RYMAN DIVISION ONE (NORTH) ATTENDANCE FIGURES SO FAR

COME ON PEOPLE OF SE28 SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SIDE!!!

Here are the crowd figues for the Ryman Division One (North) matches played so far. The Suffolk derby match between Needham Market and AFC Sudbury currently tops the list on 452 with the 27 hardy souls who witnessed Thamesmead Town v Potters Bar Town the lowest recorded attendance so far.

Unfortunetly for The Mead they feature in all three of the lowest crowds so far this season and they currently have the bottom average figure of 51.

HIGHEST CROWDS
452 Needham Market v AFC Sudbury    29th August 
267 AFC Sudbury    v Tilbury        27th August 
260 Chatham Town   v Grays Athletic 10th August

LOWEST CROWDS 
27 Thamesmead Town v Potters Bar Town 13th September 
31 Thamesmead Town v Heybridge Swifts 20th August 
35 Brentwood Town  v Thamesmead Town  24th August 

AVERAGE CROWDS 
NEEDHAM MARKET 288
AFC SUDBURY    255
GRAYS ATHLETIC 240
ENFIELD TOWN   206
HARLOW TOWN    175
CHATHAM TOWN   160
LEISTON        151
CHESHUNT       141
HEYBRIDGE      141
REDBRIDGE      140
SOHAM TOWN     126
BRENTWOOD TOWN 109
TILBURY         94
ROMFORD         92
WARE            85
WALTHAM ABBEY   84
GREAT WAKERING  81
ILFORD          75
WALTHAM FOREST  66
MALDON & TIP    65
POTTERS BAR     65
THAMESMEAD TOWN 51

MATCH PREVIEW - ENFIELD TOWN V ROMFORD

Enfield Town host Romford at Theobalds Lane this Saturday in another all important Ryman Division One (North) match. It's eighth v ninth place with The Boro only losing one of their eight league matches so far. That defeat was on the opening day of the season against Harlow Town so they are now seven league games unbeaten with their last game being a 2-0 home defeat of Ilford on Tuesday night. Paul Clayton and Wola Adedoyin were their goalscorers.

Romford have also played two FA Cup games with a 3-2 win at home to Royston Town followed by a surprise 4-2 defeat at Essex Senior League side Southend Manor.

                        ENFIELD TOWN  ROMFORD   
GAMES PLAYED            9             8 
WINS                    3             3  
DEFEATS                 2             1 
DRAWS                   4             4
GLS SCORED              19            16 
GLS CONCEDED            15            13 
LEAGUE POSITION         8th           9th
PTS (TOTAL)             13 (21)       13 (18)
CLEAN SHEETS            1             2  
FAILED TO SCORE         1             1

As you can see from the above comparison both sides league form is very similar with both sides failing to score in only one match so it all points towards a entertaining match.

Ryman Division One (North) Fixtures

Chatham Town v Brentwood Town
Enfield Town v Romford
Grays Athletic v Cheshunt (to be played on Sunday)
Harlow Town v Soham Town Rangers
Ilford v Tilbury
Waltham Abbey v Great Wakering Rovers
Ware v Leiston

FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round games (involving Ryman North sides)
Margate v Thamesmead Town 
Mertsham v AFC Sudbury 
Needham Market v Nuneaton Town 
Redbridge v Bury Town 
Waltham Forest v Eastbourne Borough (to be played on Sunday)
Whitehawk v Maldon & Tiptree 

The Cold End sends a good luck message out to all the Ryman North sides still in FA Cup action with both Thamesmead Town and Maldon & Tiptree having trips to the seaside to look forward too. With the hot weather forecast their trips to Margate and Brighton will be brilliant occasions. The travelling fans of Blue Square North/South Nuneaton Town and Eastbourne Borough should make for bumper gates at Needham Market and Waltham Forest. Ryman Premier Bury Town should also bring a good number of fans to their game against Redbridge. 

Good luck also goes out to the three remaining Spartan South Midlands League sides in the competition. Dunstable Town host Chesham United, Oxhey Jets welcome Hendon and Hatfield Town go to Leighton Town.

Southend Manor, the only Essex Senior League side left, welcome Chertsey Town to the Essex coast. Manor, who are currently top of the ESL, will be looking to add The Curfews to their list of scalps so far this season.

CLASSIC COLD END - WALTON AND HERSHAM 2009

Enfield Town travel to Stompond Lane on Saturday 8th October for an eagerly anticipated FA Trophy game. Below is the full report of the FA Cup game played between the two sides on Saturday 26th September 2009 which The Swans won 3-2. If anything, it shows that the footage and highlights I take has improve somewhat!!!  

POOR FIRST HALF PERFORMANCE ENDS CUP GLORY

Enfield Town were dumped out of the FA Cup this afternoon after a horror showing in the first half at Stompond Lane. Town quite simply didn't turn up in the first 45 minutes, there was no attacking play worthy of any mention. It was very disappointing for supporters, players and management as on the most important game of the season to date Town were turned over by an ordinary looking Swans side.

Basking in the sunshine on a glorious day whilst sipping on bottles of Peroni there were discussions of if we win this one and get through two more rounds we could play at Elland Road, Carrow Road, The Valley or St Mary's. Okay, we were getting a bit ahead of ourselves but we can dream!! Walton & Hersham's club house is more of a pavilion and was very nice indeed.








The Swans took the lead from the penalty spot after Dave Blower appeared to trip a Walton player inside the box, It was a soft foul to give but it was one of those ones you've seen given and not given. The spot kick went right whilst Rob Blackburne went left. 1-0 to Walton


Walton were well on top of the Town side then for the rest of the half and unsurprisingly made it 2-0 when a cross from the left hand side was expertly headed past Rob Blackburne's right hand. He stood no chance and no keeper would of saved it.




Town should of taken the game to the home side and it may have been a different story, Walton were nothing special but were much better than Town in the first half. In fact it was that bad some Town fans took to studying the A-Z to work out a better route home avoiding the traffic jam's on the M25.

HALF TIME 2-0

The second half was slightly better with Roberto Minniti coming on for Stuart Blackburne early on. Stuart had a rare off day but he can be excused as there were reports he felt ill on the team coach. The Italian made an instant impact winning a penalty for another soft looking trip inside the area, Was this the referee leveling things up from the spot kick he gave Walton in the first half??

Rudi Hall converted the kick and it was game on at 2-1. The dream was still there despite how poorly Town had played.

***RUDI HALL'S PENALTY KICK***

Matt Thomson then put a lob/shot towards the goal which looked like it was sailing gloriously towards the back of the net. Only for a moment though as it flew over the bar past the Walton ball boy who was seemingly disinterested in the game sitting down not even bothering to run to get the ball. Would of it been a different story had the home side been loosing??? The cold end thinks so.

Richard Morton then replaced Paul Marks and Billy Healy for Matt Thomson, Town were playing the long ball over the top and struggling to make any in-roads on the Walton goal. 75 minutes passed until we had a meaningful shot of target from open play when Rudi's shot was blocked into the path of Adam Wallace who passed the ball into the back of the net sparking mass celebration on the far terrace at Stompond Lane from the travelling fans. We had played awful but got out of jail... 2-2, we'd take a draw.

