The Latest Musings

Musings this week not only cover activity from Preliminary Round ties of the Football Association Challenge Cup involving no fewer than thirteen of our member teams Saturday afternoon in addition to an extensive programme of league fixtures from both divisions followed then by a busy Bank Holiday Monday where, again, several of our teams, especially from the Premier Division, plus two Division One games at Ash United and Worcester Park respectively followed the following evening by two F.A. Challenge Cup Replays involving Horley Town, who entertain Shoreham (Southern Combination FL), and AFC Hayes, who entertain Bedfont & Feltham over at Farm Park, Kingshill Avenue, and, just for good measure, over at Krooner Park, Camberley Town welcome Badshot Lea for a Premier Division encounter.

All in all, quite an extensive fixture list to cast our eyes over hence the decision to place together 'Saturday Scene' from 29th August and also Midweek Musings from 31st August and 1st September.

Commencing firstly with detail of the Emirates F.A. Challenge Cup, Preliminary Round, news where, first stop, we call in at Hartley Wintney who, despite falling behind twice, missing a penalty just before half time which saw the offending Banbury United (Southern FL) offender Andy Gunn see the Red Card come out of the match referee's pocket for his offence committed, and then, as if that was not enough entertainment for the crowd, in the 70th minute, hosts Hartley Wintney drew themselves back on level terms. AND THERE'S MORE: Three more goals in the final ten minutes saw Hartley Wintney totally justify their place in the next round which will be against Fleet Town (Southern FL) in under two weeks time again on home soil. Duran Martin gave the 'Puritans' a tenth minute lead only for Ross Cook to level things nine minutes later. Following late first half events already mentioned, the teams went in at the interval all square. However, within thirteen minutes of the second half, despite being a man down, it was the visitors who rippled the onion bag again to make it 2-1. 69 minutes on the clock, all square again though thanks to Steve Duff. Sensing victory was well within their capability, Hartley Wintney, with a little help from Man Of The Match Ross Cook, for the first time in the contest went 3-2 up after 80 minutes. Five minutes later, Cook made it 4-2 as he secured his ownership of the match ball. And then, finally, on 87 minutes, final say goal wise fell to Ricky Johnson as he made it 5-2 to the massive delight of many of the 186 folk who attended and sought another tremendous win for Hartley Wintney which duly came on final whistle. They fully deserved, and received, great praise from not only their faithful folk but also from most of the travelling contingent.

Equally, folks, Tremendous Result secured by Chessington & Hook United who ventured over to Ryman League, Division One South, side Hythe Town. Goals in each half from Ade Oketoki on 32 minutes and Ahmed Hussain fifteen minutes from time saw them safely secure their passage through to a home tie with North Leigh (Southern FL) next time who made fairly light work of removing Cove 7-0 at the Oak Farm Fields in rather a one sided contest.

Great result secured by friends from Farnham Town in a brilliant 4-2 home victory against one of last season's F.A. Challenge Vase Semi-Finalists, namely Highworth Town who arrived at the Memorial Ground, West Street, Farnham, with a highly impressive Uhlsport Hellenic League, Premier Division, record which, as I write, read Played 4, Won 4, 12 goals scored and just one conceded. Next Stop for Farnham Town is an away trip to Tooting & Mitcham United from the Ryman League, Division One South.

Our fourth and final victors were Ashford Town who entertained AFC Kempston Rovers from the Chromasport United Counties League, Premier Division, where, to date, they sit just below halfway having recorded one league win and three draws from their opening four league matches and, last round, saw off Oxhey Jets of the Spartan South Midlands League, Premier Division. No doubt wary of how the 'Ash Trees' secured their passage through last round at the expense of hosts Wellingborough Town (United Counties FL) 8-1 on their travels, a repeat performance was most definitely not on their pre- match agenda. Result wise, all that divided these two teams was a 13th minute Mark Bitmead goal although, with respect to their visitors, Ashford Town on another day probably would have bulged the onion bag on several more occasions. However, this goal was enough to see them through where, next stop, it is a trip to either Romford (Isthmian FL) or Hoddesdon Town (Spartan South Midlands FL) who drew 0-0 in their tie and, for the record, Hoddesdon Town also missed two penalties in this match.

Assured of another place in the next round, Bedfont & Feltham battled out a 1-1 draw with visitors AFC Hayes and will replay Tuesday night (1st September) to see who faces AFC Rushden & Diamonds (Southern FL) next round. Likewise, Horley Town and Shoreham (Southern Combination FL) will do it again the same evening over at Horley Town following a 1-1 draw Saturday afternoon - a week after such saddening events on Saturday, 22nd August. The winners of this latter tie have, next round, been given a home tie against either Eastbourne Town (Southern Combination FL) or Whyteleafe (Isthmian FL) who drew 1-1 in their initial tie.

