MR08

The free kick led to a corner which Jason Tucker sent over but home Captain Matt Kidson was unable to control, as his header flew some way over the bar. Wooton countered swiftly and should have been first on the scoresheet as right midfield Junior George eased past Jarvis at full back only to pull his shot across the goal and wide of the post. Hanwell winger George Maples then had a fantastic chance to open the scoring for Hanwell, having being played in by Dean Scarlett, only to be denied by the outstretched feet Wooton keeper Michael Dangerfield.

Kidson was then adjudged to have fouled Ben Baines, the Wooton captain, on the edge of the home box. The team captains private contest proved to be one the pivotal battles of the match. The free kick ultimately broke to King who on nudging the ball into the Hanwell net saw the goal being ruled out for offside. Then a golden chance fell to Junior George when he again broke past Jarvis after he slipped, this time shooting on goal but straight at Mackowski. Despite the warning King finally found his way into the referee's book after his third unnecessary foul in 25th minute.

Scarlett was booked a few minutes later when he disagreed with the referee after a coming together in the Wooton box being too keen to let the ref know his view of the incident. Junior George squandered a further chance for Wooton striking high and wide minutes later. In one of the best moves of the game for Jason Tucker fed Daley Joseph who played a neat one two with Blaze O'Brien, and running on to collect the return he saw his shot beat the post as well as the onrushing Dangerfield. The Hanwell lead was doubled in the forty second minute when an infringement resulted in a free kick just inside the Wooton half. Tucker floated in a high ball that Kidson rose to head in just before the punching Dangerfield caught him full on the temple, laying out the Hanwell captain in the penalty area.

Wooton made their intent clear from the restart by taking the play to Hanwell. On 47 minutes a high corner just alluded Tucker and was headed back across the box by King and Jonny Clark was the first to react rushing in to stab the ball into the net past a helpless Machowski. Hanwell restarted and Wooton right back Adam Jackson was lucky not to find himself joining King and Scarlett in the book when he went clattering through the back of Warren Williams earning Hanwell a free kick on the edge of the box. This saw a well rehearsed free kick routine as Dangerfield set his wall expecting the shot. Joseph played the ball to the feet of Tucker who flicked it out to an overlapping O'Brien who should have at least hit the target but dwelt enabling a last ditch covering challenge. So good was the free kick routine that Hanwell had the audacity to repeat it just minutes later from a similar position, unfortunately producing a similar result with Blaze again surprisingly failing to hit the target for the second time. It was full marks for artistic effort but none for execution.

It was Wooton who grabbed the equalising goal through winger Sam Donadio. Daley Joseph got the ball trapped under his feet in midfield having been all too easily disposed, he appeared to recover well, tracking back to get in front of Donadio as the keeper came out to collect. As Joseph and Mackowski dithered as to who would deal with the ball Donadio capitalised on the indecision, nipping in to toe poke the ball into the net leaving the Hanwell players embarrassingly still arguing the point. From a comfortable 2 -0 lead Wooton now appeared to have the belief. Their lead lasted all of three minutes as Warren Williams cut into the Wooton box teasing Jackson and forcing a foul and although the ball broke to Scarlett and as his shot only hit the post the ref called the play back for a Hanwell penalty.

O'Brien stepped up and striking low to Dangerfield's right Hanwell lead was restored. King was tackled heavily and limped off for treatment returning a few minutes later but was eventually replaced. The last twelve minutes saw a neat cameo by Adam Jaso who looked as though further Hanwell goals may follow every time he got on the ball. One maizey dribble, as he cut in from the right hand side beating several Wooton players would have been the goal of the game if it hadn't have been such a poor final shot at Dangerfield. As the final whistle sounded Wooton can take comfort that this season they at least got within a few miles of Wembley stadium, but for Hanwell it is on to the next round and a home tie against Aveley FC at Reynolds Field on 30 August 2008 3.00.

Hanwell began their home league programme with a comfortable, if slightly flattering win, over Biggleswade United. The opening minute saw both keepers get an early touch gathering tame shots. Warren Williams had some early success on the right for Hanwell and a good cross should have seen Biggleswade's keeper tested but Lucas Ciezarak headed wide. The opening half an hour of the game saw a tight midfield battle with the pace of Nathan Hilaire looking threatening for Biggleswade every time he got on the ball. United striker Emmanuel Langlais scuffed one of the few chances wide.