It was all in vain though as the goal of the match was scored by Walton when a free kick just outside the edge of the box was curled over the wall right into the top left hand corner past Rob Blackburne to much disappointment. This was cruel on Rob who was the cold end's man of the match for Town. During the second half he commanded his box and claimed mostly all the crosses put over by the home side.

Near to the end Chris Wild who had pushed forward from the back put a header on target but straight into the keeper's hands.

***Chris Wild's header***

Final Score 3-2 and Town are out of the cup.

Enfield Town were very poor in the first half and that's what put paid to the game, For whatever reason the team didn't turn up. The second half performance was a little better with the players working hard to get back into the match against an ordinary looking Walton team but the fact Town had 3 attempts on target throughout the match tells a story.

The free kick to win at the end of the game was cruel but the FA Cup is sometimes wonderful and sometimes heartbreaking which makes it the world's greatest competition. Maybe next year??

The cold end wishes John Crumplin's men the best of luck in the next round even though he was very disappointed looking at the home player's celebrating on the pitch after the game.

Other Ryman North teams in the Cup had a great day with a good giant killing coming a Scraley Road, Heybridge swifting Conference South St Alban's City 1-0. Lowestoft Town dumped Boston United out of the competition on the East coast in front of a massive 1,134 crowd, the final score being 1-0. Potters Bar Town won easily 3-0 at home versus Ryman South Whitstable Town, Concord Rangers crashed out at Slough Town 2-0 and East Thurrock United lost 2-0 at Welling United.

Wingate and Finchley drew at home 2-2 to Aylesbury FC and face a tough replay at Haywood Way on Tuesday night.

GOOD LUCK ROB BLACKBURNE

All Enfield Town fans will now know Goalkeeper Rob Blackburne has unfortunately left our club. The Cold End sends a big good luck message to Rob whose best save I can remember was against Harlow Town last season in the New Year Derby match. For those of you who weren't there...here it is for you to watch -

RYMAN DIVISION ONE (NORTH) - MIDWEEK RESULTS

The Cold End missed Enfield Town's good 1-2 win at Brentwood Town with the goals coming from Dean Pennant and Jon Moore. Other results on Tuesday night included Grays Athletic's 2-3 win at Redbridge which saw them increase their lead at the top of the table. Wednesday night saw Waltham Forest continue their great form in defeating Chatham Town 3-1 at Cricklefields. The Waltham Forest Guardian are urging local residents to attend their FA Cup game on Sunday against Blue Square South side Eastbourne Borough in a match being billed as the biggest in their history. Article here

The game between Leiston and AFC Sudbury at Victory Road was abandoned due to thick fog after only 26 minutes.

MIDWEEK RESULTS
TUESDAY
Brentwood Town  1 2 Enfield Town    115
Cheshunt        1 1 Thamesmead TowN 135
Great Wakering  4 2 Ware             70
Maldon & T      1 2 Needham Market   74
Potters Bar T   2 1 Heybridge Swifts 86
Redbridge       2 3 Grays Athletic  202
Romford         2 0 Ilford           85
Soham Town Rang 1 3 Waltham Abbey   107
Tilbury         2 1 Harlow Town      83
WEDNESDAY
Waltham Forest  3 1 Chatham Town 

CURRENT LEAGUE TABLE

1 Grays Athletic  8 7 1 0 21  7 14 22 
-------------------------------------
2 Waltham Forest  8 6 0 2 17 10  7 18
3 Chatham Town    8 5 1 2 12  8  4 16
4 Needham Market  8 4 3 1 23  9 14 15
5 Leiston         8 4 3 1 18  8 10 15
-------------------------------------
6 Thamesmead Town 9 4 3 2 16 11  5 15
7 Harlow Town     9 4 2 3 11 10  1 14
8 Enfield Town    9 3 4 2 19 15  4 13
9 Romford         8 3 4 1 16 13  3 13
10 Heybridge Swi  8 3 3 2 14 11  3 12
11 Potters Bar T  9 3 3 3 15 24 -9 12
12 Redbridge      8 3 2 3 16 15  1 11
13 Tilbury        8 3 2 3 14 16 -2 11
14 Brentwood Town 8 3 1 4 10  9  1 10
15 Waltham Abbey  8 3 1 4 18 18  0 10
16 Cheshunt       8 2 4 2  8 11 -3 10
17 Soham Town Ran 9 1 5 3 15 20 -5  8
18 Great Wakering 9 2 2 5 13 23 -10 8
19 AFC Sudbury    8 1 3 4  7 14 -7  6
20 Maldon & T     8 1 1 6  8 17 -9  4
-------------------------------------
21 Ware           8 1 1 6  6 17 -11 4
22 Ilford         8 0 1 7  3 14 -11 1

It's still early days for the league table but it shows Town in eighth position just above Romford by 1 goal difference which sets up Saturday's game at Theobalds Lane very nicely. Ilford prop up the table with no wins and only 3 goals scored in eight games.

RYMAN DIVISION ONE (NORTH) WEEKEND ROUND UP

Great times at Cricklefieds. The Stags are third in the table

Photos of Waltham Forest v Harlow Town courtesy of Rod Lewis Photography. Click here for website.

With the majority of teams having played 7 games who would of predicted that last season's basement boys Waltham Forest would be sitting in third position with only Chatham Town (who finished 21st out of 22 teams in Division One (South)) and Grays Athletic above them??

The Stags got there fifth win of their seven games yesterday in the 2-0 defeat of Harlow Town at Cricklefields. Joshua Bonnett scored the opener and is now joint second top scorer in the league on five goals with David Cobb of Soham Town Rangers.

Top scorer so far is Sam Newson of Needham Market who scored his eighth league goal of the season at The Marketmen's 1-1 draw at Romford yesterday.

Result of the day goes to Redbridge's 0-3 win at previously unbeaten Heybridge Swifts. Not even The Only way is Essex star Mark Wright, making his debut for the Swifts on the left wing, could stop Terry Spillane's men who thanks to goals from Ben Bradbury, Dan Trenkel and Ryan Murray moved up into ninth place in the table.

Thamesmead Town also had a successful away day by continuing their good form with an excellent 0-2 win over AFC Sudbury.

After knocking Evo-Stick Southern Premier League team Cambridge City out of the FA Cup on Tuesday night it was back to their disappointing league form for Maldon and Tiptree in a 4-1 defeat at Leiston who are now up to fourth place.

There were no 0-0 draws yesterday with only three teams (AFC Sudbury, Heybridge Swifts & Harlow Town) unable to hit the back of the net.