For Badshot Lea, a 4-2 home reversal was inflicted upon them by Fleet Town (Southern FL) over at Young’s Drive, Bedfont Sports went down 2-1 at home to Hanwell Town (Spartan South Midlands FL), and Chertsey Town found themselves on the wrong end of a 4-1 scoreline in their home tie with Kidlington (Hellenic FL). Spelthorne Sports, in the first of two successive trips to Northamptonshire, were swept aside 3-0 by hosts Cogenhoe United (United Counties FL) and will be looking for a better result when they visit Long Buckby (United Counties FL) next time round for an F.A. Challenge Vase tie.

Cove were well and truly beaten 7-0 at home to North Leigh (Southern FL) and Guildford City, despite putting up a brave effort, went down to an odd goal in five defeat over at Thatcham Town (Hellenic FL).

Our two Premier Division games saw Colliers Wood United go ahead inside the opening minute through Dan Harding paving the way to a 4-0 interval lead against struggling Redhill over at the Wibbandune Sports Ground. Further goals came via Charlie Emery (21 minutes) and then Mario Embalo Ogunseye all but wrapped up the points haul. However, Jamal Jimoh did give the travelling contingent cause to celebrate five minutes from time when he made it 4-1.

Over at Westfield, visiting midfield man Matt Ferdinando was sent off having received two yellow cards by the referee after 55 minutes for visitors Epsom & Ewell but they almost bagged maximum points when Kyle Hough netted on 76 minutes. Sadly though, his effort was deemed to be offside and, as a result of this, the game ended up in a 0-0 draw.

Division One saw C.B. Hounslow United make it five league wins out of five following their 2-0 win over at last season’s title holders Farleigh Rovers.

Eversley & California and visitors Dorking Wanderers Reserves put on a highly entertaining encounter which saw the home club Eversley & California take the points in a 5-3 victory; Brad Smith bagged four for the hosts and Matt Griffith the other.

Epsom Athletic were another Division One side to hit five as they romped to a 5-1 home victory against Ash United.

Over at Staines Lammas, they and visitors Banstead Athletic played out a 1-1 draw. George Oliode put 'Lammas' in front on 38 minutes but, just before the hour mark, Sean Bradley pulled it back to 1-1 which was how the contest finished up on final whistle.

Two goals in the opening eleven minutes set hosts Sandhurst Town on the way to a maximum points haul for the afternoon against Dorking in a fairly comfortable performance which, in the end, saw no further goals scored.

Finally, over at Sheerwater, a stoppage time penalty at the end of the regulation ninety minutes, converted by Lee Davison, saw visitors Worcester Park secure a maximum points haul from the trip.

Bank Holiday Monday saw a number of games fall foul of the wet weather that swept over us Sunday evening / Monday morning hence games at Chessington & Hook United, Farnham Town and Knaphill from the Premier Division all suffered from the Premier Division.

Looks as though Ashford Town deserved more than a 2-1 home win against Chertsey Town who took a tenth minute lead against their hosts. Several chances went astray before Jack Beadle levelled proceedings just before the hour mark. Bradley Wainwright ensured the 'Ash Trees' maintained their 100% record for the season so far when he notched a winner four minutes into stoppage time at the end of the regulation ninety minutes.

Two goals in the 60th and 68th minutes saw Hanworth Villa also maintain their impressive league start to the season against Spelthorne Sports; Jon Boswell hit his first for the club and then Ross Cheetham made it 2-0 which was how the game finished up.

2-0 down after 55 minutes, hosts Sutton Common Rovers, through a Liam Holden penalty and then, shortly afterwards, a Jay Holden effort, clawed their way back into contention in their home encounter with Guildford City whose efforts, prior to this comeback, came via Matt York on nineteen minutes and then a converted penalty on 55 minutes. However, with just four minutes remaining, Anthony Baker secured the points for the visitors.

Epsom & Ewell enjoyed a good 3-1 home win against Raynes Park Vale to complete the Premier Division Round-Up.

Division One saw Worcester Park completely destroy Epsom Athletic by a huge 6-1 scoreline on their own patch over at Skinners Field.

Tuesday night saw Bedfont & Feltham secure a mouth watering home F.A. Challenge Cup tie against AFC Rushden & Diamonds (Southern FL) following their good 3-1 result which was secured over at AFC Hayes. Goals from Jacob Lambe and Mick Campbell (2) completed a most satisfactory performance for the visitors and, despite having led 2-0, they were briefly pulled back to 2-1 ten minutes from time. Within a minute, though, they went down the other end and scored again to secure their passage through.

Fortune favoured visitors Shoreham (Southern Combination FL) over at Horley Town as goals from Kane Louis, Toby House and Dmitri Larin secured a odd goal in five victory against our boys on the night.

Just the one Premier Division game which saw Camberley Town run out 2-0 winners over Badshot Lea over at Krooner Park.

Finally in brief, the three Hampshire FA Senior Cup ties involving our sides saw Cove win through on penalties against Cowes Sports (Wessex FL), Hartley Wintney went out of the competition in similar fashion over at Tadley Calleva (Wessex FL) and, finally, Eversley & California won 3-2 over at Alresford Town (Wessex FL).