CHAPPS STOPS ROSE FROM GROWING
Bury Rangers 2 – 1 FC Rosemill
( M.Chappell 2)
Unbeaten in the league since 25th October, Bury knew that a win today would give them a hope of chasing the league leaders & opening up the title race. FC Rosemill would be full of confidence & felt this would be an easy 3 points, with past results always going their way.
Bury knew they had nothing to fear & felt it was an opportunity to show the rest of the league their new found form & team bond.
The game was underway with FC Rosemill taking the upper hand. Debutant Keeper Ipar L'Aimable having to be on the ball in his first game ever between the sticks.
FC Rosemill would continue to press the Bury backline though with no end product or shots on target. The formidable four of Jaggard, Conners, May, & Atkins showing why Bury Rangers have conceded so few goals this year.
Into the last 10 mins of the first half & despite the FC Rosemill pressure it was looking as if Bury would had done enough to go into half time level. However a sloppy free-kick given on the edge of the box allowed Rosemill a good shooting opportunity. With the Bury wall set the Rosemill midfielder cooly curled his effort into the top left corner of the goal. Half Time 0-1.
Bury went into half time knowing that improvements could be made across the whole pitch.
The backline had soaked the pressure well & at 1-0 knew the game would still be up for grabs. FC Rosemill came out a different side in the second half & at times looked shaky at the back despite their physical presence. The deadly duo of Stevenson & Chappell started to link, with Spanish midfielder pulling the strings in the midfield. Bury would up the tempo and be rewarded when good link up play between Stevenson & Chappell resulted in a tidy finish by Chappell to secure his fourth goal in two matches. Bury continued to press & both teams would now use the counter attack to try & grab the win.
Into the last 15 mins & Bury would now have the chance to win the game. A penalty awarded to Bury. Up stepped the ever cool Atkins who fluffed his chance with the keeper saving well to his left. Bury still wanted the win & despite a few half chances from the tiring Rosemill it looked destined for a draw. With the clock ticking it was again the Bury front two linking up creating a chance for red hot Chappell who tucked the ball away. 2-1. This lead to a tight last 5 mins & with Rosemill giving their all to equalize the final whistle went. Full Time 2-1
22nd November
GOLDEN JUBILEE
Jubilee 4 – 3 Rosemill
On a wet and windy Sunday morning Jubilee FC came up against league leaders Rosemill FC. Both teams had been in great form going into the game and this had all the ingredients for a thriller.
Jubilee FC kicked off the match and within 30secs had taken the lead in extraordinary fashion with a wonder goal from goalkeeper Phil Connolly who hoofed a long ball up field and with the wind behind it ended up in the back off the net. Both teams then had chances to score but it was Rosemill who struck back with a tidy finish from Justin Dean to make it 1-1. Both Teams had chances to take the lead and Jubilee’s Robert Denton and Danny Benbow were linking up well and causing the Rosemill back four all sorts of problems but were unable to make there hard work pay off. The referee then blew for halftime with both managers eager to rally there players.
Rosemill started the second half brighter and took the lead when Justin Dean grabbed his second of the match with a fine finish. Jubilee player/manager Elton Marks then decided it was time to make a change and brought on the impressive Joseph Benbow into the centre of the park to try and dictate matters. The substitution paid off immediately when Kem Mahmut making his debut for Jubilee FC equalised with a good finish from a tight angle. The game then became very tight until Rosemill were awarded a penalty for a push in the box. Paul Dring kept his composure and made it 3-2 to Rosemill with 15mins to go. Jubilee made another change and brought on Elton Marks to try and salvage a point. Jubilee then had two penalty shouts when Luke Kennedy went tumbling down in the box but the referee claimed the Rosemill defender had won a piece of the ball. The second shout came when Rosemills goalkeeper had taken out Joseph Benbow clearly in the penalty area but once again the referee never gave the penalty and waved away the protests to the astonishment of Jubilee. With the clock ticking Jubilee threw players into the box and Elton ‘Rory’ Marks secret weapon “the long throw” was causing all sorts of problems for the Rosemill defence. Jubilee then forced a corner which was whipped in by Austen Gash and up popped Rankin with a great header to make it 3-3 with only 5mins to go. Jubilee continued to apply the pressure and where given a free kick when Joseph Benbow was brought down just inside Rosemills half. With only 2mins to go this was surely going to be Jubilees last chance to grab the win. Neil Thompson swung a sublime left footed free kick in and up popped Rankin again with a bursting run into the box his first touch was exquisite then his second touch clinically found the back of the net to complete the amazing comeback and snatch all three points to keep Jubilee FC in the title hunt.