RYMAN DIVISION ONE (NORTH) RESULTS
SATURDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER 2011 

AFC SUDBURY    0 THAMESMEAD TOWN 2          240 
BRENTWOOD TOWN 1 GRAYS ATHELTIC 2           205 
CHATHAM TOWN   2 WALTHAM ABBEY 1            120
ENFIELD TOWN   1 CHESHUNT 1                 225
GREAT WAKERING 1 SOHAM TOWN RANGERS 1        91
HEYBRIDGE SWIF 0 REDBRIDGE 3                118
LEISTON        4 MALDON AND TIPTREE 1       143
POTTERS BAR    3 TILBURY 2                   75
ROMFORD        1 NEEDHAM MARKET 1           116
WALTHAM FOREST 2 HARLOW TOWN 0               76
WARE           2 ILFORD 1                    91 

There is a full set of league fixtures this midweek with some really good games in prospect. Redbridge's home game with table topper's Grays Athletic stands out as well as 2nd v 3rd on Wednesday night at Cricklefields when Waltham Forest play Chatham Town.

There should be good crowd at Victory Road for the Suffolk derby between Leiston and AFC Sudbury. Leiston will be looking for some quick revenge as AFC won there in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup on the 17th September in front of 283 people.

A full league table and forthcoming fixtures can be found on the official Ryman League website.

FRUSTRATING AFTERNOON AS TEN MEN AMBERS HOLD ON AGAINST TOWN

Cheshunt Caretaker Manager Glen Parry

It was all square in the "A1O EL CLASSICO" as The Ambers, with Glen Parry in temporary charge, earned a point against Enfield Town. It was a familiar story for the Town as they had large amounts of the possession and passed the ball around really well but failed to really keep Cheshunt goal keeper Glenn Williamson busy throughout the 90 minutes.  The Ambers were obviously fired up in the first 10 to 15 minutes as the tackles flew (some good and some late) in against the attacking Town side. They took the lead via a free kick on the edge of the box which was floated in and headed down for Chris Sargent to slot the ball past Town debutant keeper Noel Imber.

They were reduced to 10 men shortly before half time when Dan Roles apparently elbowed Jon Moore. I can't comment on that as even though it happened right in front of me, in the words of Arsene Wenger 'I did not see it!!' and neither did the cold end camera.

Standing room only. The 'packed' far stand at Theobalds Lane. Yesterday's attendance was 225.

Shortly after that incident Lee Allen, who had a good performance in the centre of midfield, put in a high and somewhat late challenge on a Cheshunt player right in front of the referee. With the Amber's fans calling for a red card.......I think it's safe to say Lee was lucky and got away lightly with only a yellow.  

The half finished with Daniel Ailey hitting the post with a header back across goal from a Jey Siva cross on the left hand side.

The Second Half was all Enfield Town as they went for an equaliser with the Ambers using the dangerous pace of substitute Chris Meikle on the counter attack which nearly caught Town out on one occasion when Imber made a good save.

Substitute Stuart Blackburne was very unlucky to hit the post with his shot across goal. At that point it looked like it was going to be 'just one of those days'.  

Town got a deserved equaliser when Adam Wallace rose to head a corner kick past Williamson and were denied what looked a perfectly good winner when Blackburne was flagged offside. See below picture and the video to judge for yourself.

Lee Allen's challenge in the first half which saw him get a yellow card

Daniel Ailey was very unlucky to hit the post with this header

Daniel Ailey was booked for this challenge on the Cheshunt keeper Glenn Willamson

When will Town's luck change???  Stuart Blackburne's effort hits the post with Williamson looking back

Stuart Blackburne - On or Offside???  Just after the ball had been played

Gunz rising high to head Town's goal......

......and celebrating with his team-mates

So in the end another frustrating afternoon for Enfield Town as only a point was earned when it really should of been three with all the attacking play shown. The positives are all there to see and I'm sure that Town will beat a side by a good number of goals very soon.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS ARE BELOW...WELL WORTH A WATCH

MASSIVE LOCAL DERBY TOMORROW AT THEOBALDS LANE

Cheshunt 'visit' Enfield Town tomorrow at Theobalds Lane in a hotly anticipated local derby game in the Ryman Division One (North). The Ambers have recently parted company with manager Bob Dearie with 32 year old veteran defender Glen Parry taking up a Caretaker role for the forthcoming matches.

Our near neighbour's Club Secretary Alex Kalinic has confirmed to the Hertfordshire Mercury this week that several people have applied for the vacant position with the committee sifting through applications in the upcoming days. He also stated that if Parry impressed during his time in temporary charge it would "push him up the list" so it looks as if they will be well up for the game.

Steve Newing will be looking for his side to come back from the disappointing midweek result South of the River when losing 0-2 to Thamesmead Town. Experienced goalkeeper Noel Imber has signed for the Town this week from Ryman Premier Division Hendon. He is most well known for his spell at Boreham Wood where he played over 350 first team games.

                    ENFIELD TOWN    CHESHUNT 
GAMES PLAYED            8             8
WINS                    2 (25%)       2 (25%)
LOSSES                  3             3 
DRAWS                   3             3
GLS SCORED              17            8
GLS CONCEDED            15            13
LEAGUE POSITION         10th          14th 
PTS (TOTAL)             9 (21)        8 (18) 
CLEAN SHEETS            1             3 
FAILED TO SCORE         1             4

The two clubs have very similar playing records with 2 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses over all games played. The Ambers have found it difficult to score with only a 8 goals from 8 games as opposed to 17 goals for the Town. They have improved recently with 2 goals scored in each of their last three games and they do have a better clean sheet record with 3 in 8 games.

Kick off is at 3pm at Theobalds Lane.

COME ON THE TOWN

ORANGE WEDNESDAY

KENTISH TOWN V WELWYN GARDEN CITY
Match played on Wednesday 21st September 2011

The Copthall Athletic’s Stadium was the venue for Wednesday night’s Spartan South Midlands League Division One clash between Kentish Town and Welwyn Garden City.

It has been home to Kentish Town FC since 2007 with the future of the stadium subject to redevelopment proposals from Saracen’s Rugby Club who have submitted planning applications for a 10,000 capacity venue. see bbc.co.uk link here

Both clubs have struggled of late with The Citizens being relegated from the Premier Division at the end of the 2009/10 season and The Townies following them at the end of last season. Kentish’s club Chair Person Catherine Dye states in her programme notes ‘Recent results have been not good but we are determined to continue with our youth policy and I know that this will reap benefits long term.’

Going into the game Kentish had won three of their nine league games against Sun Postal Sports (1-0 @ H), Hoddesdon Town (4-3 @ H) and at bottom of the table Bedford (1-2 A) but they had also leaked goals at a rate of 3.88 per game suffering a 6-0 defeat in their last game at Cockfosters the previous Saturday.

Kentish manager John Creith states in his notes ‘I have a lot of hope on Saturday as the day started and was looking for a good performance. But what I got was far from it! For the first half we competed well, but in the second half we just lay down and gave Cockfosters the game!’ & ‘What I expect from my players is a lot of heart, passion, desire and work rate’ & ‘we have an opportunity to put in a more improved performance tonight.’