A flowing move starting with left back Fred Yebaugh saw a series of one twos move the ball quickly down the left hand side for Hanwell finding Blaise O'Brien who was skillfully marshalled out to deny any shot on goal. A further effort fell to the same player after Rowlands headed down a Tucker free kick but his shot was off target. Hanwell were beginning to have the upper hand and another good run by Yebauh showing his step over skills earned a corner. Taken short this was cleared by Biggleswade. The deadlock was broken on 37 minutes when a ball was played over the top to the feet of O'Brien. Biggleswade seemed to have enough defenders back to deal with it. Blaise chipped the ball across to Dean Scarlett who took the wrong option trying to shoot on the turn but the ball rebounded to the edge of the box for the advancing Michael Buckley to rifle it past Adam Lawrence for a deserved lead. Three minutes later the balance of the match swung completely to Hanwell when Hilaire was sent off for stupidly throwing Rowlands to the ground in retaliation to a strong tackle deemed fair by the ref. The final act of the half saw Biggleswade regroup and fashion a glorious chance for James Slack on the right of goal who with only Mackowski to beat fired over the bar for what should have been their equaliser.

Keeper, Jacob Mackowski was on his toes early in the second half tipping over an overhead kick from Slack. And Biggleswade keeper Lawrence did well to smother a shot from Dean Scarlett minutes later having being played in by O'Brien after a long ball from Tucker. Hanwell were by now getting on top and Buckley was having an increasing influence on the game with his strong running and diagonal passing. Some good work by Lucas Ciezarak cutting in from the right hand side played in Scarlett who again shot straight at Lawrence.

Now very much on top Hanwell forced the play and good work between Baverstock and O'Brien saw a pass to Ciezarak but his shot was wide. Bavestock himself had a shot tipped over by Lawrence as Hanwell tried to extend their lead. The resulting corner saw Kidson head goalward for O'Brien to nip in, his shot hitting the post for Scarlett's effort on the rebound to be scrambled to safety. O'Brien grabbed his second of the game as his understanding with Baverstock paid off after a fine run saw him played in to side foot the ball past Lawrence. The hatrick should have been wrapped up minutes later when another one two with Baverstock saw a tame shot at the keeper. It was Biggleswade who scored next grabbing their consolation goal in the 81st minute when substitute Martin Russell shot from distance beating a flying Mackowski, the ball hitting the bar and unluckily rebounding into the net off the keeper's back. Blaise finally got his third three minutes later after some good work by substitute Adam Miller, the final pass a clever ball almost inevitably being supplied by Baverstock.

The resolve of Biggleswade was well and truly over and they were lucky not to concede further in the closing minutes as Scarlett headed wide from a Buckley cross and Buckley himself almost on the stroke of full time saw his rising shot beat Lawrence striking the bar before going over. It would have capped a fine individual performance by the youngster only blighted by a needless yellow card for an altercation with Gary Jackson. The headlines will go to O'Brien (ably assisted by Baverstock) but some of the plaudits have to be reserved for the contribution of the 17 year old.

On a magnificent playing surface, ideal for good football, there was not much to chose between the sides in the opening twenty minutes during which both keepers making an excellent save with Jakub Machlowski turning over the bat a goal bound header by Dave Pigden whilst at the other end, Chay Morris was quickly off his line to block Lucasz Ciezarek's effort. We took the lead when good play down the left between Fred Yeboah and Dean Scarlett culminated in the ball reaching Blaise O'Brien unmarked in the Cockfosters area and he turned quickly before scoring with great composure sliding the ball past the helpless Morris. We began to press forward after this goal and it came as little surprise when we went further ahead in the thirty fourth minute when Antony Rowlands's long ball to the far post was turned back across the goal by Charlie Baverstock, giving Lucasz to opportunity to turn the ball home from close range. Cockfosters pulled a goal back two minutes later when a long ball forward found Dan O'Connor in yards of space and seemingly in an offside position but the flag stayed down and O'Connor raced away to slide the ball past Jakub as he advanced to try to narrow the angle. Five minutes before the interval we almost increased our lead when from another long ball by Antony, Charlie beat Morris to the ball but lifted it just wide of the post with the keeper stranded. However, a minute later we did score our third when Jason Tucker's corner kick to the far post was turned back into the middle by Blaise and Dean Scarlett had an easy tap in. Within a minute we went further ahead when Morris dashing from his goal completely misjudged the bounce of the ball after Jason had played it forward and he could only stand and watch as the ball bounced into the net behind him.

Cockfosters came out for the second half in determined fashion and we were very rarely seen as an attacking force and it was no more than Cockfosters deserved when Jakub was unable to hold onto O'Connor's low cross shot and Pigden was on hand to score from the rebound. At this stage of the game, another Cockfosters goal could well have turned the game on its head but we managed to survive this period of pressure and should have gone further ahead midway through the half when Michael Buckley fired wide after Blaise had found him unmarked on the edge of the area. Ten minutes from full time, we sealed our victory when Tucker's shrewd through ball found Blaise unmarked and he calmly chipped the ball past Morris to score his eighth goal in the last four games.

