ARLESEY TOWN KEEP THE JAN ANDERSON MEMORIAL TROPHY

The Sun disappears over Forde Park last night

The Jan Anderson Memorial Trophy was played on a glorious summer's evening at Langford on Tuesday night.

The visitors from the Evo-Stik Southern Premier League (step 3 of the non-league pyramid) made the short four mile trip from The Armadillo Stadium to Forde Park to play the Spartan South Midlands League Division One (step 6) side for what was an entertaining pre-season game.

Langford were relegated to Division One at the end of the 2010/11 season and finished in tenth place last season. Manager Wes Byrne will be looking to push on and finish higher up in the table this season. Arlesey Town, managed by ex football league player Zema Abbey, will also be looking to improve on the 18th place they achieved in their first campaign in the Southern League Premier Division last season. They look to have a number of promising young players from what I saw last night as well as the vastly experienced centre-back Derek Brown whom came on at half time. His former clubs include Buckingham Town, Corby, Rothwell, Nuneaton Borough, Baldock Town, St Albans City, Kettering Town and Barton Rovers.

Summer Soccer - Arlesey Town half time team talk

The higher ranked side rapped up the game in the second half with two goals. One of which was a late penalty kick after an away player had been brought down in the box. The home side did have their chances to score with a shot from the edge of the box which grazed the outside of the post and Kane Dougherty's (centre forward signed this summer from Hertfordshire Senior County League Champion's Baldock Town) free kick which stung the hands of the Arlesey keeper. ITV commentator Clive Tyldsley drew some criticism and banter across the internet during his Euro 2012 commentary for referring to a Ukranian shot as a 'Whiz Banger'....if he was in Bedfordshire last night I think he may have used this phrase again in respect of Dougherty's shot!

The Jan Anderson Memorial Trophy is played for each pre-season and Arlesey Town were the current holders going into this match. Apart from that TheColdEnd unfortunately doesn't know any more information about the Trophy. If you do know any more information regarding the competition or who Jan Anderson was please contact me and I will duly update this post.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS BELOW