The Citizens, who the cold end has now seen play a number of times this season, are obviously looking to improve on last season which ended in relegation and going into the game had won 2 of their 9 league games. They had lost 4-0 at Kings Langley on the previous Saturday. What is sad is that for team representing a Town with a population of over 40,000 their current average league home crowd is just 47. It is good to see that this is an improvement on last season's 29 average with the people behind the scenes at the club working very hard to promote The Citizens.   

The game was a very entertaining and eventful affair with both sides playing some good football. One of the 26 people who attended was very vocal in his support of WGC and raised a chuckle when shouting out ‘COME ON WELWYN...ORANGE WEDNESDAYS!! TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE’ in a nod to his side’s rather bright away kit.

Catherine Dye seems to be spot on when she talks about her club’s youth policy as their young goalkeeper in particular performed excellently throughout the match.

Extended match highlights are below including all the action. Please check out the open goal miss (from 6mins 49secs on the video) that a WGC player had right at the end of the game which caused the shout of ‘HAVE WE SIGNED TORRES?’ from the stands. This may have been a little harsh on the Citizen’s player!! 

FA CUP CRACKER AT GOSLING SPORTS PARK

MATCH PLAYED ON TUESDAY 20th SEPTEMBER
The lure and the magic of the FA Cup drew the cold end into the Gosling Sports Park in Welwyn Garden City on Tuesday night.  Hatfield Town currently call in home and they welcomed Zamaretto Central Division Barton Rovers for a First Qualifying Round Reply as the first match at Barton’s Sharpenhoe Road ground had been drawn 1-1 on Saturday.

For The Blue Boys, as Hatfield are known, it was a chance to cause a ‘giant killing’ as their visitors play at Step 4 of the non-league pyramid as opposed to the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division at Step 5 for the home side.

What a cracking cup tie it turned out to be with Barton hitting the post and missing a golden opportunity to score within the opening 30 seconds.  

If you are reading this and don’t know the result the cold end can tell you there were three well taken goals in the game with the second (from 1min 46secs on the video) the pick of the bunch.  I can safely say that if this goal was scored by an Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United it would of been purred about by many a commentator and pundit.

Check out the match highlights below. A great advert for non-league football and the FA Cup which is not just all about the later rounds when the big boys enter.

Although this was only the First Qualifying Round of the competition it was Hatfield's sixth game already -

EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND - SAWBRIDGEWORTH TOWN 2-2 & 2-1
PRELIMINARY ROUND - ENFIELD 1893 1-1 & 1-2 AET
FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND - BARTON ROVERS 1-1 & ???

Manchester City only took eight games to win the FA Cup last season. It could of been only six as they had two replays against Leicester City and Notts County.

HADLEY V ST MAGS - THE MONDAY NIGHT SHOW

Match played on Monday 19th September 2011
A crowd of 40 people gathered at Potters Bar Town’s South Mimms Travel Stadium on Monday night to see the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division match between Hadley and St Margaretsbury.

Going into the game both sides were struggling to find any sort of form in their opening league fixtures. Hadley had 4 points from 8 games with 1 win and 1 draw and St Mags were on only 3 points (one win) from 7 games.

This was the cold end’s second Hadley game in a week with the Challenge Trophy victory over Winslow United last Wednesday night. In between then and this game they had been beaten 1-6 at home to AFC Dunstable who have made a flying start to life in their new higher division after promotion last season.

St Mags included ex Hertford Town player Pablo Ardiles in their starting XI. Ardiles having left the assistant manager’s post at Hertford Town recently. Instead of playing in his usual left-back role he played in the left centre of midfield for his new team.

The cold end is big fan of the St Mag’s away kit with is a blue and yellow striped number.  It looked very smart indeed.

WATCH THE MATCH HIGHLIGHTS BELOW INCLUDING ALL THE GOALS SCORED –

SATURDAY ROUND-UP - THE MOTORMEN MAGIC IN FA CUP

No match for Enfield Town FC today as most of the FA Cup First Qualifying Round games were played.

Stotfold, who shocked Town in the Preliminary Round, travellled to Essex to play Ryman Premier Division Billericay Town. Three hundred and nineteen people saw it a step to far for the Bedfordshire side as The Blues raced into a three goal lead within 25 minutes through a Rob Swain double and David Knight. Tony Boot scored a second half goal to make the final score 4-0.

Elsewhere, the world's greatest cup competition worked it's magic in North and East London as well as on the Essex coast.

Redbridge travelled to Ryman Premier Division side Wingate and Finchley and came away with a magnificent 0-3 victory. Dan Trenkel scored for the Ryman North side who now join a number of other Ryman North sides in the draw for the Second Qualifying Round on Monday.

Waltham Forest continued their excellent start to the season by defeating Hitchin Town at Cricklefields. The Stags scored in the 71st and 79th minutes to go through against their Step 3 opponents.

Southend Manor worked some more magic against Ryman Division One North opponents after sending Cheshunt out in the last round. Romford were the losers this time as the Essex Senior League side won 4-2. They are now their league's only representatives in the Cup after Stansted went out against Canvey Island this afternoon.

Other honorable mentions go out to Maldon and Tiptree and Brentwood Town who will replay at home against Step 3 sides in midweek. M&T play Cambridge City after a 2-2 draw and Brentwood Town play Hemel Hempstead Town after a 0-0 draw. Also Spartan South Midlands League side's Hatfield Town and Berkhamsted who will play Barton Rovers and St Albans City at home in midweek after very creditable draws at Step 3 sides.

Town will travel in midweek to Thamesmead Town after they won 0-2 at Shoreham.

FA CUP 1st QUALIFYING ROUND RESULTS
* For Ryman Division One (North), Essex Senior League and Spartan South Midlands League sides.

Barton Rovers 1 HATFIELD TOWN 1
Biggleswade Town 3 WALTHAM ABBEY 1
Billericay Town 4 STOTFOLD 0
Cambridge City 2 MALDON & TIPTREE 2
Canvey Island 4 STANSTED 1
CHATHAM TOWN 0 Worthing 1
DUNSTABLE TOWN 7 BROXBOURNE BOROUGH 0
Hemel Hempstead Town 0 BRENTWOOD TOWN 0
HERTFORD TOWN 0 OXHEY JETS 1
HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS 1 Lowestoft Town 2
LEISTON 0 AFC SUDBURY 1
NEEDHAM MARKET 1 Ely City 1
Shoreham 0 THAMESMEAD TOWN 2
SOUTHEND MANOR 4 ROMFORD 2
St Albans City 0 BERKHAMSTED 0
TILBURY 1 Arlesey Town 2
WALTHAM FOREST 2 Hitchin Town 0
Wingate and Finchley 0 REDBRIDGE 3

IN THE HAT FOR THE 2nd QUALIFYING ROUND

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE
Southend Manor

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE
Berkhamsted*
Dunstable Town
Hatfield Town*
Oxhey Jets

RYMAN DIVISION ONE (NORTH)
AFC Sudbury
Brentwood Town*
Grays Athletic +
Maldon and Tiptree*
Needham Market*
Redbridge
Thamesmead Town
Waltham Forest

* denotes subject to replay result
+ playing tomorrow at home to Aveley

In the Ryman Division One (North) there were two games. Harlow Town moved up to 2nd place with a 3-1 home win over Great Wakering Rovers. Soham Town Rangers drew 1-1 at home to Potters Bar Town.

