The Cold End: BELSTONE TWO GOAL VICTORY AT TITLE RIVAL'S BUSH HILL RANGERS PUTS THEM TOP OF THE TABLE

Tuesday, 5 April 2022

BELSTONE TWO GOAL VICTORY AT TITLE RIVAL'S BUSH HILL RANGERS PUTS THEM TOP OF THE TABLE

LEAGUE TABLE BEFORE SATURDAY GAMES

POS	TEAM	P	GD	PTS	PP
1.	ST ALBANS CITY RES	24	+39	47	59
2.	BELSTONE	22	+36	47	65
3.	BUSH HILL RANGERS	21	+20	45	66
4.	CUFFLEY	22	+16	42	60

LEAGUE TABLE AFTER SATURDAY GAMES

POS	TEAM	P	GD	PTS	PP
1.	BELSTONE	23	+38	50	65
2.	ST ALBANS CITY	24	+39	47	59
3.	BUSH HILL RANGERS	22	+18	45	63
4.	CUFFLEY	23	+17	45	60

It was third v second in the Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division on Saturday afternoon as Bush Hill Rangers hosted Belstone in a huge game between two title rivals who had a chance to go top of the table with a win as St Albans City Reserves, who were top of the table going into the weekend, were in Aubery Cup action at Bovingdon Reserves.

Both sides have some very good players in their squads who have played and still can play at a higher level than Step Seven of the non-league ladder. Rangers included ex Hashtag United, Brimsdown and Woodford Town forward Tashan Richmond in their starting XI as well as defender John Cush (Cockfosters) and midfielder Necati Gench who has played games for Tower Hamlets, East Thurrock United and Aveley this season and counts Ware, Brimsdown, Crawley Town u23s and Maidstone United as former clubs. Jamal Radway (Rayners Lane) and Rocheim Stewart (Woodford Town and Brimsdown) also started for the home side.

Belstone included Billy Lobjoit in their starting line up. He started his career with Doncaster Rovers and Leyton Orient before going on to play for Boreham Wood, Gainsborough Trinity, Hendon and Bishop's Stortford. He has more recently played for Leighton Town, New Bradwell St Peter, Potters Bar Town and Crawley Green. He had the number 10 shirt for Belstone and played that role excellently in not quite being an out and out centre forward and not a midfielder either. He played in those little pockets of space between the two positions and was one of the best players on the pitch.

They also included former Enfield Town and Edgware Town defender/midfielder Paul Marks (who has also been playing for Leverstock Green in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division this season) on their bench alongside Perry Dicker who counts Northwood, Hanwell Town, Southall and Harefield United as former clubs.

The game started in rather chilly conditions but the sun shone through mid-way through the first half - We then saw rain and sleet fall in the second half as well.

Both sides played some good football with the home side passing the ball out from the back and the visitors being a little bit more direct in their play.

The away side scored both their goals in the second half with Lobjoit able to lob the ball into the over the keeper into an empty net and then Morgan Elliott capitalising on the keeper's mistake in controlling the ball to tap home and win the all important three points and capping off an superb afternoon's work by his team.

As you can see from the league table the result puts Belstone top of the table and five points ahead of Bush Hill Rangers - I'm sure everyone at Belstone would of quite rightly celebrated their win but will have their feet firmly on the ground as there are still a number of games to play with some dramatic twists and turns to come in the race for the Herts Senior County League Premier Division title.

Who will finish top? - It looks like it will be one of Belstone, St Albans City Reserves or Bush Hill Rangers with Cuffley ready to pounce if they all start to drop points.

Wingate & Finchley Development who are currently bottom of the table could have a major say in the league title as they are to visit both Belstone and St Albans City Reserves as well as play Bush Hill Rangers both home and away. Mid-Table Welwyn Gardens City Reserves also have to play all three title contenders in their remaining fixtures.

REMAINING FIXTURES

DATE	BELSTONE	ST ALBANS CITY RES	BUSH HILL RANGERS
9/4/22	Harefield Utd Res	WINGATE DEV	Sandridge Rovers
12/4/22	-	Hoddesdon Town Res	Welwyn GC u23s
16/4/22	Chipperfield Corinthians	Bush Hill Rangers	ST ALBANS CITY RES
20/4/22	-	-	WINGATE DEV
23/4/22	-	-	Wingate Dev
26/4/22	WINGATE DEV	-	-
27/4/22	-	Welwyn GC u23s	-
30/4/22	-	-	Harefield Utd Res
7/5/22	WELWYN GC u23s	-	-
14/5/22	WARE SPORTS	-	-