Meeting Essex Senior League Premier Division side Barking, we were held to a 1-1 draw after extra time in an entertaining cup tie and the two sides will replay at Barking on Tuesday night. Throughout the first half, play was very open with both sides creating chances and it was surprising that there was only one goal scored during this period. This was primarily due to some wasteful finishing by Barking and some excellent goalkeeping by Leigham Stone between the Barking goalposts. As early as the fifth minute, Stone made a fine double save from Dean Scarlett after good work by George Mapes down our left flank whilst at the other end Jason Tucker hooked the ball clear from our goal line after a cross shot from Jared Small had beaten Gary White. Another good run at the other end by Mapes culminated in Stone just diverting his low cross away from the onrushing Blaise O'Brien. We enjoyed our best spell of the game in this opening thirty minutes and almost took the lead when a shot on the turn by Charlie Baverstock beat Stone but Sam Dennis was back to head clear from the Barking goal line. We eventually took a deserved lead shortly after when a good ball down the line by Michael Buckley sent Mapes free again and his low cross found O'Brien all alone on the far post and he carefully steered the ball home. In the next five minutes, Barking might well have equalised on two occasions, firstly when Richard Whiteman in a good shooting position finished rather tamely and then after White had turned a long free kick by Dennis over the bar, Dennis headed wide from the resultant corner kick when completely unmarked. Five minutes before the interval we should have gone two up when Luke Kenny pulled the ball back into the path of Jason Tucker but Stone turned the ball over the bar and then on the stroke of half rime, Stone was Barking's saviour again coming quickly off his line to block Mapes's close range effort. Barking came out for the second half in determined fashion and began to take the game to us and it came as no surprise when they deservedly equalised on the hour mark, Sam Dennis unleashing a terrific left footed strike from fully thirty yards that found the top corner of our net. Play became rather scrappy with both sides searching for the winning goal and Barking almost notched it three minutes from the end of full time when Whiteman's shot flashed just wide of the far post with White beaten.

In the first minute of extra time, Barking's Jamie Murat was sent off for a rash challenge on Lucasz Ciezarek, a tackle out of context in what was a sporting game and a minute later Lucasz should have sealed the tie for us but with only Stone to beat he stabbed the ball wide. Baverstock them should have done better but he shot tamely into the side netting and just before the final whistle, Stone did well to block Charlie's shot after he had been set free by a good pass from Adan Gulad.

Forced to play a depleted side due to Jakub Machlowski having returned home to Poland and with Antony Rowlands, Chris Mills, Warren Williams, Daley Joseph and Charlie Baverstock all on the injured list, we were soundly beaten 5-0 by Ryman Division One North side Aveley in this FA Preliminary Round Cup Tie. However, had we been at full strength it is doubtful if we would have avoided defeat against a good Aveley side who produced some fine football on the excellent playing surface provided.

Aveley took the game to us from the start and we were rarely seen as an attacking force in the opening stages and it came as little surprise when Aveley took the lead in the 22nd minute, We lost the ball in mid field and it was played forward to Petrit Elbi who raced away to round our débutante keeper Gary White before slotting the ball home. Aveley went further ahead in the 36th minute when we failed to prevent a low cross from wide on the right by Glen Golby reaching the unmarked Joao Carlos on the far post and he had little difficult in turning the ball home. Shortly afterwards, James Louison was booked after bringing down the elusive Carlos and in the next minute, Louison wary of making a tackle was left helpless as Carlos rounded him before drilling the ball into the middle where Ben Bradbury applied the finishing touch. Three minutes from the interval, a long ball forward by Jason Tucker found Blaise O'Brien unmarked but he rather weakly just chipped the ball into the arms of the advancing James Marrable in the Aveley goal.

The opening fifteen minutes of the second half were dominated by Aveley and we were fortunate not to fall further behind when a tremendous shot by Joel Barnett struck our crossbar with White beaten and then Louison inexplicably passed the ball straight to Bradbury but he smashed the ball against our goal post much to Louison's relief. We began to gain a little more possession but without looking like breaking down the strong Aveley defence and Aveley went further ahead in the 67th minute when Carlos's driven corner from the left was met by the head of Garry Skerritt and the ball flew into the roof of our net. We then created our best chance of the game when some skilful play between Adam Jaso and Dean Scarlett opened up the Aveley defence giving Dean the opportunity to play the ball into the bath of Blaise but he rather wastefully drove the ball wide. Aveley's fifth goal came in the 88th minute when all we were waiting for was the final whistle to put us out of our misery, Wayne Vaughan sending a glancing header across White into the far corner after a cross by Elbi.