LAST GASP HADLEY THROUGH AGAINST WINSLOW

The final of the games in Round 1 of the Spartan South Midlands Challenge Trophy were played this midweek with the cold end travelling to Potters Bar Town's South Mimms Travel Stadium where Premier Division (step 5 of the non-league pyramid) Hadley currently play their games. Their visitors were Division Two (step 7) Winslow United who had beaten Hellenic Premier Division (step 5) Holyport FC in the FA Vase the previous weekend and were looking to cause another shock.

CUP FEVER HITS POTTERS BAR

Just thirty-five people saw a game which improved in the second half with the only real goalmouth action in the first half being Hadley's goal.

The second half saw the home side try and add to their lead against a Winslow side who were apparently missing a large number of first team players. The home side hit the post, the bar and also had a good effort cleared off the line as the visitors worked hard to stay in the game without ever troubling the Hadley backline.

With just a few minutes left Winslow were awarded a free kick on the right hand side which was whipped into the box and after a short scramble in front of the keeper they made it 1-1. It looked as though the game would be extended with extra time on the cards only for Hadley to score almost immediately with a well taken shot from outside of the box from Darren Turner who showed some good touches throughout the game.

In the end on chances created this was a fair result between two hard working sides. Winslow can be proud that they stayed in the game for so long with so many players missing from their side.

The first round has now been completed aside from one game being Caddington v Crawley Green which will be played on Saturday 17^th September. A full list of results can be found on  

At present there are two Division Two sides left in the competition who both face tough trips to Premier Division sides in Round Two. Bletchley Town visit Royston Town and Risborough Rangers go to Aylesbury United with the games due to be played on the 18^th and 19^th of October. If Caddington are successful against Crawley Green they will make it three Division Two sides with a home game against Premier Division Holmer Green.

Hadley travel to Hertford Town in Round Two.

MATCH HIGLIGHTS ARE BELOW (INCLUDING ALL THREE GOALS)

THE "RAILWAY STATION" LATE SHOW

Adam Wallace's well taken 94th minute equaliser for Enfield Town was richly deserved in a dramatic end to a game where real goal-scoring opportunities were somewhat of a scarcity at Barrows Farm on Tuesday evening. Walking away from the ground the cold end overheard a Hawks supporter saying that he didn't know where the referee had got the 5 minutes of injury time from but in turn didn't think his side had done enough to merit a victory so a draw was a fair result.

Aside from the first 10 to 15 minutes Enfield Town had most of the ball and the best chances of the first half when the well travelled Hawk’s keeper Bertrand Bossu made two excellent saves to keep his side in the game.

Early in the second half Getro Kilapi put Harlow Town in front when meeting a corner kick to the near post and volleying home from close range. This was The Hawks first and only memorable effort on goal.

Enfield Town kept plugging away and working hard but never managed to trouble Bossu in the second period with centre back’s Lee Gledhill and Ryan Kirby putting in really good performances for the home side. It was easy to see why they had only conceded only 4 goals in their previous 5 league games prior to this game.

The match drifted into injury time with Enfield Town looking at a disappointing night and getting nothing from the game. All their hard work paid off when a long ball from Mark Kirby was met by Adam Wallace who hit the ball past Bossu from just inside the box. This caused mass celebration from the players and travelling supporters as well as the away bench.

For Harlow Town it was the opposite from what had occurred in their match against AFC Sudbury on Saturday when they had scored in added time to win the game.

I think they will be amongst the play-off contenders at the business end of the season so a point earned at Barrows Farm has to be a good point. Had it not been for the heroics of Bertrand Bossu in the first half I think it would have easily been three points in the bag.

The Hawks supporters like a sing-song with one of their favourites when they play us being ‘ENFIELD TOWN IS JUST A RAILWAY STATION’- hence the header for this match report. Putting aside this song which is just a bit of fun the cold end thinks Harlow fans are amongst the best in the league for creating an atmosphere at games which is always good to see.   

Watch the match highlights below (inc both goals and the two good saves from Bertrand Bossu)

HERTFORDSHIRE SENIOR COUNTY LEAGUE - THE SEASON SO FAR

The covered area at The John Clements Memorial Ground. Codicote FC currently use the ground for their reserve team games

Codicote's first team play currently share with Hatfield Town at The Gosling Sports Park Stadium in Welwyn Garden City

The smaller stand which fans at Norton Road now known as The Arena. Currently home to Baldock Town

The view from the 'dug-out' area at Lemsford FC

The Hertfordshire Senior County League is now well underway with Baldock Town celebrating the return of football to an albeit much changed Norton Road (now known as The Arena) by winning their first six league games to top the early Premier Division table. They have hit the back of the net at an impressive rate of 6.33 goals per game with two double figure victories being 10-0 at Bovingdon on the 27th August and 11-1 at home to Chipperfield Corinthians a week later on the 3rd September.

On Saturday they were at it again running in six goals away at St Peters in a 4-6 victory. St Peters find themselves at the bottom of the Premier Division table having lost seven out of seven games so far.

Baldock Town are closely followed by Metropolitan Police (Bushey) and local rivals Letchworth Garden City Eagles. The top three teams are the only sides left who are yet to be beaten.

Reigning Champions Hinton opened with two wins (1-0 at Chipperfield and 6-0 at home to Cuffley) but then lost four in a row. A run which was ended in the 1-1 draw with Goffs Oak on Saturday.

Last season's Division One Champions Goffs Oak who are playing home games at Goldsdown Road have made a good start to life in a higher division. They lost their opening game of the season but are now six games unbeaten (three wins and three draws) and find themselves in fifth place.

In Division One Whitwell and Belstone are top of the league winning six games out of six so far. Belstone have been helped with the goals of Mark Blackburne who has scored 9 goals in the league and cup so far.

The top two play each other on Saturday 8th October in what will be an eagerly anticipated game at Whitwell's home of the King George V Recreation Ground.

Croxley Guild currently prop up Division One with only two draws from their six games (versus Old Parmiterians and Knebworth). Above Croxley are Wodson Seniors who are competing in their debut season in the league. They have lost their last two games 7-0 and 11-0.

Full League tables and fixtures lists can be found on the excellent Hertfordshire Senior County League website here.

