonian v Burnham
Leiston v Met Police
Mertsham v Wealdstone
Uxbridge or Royston v Canvey Island or Wroxham
Wingate and Finchley v Hitchin Town

The draw for the 2nd Qualifying Round has thrown up a real local derby as East Thurrock United welcome Thurrock to Rookery Hill. The Rocks are bang in form and haven't lost in six league and cup games and face Maidstone United at home on Saturday in the FA Cup in what should be a really good game. They then (subject to a possible replay) travel to Donkey Lane next Tuesday evening for a Ryman Premier Division game.

Carshalton Athletic won't relish their trip to Kings Lynn Town who have started the season well and are currently in second place of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division One (South). The Linnets beat Southern Premier Division Barwell in their First Qualifying Round game on Saturday so will fancy their chances against The Robins.

Last season's semi-finalist's Wealdstone go to Ryman South Mertsham. The Moatsiders put their poor league form (one win in seven) aside on Saturday to record a decent 2-4 victory at Chatham Town. Mertsham are currently managed by ex Bromley and Carshalton Athletic boss Hayden Bird.

The 2nd Qualifying Round games take place on the weekend of Saturday 27th September. Could a Ryman Premier side do what The Stones did last season and get to the Semi-Final or even Wembley??