Travelling to East London on Tuesday night we achieved our highest ever win in an away FA Vase Cup tie when we recorded an emphatic 6-0 win over the home side. With Barking able to field a full strength side following the return of leading goalscorer Jimmy Noakes and Kye Ruel, we anticipated another struggle to match our close encounter of the previous Saturday but in reality this never happened as we were the better side from first minute to last and had it not been for some wasteful finishing in the final minutes,our margin of victory would have been even higher.

We took the lead after just eight minutes when a good ball by Charlie Baverstock inside the full back to George Mapes set up a shooting opportunity. George's effort lacked any pace but Leigham Stone in the Barking goal was only able to parry it to the feet of Luke Roodenburg who scored his first goal for the club as he turned the ball home from close range. Shortly after only an excellent tackle by Ruel prevented George from cutting in towards goal after a good through ball by Michael Buckley. At the other end, Steve Bourne drove the ball across the face of our goal but there was nobody up in support to apply the finishing touch. After Dean Scarlett had a goal disallowed for offside we went two ahead five minutes before the interval with the goal of the game. An excellent interchange of passes between Jason Tucker, Luke Kenny and Blaise O'Brien culminated in Blaise playing the ball through to Charlie who drove the ball past the advancing Stone. Three minutes later we were further ahead when a good ball by Luke found Dean on the edge of the Barking penalty area. He rounded Sam Dennis before trying to beat Stone from a narrow angle. Stone blocked his effort but again the ball ran out to Roodenburg who applied the finishing touch.

A minute later we made it five when from a short Mapes corner, Buckley swung the ball into the box and Blaise was the quickest to react stabbing the ball home on the near post. In the final minutes, substitutes Daley Joseph and Lucasz Ciezarek both missed gilt edged chances before Luke Roodenburg rounded off a good night's work by the team scoring our sixth and his third after an excellent through ball by Gulad Adan.Mention must be made of our central defensive partnership of Jason Tucker and Matt Kidson who ensured that Gary White had one of his easiest nights for a long time.

With a side only showing one change from the Barking game, Fred Yeboah replacing the unavailable Luke Roodenburg we made a bright start and should have opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Blaise O'Brien intercepted a weak back pass from Daniel Cole to round keeper Ashley Harris before crossing to the far post where Dean Scarlett somehow managed to direct his header wide of the empty net. Dean was again the culprit in the seventeenth minute when after a good passing movement, Jason Tucker chipped the ball into the box but Dean instead of shooting first time delayed his shot and the chance was lost. We eventually took the lead in the twenty seventh minute when a a good ball by Jason set Dean free down the right. He switched it into the path of Charlie Baverstock who in turn squared it across the goalmouth to the unmarked George Mapes who struck it past the helpless Harris for his first goal for the club. At the other end in what was a rare attempt at our goal, Jason Coughlin's quickly taken free kick drifted just wide of the far post. Ten minutes before the interval a free kick by Jason was headed back across the goal by Matt Kidson with Dean just unable to apply the finishing touch and before the interval we wasted another good chance when after a good run down the left by George and a low cross, Dean turned the ball back into the path of Charlie but he shot just over the angle of the post and crossbar.

At half time, James Louison replaced the injured Yeboah and five minutes into the half, a fine individual run by Gulad Adan took his deep into the Brimsdown penalty are but he was forced wide before he could get in a shot. Brimsdown grew in confidence as the game progressed and they almost equalised when a mistake by Tucker set up a shooting opportunity for Ryan Barker-Francis but he dragged his shot wide of the far post. Gary White then dived to his right to save a low shot by Junior Mumoni before we missed another great chance, Blaise being the guilty party this time as completely unmarked on the far post he headed wide from Luke Kenny's cross. Brimsdown equalised in the sixty eighth minute when Gary, hampered by the sun in his eyes, misjudged the flight of a high ball into our goalmouth and Barker-Francis was on hand to stab the ball home from close range. In the final minute of the game, Brimsdown almost claimed all three points when a header by substitute Glen Geddes hit our crossbar with White beaten.