There are two important games on Saturday 24th September 2011 in the Premier Divison current table topper's Baldock Town welcome current Champions Hinton to The Arena and possibly (depending on results in the meantime) 2nd plays 3rd when Met Police (Bushey) play Letchworth Garden City Eagles 

FA VASE - THE LONG ROAD TO WEMBLEY BEGINS

The 2011/12 FA Carlsberg Vase got underway this weekend with a hose of local sides in First Qualifying Round action. Here are the results featuring Essex Senior and Spartan South Midlands sides -

SATURDAY 
Barking             2 Crawley Green                    0   50 
Basildon United     1 Wootton Blue Cross               1   43
Berkhamsted         1 Stotfold                         0  113 
Bowers and Pitsea   4 Hertford Town                    3*  73   
Broxbourne Borough  2 Burnham Ramblers                 3*  81 
Cranfield United    2 Haringey and Waltham Development 6   73 
Hatfield Town       2 Sporting Bengal United           3   28 
Hillingdon Borough  7 AFC Wallingford                  0   31 
Hoddesdon Town      6 Kentish Town                     0   62
Holmer Green        4 Newbury                          5*  42 
Hullbridge Sports   2 Colney Heath                     1   21 
Kidlington          3 Buckingham Athletic              1   53 
London Colney       0 Codicote                         2   65 
Reading Town        1 Harefield United                 0   55
Sawbridgeworth Town 5 Wodson Park                      4   45
St Margaretsbury    1 Langford                         0   52 
Takeley             2 Cockfosters                      0   81 
Welwyn GC           1 Bedford                          2   30 
Winslow United      2 Holyport                         1   73 
* denotes after extra time

SUNDAY 
Canning Town        1 Eton Manor                       1*   
London Lions        1 London APSA                      2
* denotes after extra time   

It was a disappointing Saturday afternoon for the Spartan South Midlands League (SSMFL) with only Winslow United, Bedford, St Margaretsbury, Hoddesdon Town and Hillingdon Borough making it through to the next round. Bedford, St Mags and Hoddy all defeated fellow SSMFL teams.

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE 9 SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE 0

It was contrasting fortunes for the Essex Senior League sides as Barking, Bowers and Pitsea, Burnham Ramblers, Haringey and Waltham, Sporting Bengal United, Hullbridge Sports, Sawbridgeworth Town and Takeley all won with only Basildon United drawing at home to Wootton Blue Cross. The Bees facing a midweek replay in Bedfordshire after the 1-1 scoreline at Gardiners Close.

The magic of the FA Cup didn't continue into the Vase for Stotfold as they went down 1-0 at Berkhamsted.

Codicote, this season's only representatives from the Hertfordshire Senior County League, recorded a good 0-2 at London Colney to earn a home game with SSMFL side Biggleswade United in the Second Qualfying Round.

This afternoon was the same story as the Essex Senior League overcame SSMFL at Goffs Lane when London APSA beat London Lions 1-2. The other match this afternoon saw the only team from the Essex Olympian League in Canning Town gain a creditable draw against ESL side Eton Manor. The match played at Aveley FC's ground ended 1-1 after extra time.

The Second Qualifying Round matches are due to take place on the weekend of the 23rd/24th and 25th September.

RYMAN DIVISION ONE (NORTH) - SEASON SO FAR

Ryman Division One (North) Table as at Sunday 11th September 2011 

                          P W D L GF GA  GD PTS
1.  GRAYS ATHLETIC        5 4 1 0 12  4 + 8  13 
-----------------------------------------------
2.  WALTHAM FOREST        5 4 0 1 11  7 + 4  12 
3.  LEISTON               5 3 1 1 12  5 + 7  10 
4.  CHATHAM TOWN          5 3 1 1  8  4 + 4  10 
5.  HARLOW TOWN           5 3 1 1  6  4 + 2  10 
-----------------------------------------------
6.  HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS      5 2 3 0 10  5 + 5   9 
7.  NEEDHAM MARKET        5 2 2 1 13  7 + 6   8 
8.  ENFIELD TOWN          5 2 2 1 15 10 + 5   8 
9.  TILBURY               5 2 2 1  9  9   0   8 
10. WALTHAM ABBEY         5 2 1 2 10 10   0   7 
11. BRENTWOOD TOWN        5 2 1 2  5  5   0   7 
12. REDBRIDGE             5 2 1 2  9 10 - 1   7
13. SOHAM TOWN RANGERS    5 1 3 1 12 12   0   6 
14. ROMFORD               5 1 3 1  8  8   0   6
15. AFC SUDBURY           5 1 2 2  7  8 - 1   5 
16. THAMESMEAD TOWN       5 1 2 2  6 10 - 4   5 
17. CHESHUNT              5 1 2 2  9 15 - 6   5 
18. POTTERS BAR TOWN      5 1 2 2  9 15 - 6   5
19. GREAT WAKERING ROVERS 5 1 1 3  7 10 - 3   4 
20. MALDON & TIPTREE      5 0 1 4  4 11 - 7   1 
-----------------------------------------------
21. ILFORD                5 0 1 4  2  9 - 7   1 
22. WARE                  5 0 1 4  2 10 - 8   1 

Grays Athletic sit on top of the league with 13 from a possible 15 points in their opening five league games. The only game they haven't won was the 1-1 draw away at Heybridge Swifts who along with Hakan Hayrettin's team are the only side left unbeaten.  The Swifts were 2-1 up over Soham Town Rangers yesterday but an goal deep into stoppage time for the Cambridgeshire side saw them rescue a point.

At the bottom of the league Ware, Ilford and Maldon & Tiptree are still without a win. Both Ware and Ilford have only scored twice in their five games. Ilford's goals coming in the 1-1 draw against Enfield Town on the opening day of the season and in yesterday's 3-1 defeat at Potters Bar Town.

Waltham Forest who have made an excellent start to the season have the chance to go top of the league on Tuesday night. A victory in their game at Cheshunt would put them above Grays Athletic as they play against AFC Sudbury on Wednesday night.

FACTS ABOUT THE LEAGUE SO FAR 

UNBEATEN       - GRAYS ATHLETIC AND HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS 
MOST WINS      - GRAYS ATHLETIC AND WALTHAM FOREST (4)
LEAST WINS     - WARE, ILFORD AND MALDON & TIPTREE (0)
TOP SCORERS    - ENFIELD TOWN (15) 
LOWEST SCORERS - ILFORD AND WARE (2) 
WORST DEFENCE  - POTTERS BAR TOWN AND CHESHUNT (15)
BEST DEFENCE   - GRAYS ATHLETIC, CHATHAM TOWN AND HARLOW TOWN (4) 
MOST DRAWS     - HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS, SOHAM TOWN RANGERS AND ROMFORD (3) 
LEAST DRAWS    - WALTHAM FOREST (0) - The Stags are the only side without a draw. 

HIGHEST CROWD  - 452 NEEDHAM MARKET  V AFC SUDBURY      - 29/8/11
LOWEST CROWD   -  31 THAMESMEAD TOWN V HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS - 20/8/11

COULD OF LOST, COULD OF WON, SHOULD OF LOST, SHOULD OF WON!

With thanks to 'Andyetfc' who posts on the Not the ETFC forum for the above headline which I think sums up the game for both sides this afternoon. It was a much improved performance from the Town against a visiting Needham Market side who are sure to be involved in the title race as they were last season.  The highlights are below including all four goals that were scored -

TODAY'S RESULTS 

AFC Sudbury           1 Harlow Town        2        258 
Brentwood Town        2 Waltham Abbey      0         96 
Chatham Town          0 Grays Athletic     2        260 
Enfield Town          2 Needham Market     2        210 
Great Wakering Rovers 2 Redbridge          3         68
Heybridge Swifts      2 Soham Town Rangers 2        134
Leiston               3 Tilbury            0        172 
Potters Bar Town      3 Ilford             1         52 
Romford               2 Cheshunt           2         85 
Waltham Forest        3 Maldon and Tiptree 2         39 
Ware                  1 Thamesmead Town    2         73 

Elsewhere, Grays Athletic continued their good start to the season with a 0-2 victory at Chatham Town. Harry Agombar netted both goals for the current table toppers who are closely followed by Waltham Forest who are amazingly 46% of the way to beating their points total from last season (26).

