THE HEREWARD TEAMWEAR
UNITED COUNTIES FOOTBALL LEAGUE
General Secretary/Treasurer: Nick Haycox 12 Glenfield Drive, Great Doddington, Wellingborough, Northants. NN29 7TE
Telephone: 01933 278342 Mobile: 07879 036325 e mail:
web site Newsline telephone 09066 555 885
HEREWARD TEAMWEAR UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 244 APRIL 2010 PAGE 1
DaventryTown three wins from title
DaventryTown are on the brink of securing their first Premier Division championship after opening up a four point lead over title rivals St Neots over Easter.
Daventry’s eighteen match unbeaten run, seventeen of them wins, was ended by Stotfold’s 4-2 victory at Communications Park on 20th March, but Ady Fuller’s men responded with a sixteen point haul from their next six matches, in the process opening up a four point lead over the Saints with three games in hand.
Three wins from their last seven matches will bring the Denham-Parker trophy to CommunicationsPark.
A recent addition to the Daventry squad is experienced defender Arron Parkinson from Woodford, where he was part of the Reds’ title winning squad in 2006. He replaces Bromsgrove bound Chris Godwin in the Town squad.
Crowds flock to Huntingdonshire derbies
The two derby meetings of St Neots and St Ives attracted two of the season’s three largest crowds with 536 at Kester Way on 13th March and 401 attending the return at Westwood Road on Easter Monday. The crowd at St Neots was nine lower than in the corresponding fixture in 2008-09.
St Neots are continuing their bid for a first top flight title in 42 years and the Westwood Road derby draw extended their unbeaten run to twenty games, but with the season drawing to a close it needs a slip from DaventryTown if the Saints are to claim the crown.
Raunds rebuilding continues apace
Shopmates manager Ian Jackson has continued to introduce new faces to the KilnPark set up in recent weeks and wins at Daventry United and at home to Blackstones have given Raunds hope of Premier Division survival. Goalkeeper Richard Stainsby,utility man Stuart King and front runner Greg Smith have all been recruited from Grantham while other additions to the squad include Rothwell Corinthians midfielder Luke Bewers and Godmanchester front runner Josh Kamau.
On 26th April Kiln Park is staging a goalkeeping course run by the SellsGoalkeepingAcademy. Former Cambridge United keeper Malcolm Webster who coaches England custodian Robert Green will run the sessions from 6-7 p.m. for under 16s and 7-8 p.m. for older keepers. Interested parties can register on 01487-832390.
HEREWARD TEAMWEAR UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 244 APRIL 2010 PAGE 2
Rangers maintain winning run
Deeping’s form in the Premier Division has been second to none since the turn of the year. They are unbeaten in thirteen matches since a defeat at BostonTown on 1st December, and have won eleven of those games to give themselves a great chance of a top three finish.
Rangers’ success has been achieved with a wafer thin first team squad, which has recently been depleted further by the loss of defender Dan Holyoak and midfielder Jimmy Dean for the rest of the campaign due to injury.
Assistant manager Danny Hussey has recently been pressed into a playing comeback as a replacement for Holyoak, and the veteran even made an appearance on the scoresheet on Easter Monday against one of his old clubs Blackstones.
Motormen add to squad
Daventry United manager Darren Foster has been busy in recent games adding a number of new faces to a squad depleted by injuries.
Defender Duncan Harris has arrived at Royal Oak Way from Woodford, while former Brackley and Rugby midfielder Ross Oukton is another new face in the squad.
A couple of new strikers have also linked up with the Motormen, with Lee Vince from Leicestershire Senior League Lutterworth and Robert Crinigan from local outfit Bourton & Frankton both appearing on the scoresheet over Easter.
Two new faces for Spencer
Northampton Spencer manager AndyPeaks added two new faces to the Millers’ squad in the days leading up to the transfer deadline.
Defender Jerry Moss has switched from Premier Division rivals Long Buckby while young strike prospect Lewis Haycock has made the short trip from Division One Sileby where he made a huge impact as a youngster before being sidelined with a long term injury.
Haycock is teaming up in attach with old stager Kevin Slinn who scored in all three matches as Spencer put together their longest winning sequence of the campaign, beating Sleaford home and away before getting the better of neighbours Cogenhoe on Easter Monday.
Equally pleasing for manager Peaks would have been the three clean sheets kept by keeper Pete Smith and his defence during that run.
Young back between the Stotfold posts
Following the rib injured suffered by veteran goalkeeper Brad Gillham in Stotfold’s Bedfordshire Senior Cup win over Arlesey, the Eagles called on an even older custodian to fill the gap. Steve Young has returned to the Stotfold goalline at the age of 46! He made his Eagles debut in March 1986.
Young had been playing for Langford this season. He featured on the winning side in his first four games back with the Eagles.
HEREWARD TEAMWEAR UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 244 APRIL 2010 PAGE 3
Fox galvanises Burton into action
Burton Park Wanderers have appointed Kevin Fox as their new manager. The one time LincolnCity, Kettering and Rushden & Diamonds goalkeeper has plenty of managerial experience on the local circuit from spells with Stewarts & Lloyds and Whitworths. He has been assisting Colin Ridgway at Thrapston this season.