With one eye on our FA Vase game against Halstead Town on the Saturday,we opted to field a weakened side with Jason Tucker, Michael Buckley, Blaise O'Brien and Dean Scarlett not included in the starting line up but we were still able to field a very competent side with Antony Rowlands returning after injury but once again our inability to turn our possession into goals proved crucial and on the night, Broxbourne who were much more decisive going forward than we were, deserved their win. Broxbourne took the lead in the sixth minute when an intended cross to the far post by Tony Burke swung into the far corner of our net past the stranded Gary White. We then enjoyed almost constant territorial advantage but without ever seriously testing Mark Virgo in the Broxbourne goal and the closest we came to scoring was when Luke Roodenburg shot just over the bar. Minutes later Charlie Baverstock might have done better with a header after Luke Kenny had picked him out with a chip to the far post. We then had a scare at the other end when the speedy Lawal Alhadi outstripped Gulad Adan in a race towards our goal but Gulad got back with a last ditch tackle just as Alhadi was in the process of shooting. Gary then did well to turn a fierce cross shot from Burke over our bar whilst at the other end, Roodenburg's shot after a good cross by Lucasz Ciezarek was deflected wide of the far post and from the resultant corner Daley Joseph shot just over.

Play was very even in the opening fifteen minutes of the second half at which point me made our first substitution, Dean Scarlett replacing Lucasz Ciezarek. Dean almost made an immediate impact shooting just over the bar with Virgo beaten and Virgo then did well to turn over the bar a fierce cross shot by Fred Yeboah from an acute angle. Adam Miller came on for Antony and almost immediately gave the ball away which was played through to Alhadi who's cross shot hit the top of our crossbar before going over. We made our third substitution with Blaise coming on for Charlie but it had little impact as the Broxbourne defence comfortably dealt with the long balls that we constantly hoisted towards them. Ten minutes from time, from a twice taken free kick on the edge of our penalty area, Max Mitchell scored Broxbourne's second goal as he chipped the ball over the wall and past a despairing White. In the last minute, Virgo denied us a consolation goal when he was quickly off his line to block George's close range effort. We will need to be a lot more inventive in our attacking play if we are going to avoid defeats in similar games to this in the future.

We said goodbye to the FA Vase for another season when beaten 4-1 away by Ridgeons Eastern Counties Division One side Halstead Town but were left to reflect on what might have been had a critical decision gone our way in the first period and had we taken one of the chances that we created during this opening half. We made the perfect start when after just seven minutes, Luke Roodenburg's low cross into the goal area deflected off Halstead defender Tom Devaux into his own net. For the next fifteen minutes we dominated the game and we should have been awarded a penalty when after a neat interchange of passes with Blaise O'Brien, Charlie Baverstock was tripped right under the eyes of the referee but he waved play on despite his assistant immediately signalling for the spot kick, a decision that astounded most people in the ground. During this period, the Halstead keeper Paul Wood did well to tip a looping back header by Luke over his crossbar. Halstead equalised midway through the half when we only had ten players on the field, Matt Kidson being on the touchline having a cut head attended to. We failed to clear a cross from the left by Liam Morley and Ray Turner turned on the edge of the area before firing across Gary White into the far corner. We continued to have the better of the exchanges and almost regained the lead when a cross by George Mapes found Blaise unmarked on the far post. Blaise knocked the ball back into the path of Kenny but his shot lacked any real power and Wood was able to scramble the ball away on the far post to prevent Charlie from sliding the ball home. Wood then made a tremendous save flying to his right to beat away Charlie's fierce shot and then did equally well just before the interval whistle to block Kenny's close range shot.

For some reason our second half play seemed to lack some of the urgency that we showed before the interval and we were fortunate not to fall behind five minutes into the half when Chris Bryan dispossessed Matt and sent a low cross into our box where Turner somehow managed to scoop the ball over our bar. However, our relief was short lived as on the hour mark, a strong run by Bryan culminated in the ball running into the path of Steve Daly who beat Gary with a low shot. A minute later Halstead scored again with Bryan again the provider giving Turner a simple tap in from close range. Halstead now seemed content to sit on their lead and we had almost all the possession but rarely troubled Wood at all in this period and Hastead scored their fourth goal two minutes from time, when substitute James Louison's back pass failed to reach Gary and Bryan slotted home number four to provide a scoreline that did little justice to all our efforts on the day.

For the second game in succession, we could justifiably argue that a refereeing decision had cost us dear when we were held to a 0-0 draw by Kentish Town. In the fifth minute Chris Mills was fouled on the edge of the penalty area but as he was going down he managed to prod the ball into the path of Blaise O'Brien who dispatched it into the Kentish Town net only for the referee's whistle to sound as he was in the process of striking the ball. The goal was disallowed and the resultant free kick for the foul on Mills that we were awarded was wasted. The referee's apology after the game for his mistake was of little consolation. In a very open first half, we had almost taken the lead in the opening minute when Matt Kidson's header from Chris's corner was blocked on the Kentish Town goal line. With both sides playing some good football on the excellent playing surface chances were created at both ends, with the elusive Karim Essiaaghi leading our opponents front line shooting right across the face of our goal with nobody up to apply the finishing touch. A good build up by Kentish Town culminated in Mark Doyle bringing an excellent save out of Gary White as he turned Doyle's shot over the bar. Jonathan Donoghue then fired a snap shot straight into Gary's arms. On the half hour mark we wasted a great chance to take the lead when Charlie Baverstock cut in from the right before squaring the ball back into the path of Mills, who with the goal at his mercy fired well wide. Another good passing movement involving Blaise O'Brien and Charlie set up Luke Roodenburg with a chance but he opted to play the ball back to Blaise now in an offside position and the chance was lost. On the stroke of half time, Essiaaghi wasted a good chance for our visitors when he fired over the bar from close range.