The Stags came from 0-2 down against Maldon and Tiptree to win 3-2 at Cricklefields this afternoon in a match where both teams finished with 10 men. Harlow Town, Town's midweek opponents, recorded a great win at AFC Sudbury. The Hawks were 1-0 down but come back to gain the three points via ex Towner Lee Marshall and a Rhys Henry goal deep into injury time.

Another ex Towner, Dave Bastian, was sent off for Ware in their 1-2 home defeat at home to Thamesmead Town. Ware, Ilford and Maldon & Tiptree are the three sides without a win at present with Grays Athletic and Heybridge Swifts the only unbeaten sides left.

A full league table can be found here at the excellent footballwebpages website.

Town are currently in eighth position on eight points from five games. A comparison from the last three seasons first five games is below.

         P W D L GF GA  GD PTS 
2009/10  5 3 1 1  7  5  +3  10
2010/11  5 3 0 2  8  4  +4   9
2011/12  5 2 2 1 15 10  +5   8 
 

NEEDHAM MARKET MATCH AND WEEKEND PREVIEW

Steve Newing will certainly be looking for a positive reaction from the Enfield Town players following last weekend's FA Cup disappointment at Stotfold. In the Ryman Division One (North) you couldn't really think of tougher opponents than last season's runners up Needham Market who visit in the match to be played at Theobalds Lane tomorrow afternoon.

The Marketmen opened their season with a 7-0 crushing of Potters Bar Town and followed this up with 1-1 draws at Heybridge Swifts and a 2-1 home win against AFC Sudbury. The only blot on their copy book so far has been the 3-1 away defeat to the season's surprise package team Waltham Forest.

Last weekend Danny Laws side won 4-1 at home to Eastern Counties League side Felixstowe and Walton United in the FA Cup. Danny Thrower, Scott Chaplin, Danny Bloomfield and Sam Newson scored the goals. Newson who scored a shed load of goals last season has started this campaign where he left off with five league goals already. Four of these did come in the game against seven goal thrashing of The Scholars.

Of the squad for the FA Cup game last weekend there were a number of new players included that signed for the club over the summer.

Goalkeeper Andrew Plummer has joined from Irish Premier League side Glenavon where he had spent the last three seasons. Former Ipswich Town, Wigan Athletic and Colchester United defender Gavin Johnson has added a massive amount of experience to the side. He spent last season with Walsham-Le-Willows and also played for Bury Town prior to that. Another ex Bury Town player in midfielder Scott Chaplin has also joined.

Midfielder Deakan Napier signed from Soham Town Rangers (he was their top scorer and player of the year). needhammarketfc.co.uk describe him as a wide midfield player who is blessed with great pace and has an eye for a goal.

Danny Bloomfield signed this season from Wroxham. He brings to the club a wealth of experience having previously had spells at clubs such as Norwich City, Cambridge City, Kings Lynn and Lowestoft Town.

Three new players were also on the bench who have been recruited from the Eastern Counties League. Central midfielder Ryan Foster (joined from Norwich United), defender/midfielder Darcy De'ath (signed from Whitton United) and Duane Wright (signed from Hadleigh United) should also be involved tomorrow afternoon.

TOMORROW AFTERNOON'S RYMAN DIVISION ONE (NORTH) FIXTURES 

AFC SUDBURY           V HARLOW TOWN 
BRENTWOOD TOWN        V WALTHAM ABBEY 
CHATHAM TOWN          V GRAYS ATHLETIC 
ENFIELD TOWN          V NEEDHAM MARKET 
GREAT WAKERING ROVERS V REDBRIDGE 
HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS      V SOHAM TOWN RANGERS 
LEISTON               V TILBURY 
POTTERS BAR TOWN      V ILFORD 
ROMFORD               V CHESHUNT 
WALTHAM FOREST        V MALDON AND TIPTREE
WARE                  V THAMESMEAD TOWN 

Elsewhere there is a top of the table clash as Chatham Town entertain Grays Athletic. They are two of the four remaining unbeaten sides along with Tilbury and Heybridge Swifts. The Dockers have a tough trip to Leiston to keep their record in tact with the Swifts at home to Soham Town Rangers.

At Cricklefields The Stags will be looking to continue their good form when Maldon and Tiptree visit looking for their first win of the season.

BOROUGH DO WHAT TOWN COULDN'T

Two of the Spartan South Midlands League teams that sprung FA Cup surprises met last night at Roker Park. Broxbourne Borough did what Enfield Town couldn't do and scored four goals thanks to a hat-trick from Kerstun MacPherson and one goal from Leon Skinner. Seventy six people saw Stotfold lose 1-4 with their goal coming from Angus Stewart.

GOOD LUCK TO ENFIELD TOWN UNDER 18's

Enfield Town under 18's enter the FA Youth Cup Preliminary Round on Thursday night when they play North Greenford United at Theobalds Lane.

The Cold End wishes the team the very best of luck for the game. The winners of Thursday's game face a trip to either Uxbridge or Kentish Town who play tonight.



 

FA CUP - LOCAL UPDATE

Only two replays remain for local clubs tonight when Ilford take on Waltham Forest for the third time in just over a week and Haringey and Waltham Development welcome Biggleswade Town to Coles Park after an amazing 5-5 game on Saturday. Last night's replay results included good victories for Southend Manor (4-2 at home to Cheshunt), Oxhey Jets (1-0 at home to Great Wakering Rovers) and Hatfield Town (1-2 AET away at Enfield 1893). In the game at Goldsdown Road 1893 were 1-0 up in injury time when Hatfield scored to take the game into extra time with another goal scored 6 minutes into extra time to take the Hertfordshire side through.

Now the Preliminary Road is completed apart from tonight's games the following Essex Senior League, Spartan South Midlands and Ryman Division One (North) teams are through -

ESL

Haringey and Waltham Development *

Stansted 

Southend Manor

* depending on replay result tonight

RYMAN DIVISION ONE (NORTH)

AFC Sudbury

Brentwood Town

Chatham

Grays Athletic

Heybridge Swifts

Leiston

Maldon and Tiptree

Needham Market

Redbridge 

Romford

Thamesmead Town

Tilbury

Waltham Abbey

Waltham Forest or Ilford

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE

Berkhamsted

Broxbourne Borough

Dunstable Town

Hatfield Town

Hertford Town

Oxhey Jets

Stotfold

FA CUP with Budweiser First Qualifying Round Fixtures involving ESL, SSMFL and R1N sides

ESL

Canvey Island v Stansted

Southend Manor v Romford

Biggleswade Town or H&W v Waltham Abbey

The Airportmen face a tough trip to Canvey Island whilst Southend Manor's game against Romford will raise the question will there be another shock at Southchurch Park?? I'm sure The Boro will have other answers and will be well up for the game.