Senior player Andy Greensmith has been appointed assistant manager while recent signings by the new boss include Raunds front man Adam Taylor and ex-Desborough defender Dominic Piggott.
The new manager has brought about a change in fortunes at Cecil Street. After failing to win in their first nineteen matches Park Wanderers broke their duck by beating Huntingdon 4-3 on 20th March overturning a three goal deficit at the interval, and followed up with away victories, 2-1 at Rushden & Higham and 4-3 at Bugbrooke.
With six games remaining Burton are looking to get off the foot of the table, having cut thegapon Rushden & Higham to just two points.
Romans strengthen for the run in
Irchester have strengthened their squad for the run in to the season by recruiting Stewarts & Lloyds defender Chris Logan. The new man skippered the Foundrymen to their Premier Division title win last term. Also adding to manager Daren Young’s midfield options is former Desborough man Eddie Mills whose international clearance has now come through after a spell playing in Spain.
An Easter double over Peterborough Northern Star and BurtonPark left Irchester needing three wins from six games to carry off the Division One crown and the club’s first UCL silverware since 1932.
Improvements off the pitch have continued apace too with the installation of a new seated stand alongside the existing covered accommodation at the Alfred Street ground and the laying of hard standing.
Bicknell confirmed as Whitworth boss
Whitworth have now handed Steve Bicknell the managerial reins on a permanent basis after impressive as caretaker chief since taking over from Steve Orchard.
A recent arrival at the Victoria Mill ground is highly rated youngster Jonny Hazell who has crossed the fence from WellingboroughTown.
Premier pair strengthen Chenecks
ON Chenecks are the team of the moment in Division One after an eight game winning run left them with a chance of improving upon last season’s fourth place in the division.
Manager Andy Marks has brought a couple of seasoned Premier Division players into his squad. Left sided defender Jamie Wright has arrived from Cogenhoe while ex-Spencer front man Ashley Bradshaw was quick to make an impact at Billing Road with four goals in his first three starts.
Easter clean sheets against Whitworth and Olney extended goalkeeper Ben Garratt’s run of games without conceding to five.
HEREWARD TEAMWEAR UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 244 APRIL 2010 PAGE 4
QPR come to Robins’ aid
Championship club Queens Park Rangers have come to the aid of cash strapped BuckinghamTown who have recently formed a ‘Friends if BuckinghamTown’ group to improve the club’s financial position.
Buckingham skipper Chris Robson, a QPR fan, wrote to the London club seeking assistance and was invited both to a match and the Loftus Road club’s training ground, and met chairman Gianni Paladini and Rangers players.
QPR donated signed shirts and footballs for auctioning at the Robins’ fund raising day over Easter and have also agreed to publicise Buckingham’s plight in their match day programme and on their website.
Speaker of the House f Commons, John Bercow, has also been a recent guest of the club to discuss their problems.
On the field manager Phil Simons has persuaded striker Joel McCormick to return to Ford Meadow from a spell with Zamaretto League Aylesbury United.
Spurs legends draw the crowd to Hayden Road
Rushden & Higham staged a charity match for Marie Curie Cancer Care on 28th March, with a Weetabix Select eleven including Lankies boss Aidy Mann, taking on the Tottenham Hotspur legends team.
The Spurs side, which included Graham Roberts, Gary Stevens, Steve Sedgley, Micky Hazard, Mark Falco and current Potton coach Tony Galvin, ran out 2-1 winners.
A crowd of around 400 made profits of around £800 for the charity.
On the field the Lankies have welcomed goalkeeper Sam Foulser back to action after a spell on the injured list.
Sky Television cameras will be visiting Hayden Road on 11th April when the Lankies stage the Northants FA veterans cup final. The broadcasters are doing a feature on veterans’ football.
Thrapston go for youth
Thrapston manager Colin Ridgway has added a sprinkling of new youngsters to his squad in recent weeks. Goalkeeper Harry Allington and sibling defender Ben have both moved from Premier Division neighbours Raunds while Marc Harrison has returned to Chancery Lane following a brief spell with league rivals BurtonPark.
Roberts broken leg setback for Star
Peterborough Northern Star’s promotion showdown at Irchester on Easter Saturday was marred by the injury suffered by goalkeeper Richard Roberts, who broke both tibula and fibula in an accidentalcollision with Romans striker Paul Caswell early in the game.
Fortunately for Star Marcin Lubniewski has recently returned from a visit to his homelandPoland and will be able to reclaim his slot between the posts.
HEREWARD TEAMWEAR UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 244 APRIL 2010 PAGE 5
St Ives reach first Knockout Cup final
St Ives will meet fellow first time finalists Newport Pagnell in the League Knockout Cup final at Cogenhoe on 20th April after finding their goal touch to beat Daventry United 4-0 at Royal Oak Way in the semi final.
Declan Rogers, two goal Jamie Blackwell and Ricky Dear shared the goals as the Saints progressed.
Franklin steers Eagles into reserve final
The Reserve Divisions Knockout Cup final will be contested by Stotfold and Peterborough Northern Star with the Eynesbury the venue for the showpiece mach on 22nd April.