The second half proved to be a very even affair with neither side looking as likely to score as they had in the first period. Luke had another chance when Michael Buckley found him in space in the penalty area but he took too long to bring the ball under control and the ball was cleared to safety. With fifteen minutes to go, Matt Kidson's through ball found George Mapes in space but his shot lacked any power and Jason Hartles, between the posts for Kentish Town, was able to make a comfortable save. Almost immediately at the other end, Gary made an excellent save to deny Donoghue when it seemed as if he must score. In the final two minutes, both Hartles and White made fine saves to ensure that the points were shared, Hartles again denying Mapes whilst White blocked substitute Daneile Quattromni's effort.

We had much the better of the early exchanges and pinned our opponents back into their own half but we suffered a blow after just eleven minutes when Chris Mills limped off injured and he seems likely to be spending another period on the sidelines. Michael Buckley replaced him in midfield and he was involved in the build up leading to our first goal which saw the unmarked Blaise O'Brien turning the ball home on the far post after a low cross into the goalmouth by George Mapes. Ten minutes later, Blaise should have made it two when a long ball forward found him totally unmarked and clear of the student's back line but with only Matthew Tongue to beat he steered the ball wide of the post. However, three minutes later we were two ahead when an excellent individual run by Luke Roodenburg culminated in Luke pulling the ball back into the path of Charlie Baverstock who scored with a cross shot into the far corner. At this stage of the game, we seemed on course for a comfortable victory but the students had other ideas and they pulled a goal back on the half hour mark when Antony Rowlands failed to clear deep inside our penalty area and he was robbed by Daddy Moses, who was a thorn in our side throughout. Kieren Jimmy making his debut for us in goal did well to block Moses's first effort but had little chance as Moses seized onto the rebound and shot into the roof of our net. Five minutes later, Moses almost brought the house down with an audacious flick from a low cross by Gerald Kelly that flew just wide with Jimmy beaten. Their goal had given the students a great lift and they should have equalised when Kelly found himself right through with only Jimmy to beat but the keeper made a fine save turning his shot around the post. From the resultant corner, Jimmy could only palm the ball out to the student's skipper Chris Cox who volleyed the ball against our crossbar before we scrambled the ball clear. At the other end, the crossbar also came to the rescue of Tongue after Michael's shot had beaten him all ends up and on the stroke of half time, Tongue made an excellent save diving to his left to deny another Buckley effort.

Bucks scored a deserved equaliser three minutes into the second half when Moses squared the ball to leave Steve McQueen with an easy tap in from close range. Play was now swinging from end to end and both sides had opportunities to take the lead in the next fifteen minutes, the best chances falling to Antony who shot over after the ball from Baverstock's shot had rebounded off the post straight into his path whilst at the other end, Alexander Forward headed wide of the post after the ball had been nodded into his path by Kelly. We regained the lead in the sixty second minute when Luke raced onto a long clearance by Fred Yeboah and carefully steered the ball wide of the advancing Tongue. The student's response was immediate with once again Moses in the thick of things as he played the ball into the path of Perry Northeast's, who's strong cross shot was saved by Jimmy but he was helpless to prevent Cox from scoring the equaliser. It was difficult to forecast the eventual result at this point but as the minutes ticked away, we once again got a hold on the game with Mapes causing problems down our left flank every time that he got the ball and when McQueen rashly brought him down as he burst into the penalty area, referee Jake Hillier had no doubt as he pointed to the penalty spot. Blaise drove home the spot kick and we were in the lead once again but on this occasion there was no comeback for our opponents as we mounted attack upon attack and ten minutes from time, George got his deserved reward for his excellent second half display as he raced past three defenders before steering his shot across the stranded Tongue into the far corner. Minutes later only the intervention of Daniel Springett prevented Blaise from scoring again after he he had turned the ball past Tongue from yet another Mapes cross but four minutes from time,there was no escape for Tongue as Charlie got onto the end of another Mapes cross to crash the ball home from point blank range. In the last minute of the game, only the goal post prevented Blaise from completing his hat trick.