RYMAN DIVISION ONE (NORTH)

Leiston v AFC Sudbury

Needham Market v Ely City or Walsham Le Willows

Cambridge City v Maldon and Tiptree

Waltham Forest or Ilford v Hitchin Town

Heybridge Swifts v Lowestoft Town

Tilbury v Arlesey Town

Wingate and Finchley v Redbridge

Hemel Hempsted Town v Brentwood Town

Grays Athletic v Aveley

Shoreham v Thamesmead Town

Southend Manor v Romford

Biggleswade Town or H&W v Waltham Abbey

Sussex County League side Shoreham have already beaten Holmesdale and Lancing to get to the 1st Qualifying Round

Of the Ryman North teams only Needham Market, Thamesmead Town and Romford (possibly Waltham Abbey depending on tonight's result) face teams from below them in the non-league pyramid. Romford won't relish the trip to Southchurch Park after Southend Manor's early season form with The Mead facing a nice trip to the West Sussex seaside town of Shoreham. Needham Market face the winners of the Ely City v Walsham-Le-Willows replay played tonight. The pick of the games has to be the all Ryman and all Suffolk affair between Leiston and AFC Sudbury which is sure to attract a good crowd at Victory Road.

Spartan South Midlands League

St Albans City v Berkhamsted

Dunstable Town v Broxbourne Borough

Hertford Town v Oxhey Jets

Barton Rovers v Hatfield Town

Billericay Town v Stotfold

The good news for the Spartan South Midlands League is that at least two clubs will make it into the draw for the 2nd Qualifying Round as there are two all league games at Creasey Park and Hertingfordbury Park. The three remaining sides face tough away trips to teams higher up the non-league pyramid. With nothing to lose both Berkhamsted and Stotfold will enjoy their trips to Step 3 sides St Albans City and Billericay Town.

CLASSIC PROGRAMMES - LEYTON V ETON MANOR - 1951

The programme we look at today is nearly sixty years old as on Saturday 1st December 1951 Leyton (then of the Athenian League) entertained Eton Manor in a FA Amateur Cup 3rd Qualifying Round tie. The club notes state "to the officials, players and supporters of Eton Manor we again give a warm welcome with the hope that the elements are kinder to us today, than when the referee abandoned the game at the interval, when we were then leading 1-0". The abandoned game was played two weeks prior to which the Supporter's Club Notes stated 'it would of occasioned no surprise if the Manor had emerged from the dressing rooms singing the 'Eton Boating Song!" which suggests it must of been raining somewhat. The notes go on "It was a great pleasure to see so many supporters present in spite of the vile Weather"

There are also details about The Lilywhites FA Cup 1st Round Proper game away at Chippenham Town which was won 0-3. The Wiltshire side are described as a 'physically strong team' but late goals from Ken Facey and Len Casey settled things. Leyton had already beaten Cheshunt in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup and then a trio of local clubs - Eton Manor, Woodford Town and Walthamstow Avenue to play Chippenham Town, then of the Western League. They went on to travel to Chester (of Division Three North) who beat them 5-2 before earning a 2-2 draw away at Chelsea. The replay was won by the West London side 2-3. Chelsea were then in the Football League First Division and went on to the Semi-Final where Arsenal beat them.

'Tonight's the night!' proclaimed the the advert on the front page as it was the club's dance night at The Leyton Town Hall. "The Embassy Band under the direction of Bill Tedd will be in attendance" the programme details on the back.

The history of Leyton FC and football in the local area is somewhat of a complex matter over the last few decades. Enfield Town fans know that they became rivals of ours in the Essex Senior League and Ryman League up until their withdrawal last season. Here is a time-line of events which will hopefully explain the situation to those not in the know -

1868 - Leyton FC formed
1927 - Leyton FC beat Barking Town at The Den to win the FA Amateur Cup for the first time
1928 - Leyton FC win the FA Amateur Cup again beating Cockfield 3-2 at Ayresome Park
1934 - Runners Up in the FA Amateur Cup losing 2-1 to Dulwich Hamlet at The Boleyn Ground
1937 - Runners Up in the FA Amateur Cup again to Dulwich Hamlet. This time 2-0 at The Boleyn Ground
1952 - Runners Up for a third time in the FA Amateur Cup. Walthamstow Avenue won a very local derby at Wembley Stadium 2-1. Leyton must of beat Eton Manor in this game then.
1975 - Leyton FC merged with Wingate FC to form Leyton-Wingate (Wingate had moved East after losing their ground when it was demolished to make way for the new M1 Motorway)
1992 - Wingate FC move back to North London to merge with Finchley FC to form Wingate and Finchley. Leyton-Wingate changed name back to Leyton FC
1995 - Leyton FC merge with Walthamstow Pennant to form Leyton-Pennant. (Walthamstow Pennant were formed as Pennant FC in 1964 as a Junior side subsequently changed their name to represent Walthamstow when Walthamstow Avenue became part of Redbridge Forest in 1988) 
1997 - Leyton FC reformed and are founder members of the Spartan South Midlands League Division One.
2001 - Leyton FC win the Essex Senior League and are promoted to the Ryman League
2002 - A high court case rules that the reformed club have succesfully won the right to be recognised as an official continuation of the original club formed in 1868.
2003 - Leyton-Pennant re-named Waltham Forest FC
2005 - Leyton reach the play-offs in the Ryman Premier Division and narroly miss out on promotion to Conference South losing 2-1 to Eastleigh in the play-off final.
2008 - Leyton finish bottom of the Ryman Premier Division conceding a massive 123 goals in 42 matches. Just four league wins over the course of the season come at home to Horsham and Boreham Wood and away at Hastings United and Ashford Town (Middlesex). On the 15th December 2007 Hendon win 1-11 at Leyton.....part of a losing run in the league of 27 matches.
2011 - Leyton FC suspended from the Ryman League and withdraw from the competition.

Meanwhile, Eton Manor have been members of the Essex Senior League since 1975. Under Martin Chester they won the Essex Senior League Cup in 2008 and have been steadily improving after nearly two decades (1980s and 1990s) of finishing near the bottom of the table. They start their FA Vase campaign this Sunday when they play Essex Olympian League side Canning Town at Aveley's ground.

LEYTON-WINGATE V CLAPTON - 1983

A bonus programme above for the East London derby between Leyton-Wingate and Clapton... both were flying high in the Isthmian (then sponsored by Servowarm) Divsion Two table. The table as of January 22nd shows Leyton-Wingate top followed by Basildon United and then Clapton.

The final table saw Clapton crowned champions followed by Windsor and Eton (who made use of their games in hand) and Barton Rovers. Leyton-Wingate just missed out on promotion, despite scoring an impressive 111 goals throughout the season. They finished in fourth place.

Click on the photos to read more closely.