18th October
AC HERTFORD TAME THE LION.
White Lion 2-4 Ac Hertford
AC Hertford continued their fine form as they notched their forth consecutive win of the season.
AC known more for their battling mentality rather than their pretty football sprayed the ball around well in the midfield in the early stages. Paul Greenham had clearly told the AC that possession would be key in this fixture.
AC Hertford struck first when the Lion tried to clear their lines, the ball dropped to Sean Greenham whose low powerful drive was unstoppable as it nestled in the bottom corner.
The Lion quickly responded as a mix up in the AC Hertford defence saw Jamie Lancaster slot home into an empty net.
AC dusted themselves down and after a stern talking to from the side lines from Player coach Michael Bardle they quickly responded. AC earned a free kick on the edge of the box and up stepped David Blower who stroked a curling shot into the top left hand corner of the goal leaving the keeper with no chance.
The third goal came when AC showed off their counter attacking foorball. Glenn Stevens cancelled out a White Lion attack with a crunching tackle, he then sent Brad Lemair down the left wing who crossed for Simon Eaden to tap home.
3-1 at half time but the AC knew from previous experience that this was by no means over.
The second half started and both teams went looking for the crucial 5th goal like an express train. AC won the battle and after a goal mouth scramble Westy struck a fierce volley from the edge of the box to make it 4-1.
The white Lion did grab a consolation goal through Jamie Lancaster with 5 minutes to go but it was to be AC’s day as they moved up to the dizzy heights of 3rd in just their first season.
11th October
THE EAGLE HAS FINALLY LANDED
Spread Eagle kicked off their County Cup campaign in excellent fashion with an 11-0 drubbing. Lee Presland opened the rought with a rifle effort early on to make it 1-0. Clincal finishing saw Spread eagle double their lead not long after with midfield war horse Paul Bonner sliding a pass through to Dave Morton who scored with ease as he started his own personal crusade.
Wheathampsted upped their game momentarily and forced the Spread eagle to defend the best of there chances with John Lyons at the back was rock solid and he saw his side through there hardest perioud of the game.
Morton made it 3-0 from a scrappy corner and it was 4-0 soon after as Tony Bonner scored to end the first half in pole position.
The second half started as the first half ended . Wheathampsted's defence failed to cut the wings of the Spread Eagle. Dave Morton, the front man, went on to score a further 5 goals as the Spread run riot with ease.
Mark Blankley scored with a real peache of an effort after a Morton assist. The last of the goals were left to captain James Sadler to complete the rout. Merril supplied the through ball for Sadler to finish in a composed fashion. The result was the largest win margin in Spread Eagles history, and Charlie Newton ensured his first ever clean sheet. Spread Eagle 11 Wheathamsted 0. Victory.
Everyone in the club has proceeded to the 3rd round, the first time since 2001.
04 Oct 2009
AC HERTFORD SHOW THEIR CLASS
AC Hertford notched their second successive win of the season after a 6-1 victory over Buntingford Cougars in the first round of the league challenge cup.
The first half was anything but easy as Hertford struggled to settle in to the game. The first goal came from in form Brad Lemaire who sturck a 30 yard wonder goal on the half hour mark. Buntingford fought back though and soon equalised after a free kick was well saved by Freddie Doe who could do nothing with the follow up from Matthew Clayden. The first half was very even and Buntingford gave a great account of themselves creating a few decent chances which could have changed the course of the game.
A Stern half time team talk from manager Paul Greenham seemed to do the trick as Hertford upped the tempo going into the second half and quickly regained the lead with an excellent finish from striker Harry Laud. Barry Greenwood then made it 3 with a rare goal and the flood gates seemed to open. Next it was Sean Greenham who broke his duck for the season with a brave diving header at the far post. Brad Lemaire made it 5 with his second and Sam Jones rounded things off for Hertford using his pace to unlock the tired Buntingford defence. Manager Paul Greenham said afterwards he was disappointed not to get more after a string of chances went by the wayside including a missed penalty from the usually reliable Glenn Stevens.
27th Sep 2009
AC Hertford got off the mark in what will definitely be one of the most exciting games of the season. Manager Paul Greenham made a few tactical changes after AC had yet to record their first win of the season and it seemed to pay off.