We almost took the lead inside the first minute when new signing Frank Wilson headed Jason Tucker's free kick against the inside of the Welwyn goal post before the ball rebounded back into the arms of keeper Wayne Simpson .Almost immediately at the other end Alex Scrivens prodded the ball just wide after a cross by Max Turner had found him unmarked in front of goal. We took the lead in the 11th minute when Luke Roodenburg capitalised on some hesitation between Simpson and central defender Andreas Pilides to force his way between the two to run the ball into the empty net. We then camped almost exclusively in the Welwyn half and it seemed only a matter of time before we scored again but the best chance fell to Scrivens when a long clearance found him clear of our back line but as Gary White advanced to narrow the angle, Scrivens sent his shot wide of the far post. Charlie got the first of his three goals in the 33rd minute when Simpson completely missed Luke Kenny's corner kick and Charlie coming in behind him headed home. Simpson then partly redeemed himself with a good save from Roodenburg's header from Michale Buckley's free kick but on the stroke of half time we made it 3-0 when George Mapes somehow managed to scramble the ball home on the far post.

Charlie should have scored in the opening minute of the second half but he shot wide after being played through by Blaise O'Brien and then Gary had to be alert to turn a strong drive from Turner aside. Simpson made good saves from Charlie and Blaise but was left helpless on the hour mark when a short corner between Jason Tucker and George resulted in Blaise heading home George's cross from close range. Six minutes later we scored our goal of the game when an excellent passing movement involving several players culminated in Charlie being left with the simple task of shooting beyond the stranded Simpson into the Welwyn net. We were now in almost cruise control and we made it six when Welwyn's Raff Kaphouris sent a dreadful back pass straight into the path of Blaise who confidently stroked the ball past the advancing Simpson. Our day was complete two minutes from time when another passing movement sliced through the Welwyn defence enabling Charlie to complete his hat trick and it was fitting that club patron Stephen Pound was on the ground and able to present Charlie with his deserved bottle of champagne as the 'man of the match'.

We produced arguably our best performance of the season in this 2-1 victory against an excellent Broxbourne Borough side on Tuesday night. The opening twenty minutes of the game was notable for some tremendous football from both sides, but with neither side able to create any clear cut chances such was the quality of defensive work at both ends of the park. The stalemate was broken in the 23rd minute when Gary White who had kept a clean sheet in his three previous appearances allowed a speculative effort from Bradley Drisdale to slip from his grasp over our goal line. Our response was immediate with Luke Roodenburg, who was outstanding throughout ,sending a shot just wide of the far post and minutes later heading just wide of the other post. Mark Virgo in the Broxbourne goal then made saves in quick succession from Blaise O'Brien and George Mapes. On the stroke of half time, Broxbourne might have increased their lead when a free kick by Tony Burke found Danny Ward completely unmarked on the far post but his header was well wide of the target.

Having somehow survived this onslaught we began to get right back into the game and both Luke Kenny and Jason Tucker saw goal bound shots deflected over the Broxbourne bar before we equalised in the 62nd minute when Charlie Baverstock beat Virgo with a shot across the keeper into the far corner. With fifteen minutes remaining Fred Yeboah was sent off after receiving a second yellow card but with everybody more than pulling their weight and we remained very much in the game, although Gary was forced into a very brave save at the feet of Nathan as play swung from end to end.

Beating the only unbeaten side in the League to date, Oxhey Jets, in a thrilling encounter took us to the top of the League table. However at times in this game it looked likely that Oxhey would return home with their unbeaten tag intact, such was the good fortune that they enjoyed when we bombarded their goal on occasion without being able to find the net. In the very first minute of the game, Luke Kenny rounded Oxhey keeper Dean Layton but then saw his effort from an acute angle scrambled clear from the goal line by Marc Ayres.

Oxhey took the lead in the tenth minute of the game when from David Maynard's free kick, Ian Holdom sent a looping header over Gary White into our net. We fought back strongly and applied intense pressure on the Oxhey goal but with Layton making a series of saves and some brave block tackles by defenders Oxhey survived, and our cause was not helped when Charlie Baverstock limped off,after a clumsy tackle from behind, to be replaced by Lucasz Ciezarek. Completely against the run of of play, Oxhey then went further ahead when a long cross into our box by Lee Grace was headed home by Chris Harding.

George Mapes who was a constant problem to the Oxhey defence in the first half then sent a low cross to the far post to reach the unmarked Blaise O'Brien, but Layton was again Oxhey's saviour as he blocked Blaise's effort with his legs from close range. Gary then made a good save to turn Jamie Arthur's shot aside before we scored in the second minute of added time at the end of the half. From a long ball forward by Antony Rowlands, captain of the day on his 200th appearance, Luke Roodenburg flicked it on with his head into the path of Blaise before racing into the goalmouth to head home Blaise's cross.