Reigning Reserve Division One champions Stotfold had been playing catch up in this competition but beat Desborough 3-1 in the quarter final with goals from Matt Franklin, Anthony Bowskill and Jordan Spencer before another Franklin strike saw them overcome Cogenhoe 1-0 in the ComptonPark semi.
In the final Stotfold will face a Star side out to put the record straight after losing 10-1 at Roker in league action in September!
UnluckyTown beaten in Hiller Cup showdown
DaventryTown narrowly failed to bridge the three division gap in status as they lost 3-2 at Conference North club CorbyTown in the final of the Northants Hillier Senior Cup.
Former Cogenhoe star Steve Diggin’s seventeenth minute spot kick gave the Steelmen an early lead but Russ Dunkley hauled Town on terms five minutes later.
Corby regained the lead through Brett Solkhon after 41 minutes but an even more speedy Daventry response saw Ryan Howell equalise a minute later.
Daventry looked the more likely winners in the second half but were unable to respond to Leon Mettam’s 73rd minute effort for the Steelmen.
Penalty heartbreak for Potton
Potton’s bid to win the Bedfordshire Senior Trophy for the first time fell short in a penalty shootout as Crawley Green ran out 5-4 winners on spot kicks.
The match proper saw the Royals take a second minute lead through Dean Hamilton, but Crawley Green equalised five minutes into the second half through Ryan Smart’s penalty.
Extra time failed to produce a winner and the Spartan South Midlands side edged the penalty contest with substitute Matt Dear’s sudden death miss proving decisive after Hamilton, Graham Tibbals, Peter Chappell and Tom Galvin had netted four of Potton’s regulation five kicks.
HEREWARD TEAMWEAR UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 244 APRIL 2010 PAGE 6
Cuckoos spring semi surprise
Yaxley will meet St Neots in the final of the Huntingdonshire Senior Cup on 3rd May at Huntingdon after springing a semi final surprise by eliminating holders St Ives at Leading Drove. Richard Challinor’s goal midway through the second half gave the Cuckoos victory.
First half goals from Shane Wyllie and Rob Hughes gave St Neots a 2-0 verdict against Ramsey at Cricketfield Lane.
Newport hope for third time lucky
Newport Pagnell hope it will be third time lucky as they prepare to contest their third Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy final in successive seasons.
After losing to Beaconsfield in 2008 and ReadingTown in 2009, the Swans will meet the Hellenic League pacesetters at Chesham on 13th April in a repeat of last season’s final which Newport lost 2-0.
The Swans outgunned Sandhurst 5-3 in a thrilling semi final at Willen Road. Darren Lynch’s early hat trick between the fourth and twelfth minute of the match ensured that Newport always held the advantage but the deficit was twice reduced to a single goal with further efforts from Richard Armstrong and Daren Dykes eventually securing a place in the final.
Eagles derby success overturned
Stotfold have been ordered to replay their Bedfordshire Senior Cup semi final against Zamaretto League Arlesey after bringing on regular reserve teamer Anthony Bowskill in the closing stages of their 1-0 victory. Bowskill was deemed ineligible because he had not played sufficient first team games prior to the match.
Paul Garrett’s 88th minute goal had appeared to have earned the Eagles a match against LeightonTown in the final, a repeat of the 2008 meeting won by the Eagles at Kenilworth Road.
To add the Eagles’ woes the semi had seen them lose Brad Gillham (ribs) and Ian Morrison (broken hand) to long term injuries.
Saints second string make it four in a row
St Neots won the Huntingdonshire Scott-Gatty Cup Intermediate Cup for a fourth season running as they demolished Somersham 6-1 in the final at Godmanchester.
Somersham, newly demoted from senior football, had no answer as the Saints handed them a footballing lesson.
Goals from Luke Swain after twelve minutes and Mark Oakley after twenty put St Neots in interval control and Kevin Ashby added a 58th minute third before Lee Bassett made it four seven minutes later. Steve Robson netted for Somersham after 69 minutes, but Shane Fox on 74 minutes and Andy Wale, with a spot kick two minutes later, rounded off a famous Saints success.
The sides will cross swords again in the county’s Benevolent Cup final.
HEREWARD TEAMWEAR UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
NEWSLETTER NO. 244 APRIL 2010 PAGE 7
Transfer trail
The season’s last batch of movers comprises the following:-
217.Harry AllingtonRaundsTown to ThrapstonTown
218.Jonny HazellWellingborough Town 2004 to Wellingborough Whitworth
219.Marc HarrisonBurtonPark Wanderers to ThrapstonTown
220.Chris LoganStewarts & Lloyds Corby to Irchester United
221.Ashley BradshawNorthampton Spencer to Northampton ON Chenecks
222.Duncan HarrisWoodford United to Daventry United
223.Luke BewersRothwell Corinthians to RaundsTown
234.Darren MaloneStewarts & Lloyds Corby to DesboroughTown
225.Greg SmithSleafordTown to RaundsTown
226.Richard StainsbyPeterborough Northern Star to RaundsTown
227.Jamie WrightCogenhoe United to NorthamptonON Chenecks