AC started the strongest and after 20 minutes a tap in from Brad Lemaire on the back post made it 1-0, then Michael Bardle scored an absolute screamer with a free kick from 30 yards out what nestled in the top corner with the keeper at pains to watch it hit the back of the net. Michael Tebbutt then made it 3-0 after just half an hour after a run saw him slot home from what seemed an impossible angle. Rosemill pulled one back just before half time through tony Lawrence from the edge of the box to give them some hope going into the second half 3-1 down. As expected Rosemill came straight at AC after the break and made it 3-2 with a goal from Tim Dutton. AC quickly regained their 2 goal lead after Martin Durkin coolly rounded the keeper to slot home and make it 4-2. Rosemill were not finished though and clawed their way back into the game to make it 4-3 with Bradley James heading home and set up a nervy last 5 minutes. Brad Lemaire then got his second after a fierce right footed shot was just too much for the out stretched Rosemill keeper. Rosemill did manage a 4th from jedd Doyle but it was too little too late as AC Hertford took the points. Paul Greenham named Steve Joshua Man of the match after a very impressive performance at the back.
2oth Sep 2009
AC Medz 1 vs 3 Bury Rangers
(Atkins, McKay, Neal)
With the success of last week & a new found team-spirit buzzing around the club Bury Rangers FC were looking to start their run in the County Cup with a second successive victory.
With the opposition AC Medz totally unknown. Bury Rangers were forced to make a few changes from the previous week but were pleased to welcome back experienced Goalkeeper Craig Walker, debutant Westley Crouch & versatile Matt Mckay to the fold. It would be again Bury Rangers that would start the brighter with strikers Garry May & Andy Stevenson creating the early chances.
With the Bury pressure continuing it would perhaps take some effect on the AC Medz Goalkeeper, who would stupidly be penalised for hand ball on the outside of his own box from what would normally be a routine drop kick. This left Bury with a dangerous free-kick opportunity from around 20 yards out. Who better than man of the moment Danny Atkins to step up & sweetly curl the ball into the top corner 1-0. Bury would now continue to dominate however a defensive mix-up carved an opening for AC Medz Striker, who with a 30 yard shot saw his effort well-saved by Walker only to be rewarded when the rebound header was turned into his own net by the unfortunate Tom Neal 1-1.
Bury were not going to let this get the team down & the response would be to continue to attack the AC Medz defensive line. A series of corners would then result in Bury regaining the lead with a well worked corner cleverly finished by the returning Mckay. Half Time 2-1.
Into the second half & AC Medz would look to equalize, but would find it hard to break the Bury back line once more. Again Bury would look to kill the game off but chance after chance would go by and it would now send the match into a tight finish. Into the last 15mins & it would be a corner that would provide the match winner. A well taken corner from debutant Westley Crouch was powerfully headed in by Tom Neal, who was pleased to make up for his earlier mistake. Full Time 3-1.
12th Sep 2009
New Riverside 0 vs 3 Bury Rangers
(Atkins (2), Chappell)
After an intense pre-season programme, Bury Rangers were looking to kick start their new season with a win. With a squad of 14 to choose from and no recognised keeper it was left to the new management team with a selection headache. However with the team chosen it was perhaps Bury who made the brighter starter. A good early spell of possession lead to a few half chances, but Bury were finding the New Riverside backline hard to break down.
As the first half continued it was New Riverside who began to threat, hitting the bar & testing the keeper with a couple of close range efforts.
With the deadlock yet to be broken it was going to take something special for either team to score & who better than newly installed captain Danny Atkins to set the example.
Atkins picked the ball up in the middle of the New Riverside half, looked up & struck the ball sweetly, in off the post from 30 yards. Bury Rangers now had an increase in confidence & soon followed up with a second. Good work on the left from Player/Manager Matt Chappell resulting in a tidy finish into the bottom corner. Half Time 2-0
Into the second half & New Riverside started the slightly stronger although never really looked like threatening substitute keeper Steve Humphries. With 10 mins gone, there would be a pivotal moment in the match. A goal mouth scramble would create perhaps the killer blow for New Riverside. Keni Barraclough’s flash-shot catching the opponents arm with the result a penalty & the defender given his marching orders for preventing a clear cut goal. Up stepped the ever confident Atkins who calmly struck the ball home from 12 yards. 3-0. By now the damage had been done & despite New Riversides best efforts the game remained 3-0.