The opening stages of the second half began in a similar vein with us pressing forward but we were then undone by a long clearance down field which Holdom flicked on into the path of Karl Bull with a clear run at goal. Bull's shot thudded against our goal post but the ball ran straight into the path of Arthur who had a simple task to score. It seemed at this stage that it was just not going to be our day but just after the hour mark we were thrown a lifeline when Grace tripped George in the Oxhey penalty area and Blaise blasted home the resultant penalty kick. We equalised with twenty minutes remaining when from Michael Buckley's corner, the ball was again blocked on the Oxhey goal line but this time it rebounded to Blaise who drove it home. Three minutes later we got what proved to be the decisive goal, thanks to the opportunist skills of O'Brien as he flicked home Fred Yeboah's driven low cross at the near post to complete a personal hat trick in the space of just eleven minutes.

We began the game in excellent fashion and in the opening fifteen minutes penned Colney back onto the defensive and Blaise O'Brien missed a great chance to put us ahead in the tenth minute when a good through ball by Lucasz Ciezarek put him clear of the Colney back line but his final touch let him down, allowing the Colney Heath keeper Chris Eames to come out to take the ball from his feet. Having survived this early pressure, Colney came much more into the game and almost took the lead when Richard Howard managed to poke the ball over the head of the advancing Keiron Jimmy, but Antony Rowlands got back to make a great clearance from our goal line. However, in the thirty fifth minute, Howard who has scored regularly against us over the years for whichever club he has been playing for, seized on a mistake by Matt Kidson to clinically drive the ball past Keiron to put the home side one up. Colney now had their tails up and were looking the better side at the interval.

We made our first substitution of the evening at this point, Dean Scarlett replacing Michael as we increased our attacking options but try as we might we found it difficult to break down the resolute Colney defence with Luke Roodenburg getting little change out of the Colney captain, Ant Muthusamy. When we at last managed to get the ball past Eames thanks to the skills of Fred Yeboah, Dennis Paratusic scrambled the ball away from the Colney goal line. In the final fifteen minutes as we threw players forward in an attempt to get back into the game, gaps opened up in our defence and Greg Deacon shot just over our bar after a good Colney move. Five minutes from time, Jason Tucker needlessly gave away a penalty kick earning himself a yellow card in the process but Kieron made a tremendous save from Deacon's resultant spot kick. In the final minute, Keiron just managed to deflect substitute Dean Parratt's shot onto the post. When the final whistle sounded shortly afterwards, there was little doubt that on the night, the best team had won through to an away third round tie at Langford.

We made an excellent start to the game and took the lead in the 9th minute when Blaise O'Brien scored his nineteenth goal of the season as he capitalised on a mix up between Mark Wellings and Leverstock keeper Graeme Milner to round Milner yards from his goal before steering the ball into the empty net. Two minutes later Matt Kidson headed Michael Buckley's corner kick goalwards only for the ball to be blocked on the line by Ben Hammond. Shortly after Lucasz Ciezarek cutting in from the right sent a left footed shot just over the bar. Leverstock Green then began to get a foothold in the game and Lachlin Cahill sent a left footed shot just wide of our far post after a good link up of passes with James Armstrong. Matt Wardle should have equalised when Armstrong put him clear with only Keiron Jimmy to beat, but Wardle shot straight at Keiron. However, our relief was short lived as two minutes later Lucasz lost the ball in midfield and another good ball by Armstrong put Wardle through and this time he made no mistake from close range. Lucasz was injured in the move leading up to the goal and was replaced by Warren Williams who was making his first appearance for two months. Warren almost made an immediate impact cutting inside before shooting across the face of the goal.

In similar fashion to the first half, we were much the better side in the opening stages of the second half and regained the lead five minutes after the restart. An excellent ball by Luke Roodenburg playing in an unaccustomed midfield position put Warren clear and he squared the ball to Dean Scarlett, who worked tirelessly throughout, and Dean beat Milner with a firm shot into the bottom corner of the net. With Jason Tucker and Matt Kidson comfortably dealing with a number of long balls hit forward we looked very comfortable at the back but suffered another major injury blow when Michael Buckley limped off with fifteen minutes remaining to be replaced by A J Lewis which left us without a recognized mid field player on the pitch. Twelve minutes from time the home side drew level when substitute David Parkinson crossed the ball into the goalmouth. We failed to get it away and it ran clear to Armstrong who gave Keiron no chance from eight yards.