FC Lemsford of the Herts Senior County League Premier Division hosted FC Broxbourne Borough of the Spartan South Midlands League Division One at the Gosling Stadium in the Hertfordshire FA Senior Centenary Trophy on Saturday afternoon. The game pitted Step Seven v Step Six on the non-league ladder.
The home side had had a mixed start to their season winning two, drawing two and losing five of their league games played which have included a 8-0 loss against AFC Oaklands and a 6-2 victory over Chipperfield Corinthians.
Borough were relegated from the Premier Division of the SSMFL last season with Roy Bleau managing the side for his first full season having taking over last season following his successful spell in charge of the under 18's team at Goffs Lane which saw a memorable FA Youth Cup run where they lost to Aston Villa after beating Concord Rangers, Boreham Wood, Chester and Yeovil Town. He had been in charge of that team since they were under 10's.
It's been a struggle for his team to get points on the board in the league with only one win in nine which was an emphatic 7-0 victory over St Neots Town Reserves. They had also lost to Essex Senior League side Tower Hamlets in the FA Cup and Thurlow Nunn Premier Division side Great Yarmouth Town in the FA Vase. I had seen the 1-1 draw earlier in the season at Wodson Park during which I was impressed by the football Bleau's side had played and there was no difference on Saturday afternoon as his side were unlucky not to get through to the next round - The home goalkeeper made some great saves and should they have been awarded a penalty in the second half when a foul committed on the edge/inside the box...I still can't decide having watched the replay a few times...who'd be a referee? (Have a look at the replay from 18mins on the highlights below.)
Take nothing away from FC Lemsford who also worked hard in a very entertaining cup tie played in front of a crowd of around twenty people. There were seven present (including me at kick off at 3.04pm) but this increased during the game which a few more people turning up.
Lemsford took an early lead before FC Broxbourne Borough scored a deserved equaliser to make to the score 1-1 at half time. It was the away side who made it 1-2 from a close range finish with around ten minutes to go only for FCL to equalise almost immediately with a header from a cross from the right had side. They could of made it 3-2 when a cross from the right again allowed one of their players to put in a diving header only for a great point blank save to be made by the Broxbourne goalkeeper.
The final score was 2-2 and the game went straight to kicks from the penalty mark. The first one was blazed over the bar by FCB and another well saved by the home keeper with Lemsford scoring all four of theirs to make it a highly memorable 4-2 spot kick victory.
I was impressed by both sides and the way they played football. For FC Broxbourne I think it's only a matter of time before they pick up a few wins. They passed the ball well at times - I think they may score a few more if they put a few more shots in on goal and not play a pass varying things up with a few efforts from outside of the box to worry opposing goalkeepers. They travel to Premier Division Crawley Green on Wednesday in the League Challenge Cup before a difficult away trip to Ampthill Town on Saturday.
FC Lemsford welcome Sandridge Rovers to the Gosling Stadium next weekend in a league fixture which will be a dress-rehearsal for the second round game in this competition due to played on Saturday 4th November.
HERTS FA SENIOR CENTENARY TROPHY 2017/18
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
SATURDAY 7th OCTOBER
Bovingdon 1 Bishop's Stortford Swifts 3
Belstone 5 Cuffley 0
Sandridge Rovers 1 Hatfield Town 0
FC Lemsford First 2 FC Broxbourne Borough 2 (4-2 on penalty kicks)
Wormley Rovers First 3 Bushey Sports Club 1
Evergreen FC v AFC Oaklands (home walkover)
Letchworth Garden City Eagles 3 Standon & Puckeridge 0
Berkhamsted Raiders v Buntingford Town (home walkover)
Tring Town 0 Knebworth 1
ROUND TWO FIXTURES
*scheduled to be played on Saturday 4th November
London Lions v Wodson Park
Knebworth First v Berkhamsted Raiders
Letchworth Garden City Eagles v Evergreen
Codicote v Ware Sports
Chipperfield Corinthians v Baldock Town
Tring Corinthians v Wormley Rovers
FC Lemsford v Sandridge Rovers
Belstone v Bishop's Stortford Swifts
To mark non-league day 2017 there are extended highlights (26 minutes!!) of the game below including all four goals and the penalty shoot out at the end. Please watch, share and enjoy.
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