Maldon Town 4 Cornard United 1

Tuesday 28th January 1997
Maldon Town 4 Cornard United 1
Jewson League Division 1
At: Wallace Binder Ground
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Admission: £2; Programme: 50p (28 pages)
Attendance: 70 (headcount)
Weather: cold, thickening fog


As the scoreline suggests, Maldon dominated this match and recorded a comfortable win over visitors Cornard United.

The Wallace Binder Ground on Park Drive is a relatively new stadium opened in 1994. The pitch has hard standing all round the perimeter with seats in a stand in front of the clubhouse. Opposite is an area of covered standing and some uncovered terrace steps behind the left-hand goal.

Maldon took a second-minute lead when Scott Witney met a cross from the right and sent a downward header into the bottom-left corner from eight yards out.

The visitors responded and equalised in the 12th minute. David Gipp received an indirect free-kick taken on the edge of the six-yard box and drove home through a crowd of players.

Steve Card regained the lead for Maldon in first-half stoppage time. He finished a surging run from midfield with a low shot from 10 yards as Cornard goalkeeper Steve Featherstone left his line to attempt a save.

The lead was extended just after the hour mark through Alex Fiddes who hooked the ball past Featherstone from six yards out following a run to the right bye-line and cross by Witney.

Card scores Maldon’s fourth goal and his second of the game in stoppage time at the end, this time slotting home a loose ball after his initial shot was blocked.

Maldon Town (blue and white hoops / blue / blue and white hoops): 1. Danny Clare, 2. Matt Dowse, 3. Judd Coe, 4. Simon Arnold, 5. Andy Potter, 6. Scott Witney, 7. Danny Stanley, 8. Steve Pashley, 9. Neil Harris, 10. Steve Card, 11. Alex Fiddes. Subs: 12. Danny Large (for Coe, 71), 14. Danny Snowshill (for Pashley, 81), 15. Scott Phillip (for Witney, 75).

Cornard United (white / navy blue / white): 1. Steve Featherstone, 2. John Cullen, 3. Keith Featherstone, 4. Rob Sievey, 5. Stephen Arnold, 6. Andy McLaughlin, 7. Paul Northcott, 8. David Gipp, 9. Damon Crick, 10. Peter Coffill, 11. Mark Elliot. Subs: 12. Andy Prentice (for Elliot, 31), 14. Colin Athey (not used), 15. Jason Stalker (not used).

Referee: Mark Maynard.

Goals:
1-0 Scott Witney (2)
1-1 David Gipp (12)
2-1 Steve Card (45+2)
3-1 Alex Fiddes (65)
4-1 Steve Card (90+3)

Cards:
Maldon: Steve Card (YC, 13), Judd Coe (YC, 69)
Cornard: Stephen Arnold (YC, 34)

Raunds Town 3 Stafford Rangers 1

Saturday 25th January 1997
Raunds Town 3 Stafford Rangers 1
Dr Martens League Midland Division
At: Kiln Park
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £4; Programme: 50p (60 pages)
Attendance: 145
Weather: sunny


Raunds Town turned out to be a far better side that their league position suggested and took full advantage of a poor Stafford performance to record a 3-1 victory.

Raunds Town (red and black halves / black / black): 1. JohnHughes, 2. Noel Luke, 3. Ashley Carr, 4. Darryl Page, 5. John Flower, 6. Martin Lewis, 7. Ian Pearce, 8. Paul York, 9. Shaun Keeble, 10. Jimmy Simpson, 11. Stuart Beards. Subs: 12. Donovan Gethfield (for York, 82), 14. Ian McInerney (for Keeble, 82), 15. Robert Gould (for Beards, 88).

Stafford Rangers (blue/blue/blue): 1. Steve Perks, 2. Nathan Foster, 3. Steve Jones, 4. Farrell Kilbane, 5. Paul Bywater, 6. Darren Boughey, 7. Iain Sankey, 8. Allan Somerville, 9. Richard Mitchell, 10. Jason Yates, 11. Ian Banks. Subs: 12. Paul Line (for Foster, 39), 14. Steve Clifford (for Line, 64), 15. Chris Brandon (not used).

Referee: J. R. Hubbard (Leicester).

Goals:
0-1 Ian Banks (36)
1-1 John Flower (52)
2-1 Shaun Keeble (58)
3-1 Stuart Beards (64)

Cards:
Raunds: Stuart Beards (YC, 45)
Stafford: Darren Boughey (YC, 80)

Potton 2 Leighton Town 0

Tuesday 21st January 1997
Potton 2 Leighton Town 0
Bedfordshire Senior Cup Second Round
At: The Hollow, Biggleswade Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £2; Programme 50p (32 pages)
Attendance: 75 (headcount)
Weather: cold, dry


Potton of the uhlsport United Counties League Premier Division progressed into the Bedfordshire Senior Cup semi-finals to face either Wootton Blue Cross or Kempston Rovers at the expense of ICIS League Division 2 side Leighton Town. They needed a bit of luck to take the lead in the 12th minute. Dave Fenton’s low angled shot that was heading wide of the right-hand post struck Dean Chapman, sending the ball into the opposite corner wrong-footing keeper James Heeps. Potton’s second goal was a bit special in the 42nd minute. Fed by Fenton, Clive Woodland rounded Heeps slotted the ball home from a narrow angle on the left side of the area.

Potton (blue/blue/blue): 1. Keely Thake, 2. Tim Chapman, 3. Gary Hartwell, 4. Glen Crook, 5. Dave Fenton, 6. Ian Trott, 7. Kevin Turner, 8. Gary Houghton, 9. Dean Chapman, 10. Bobby Herdman-Smith, 11. Clive Woodland. Subs: 12. Adrian Mapletoft (for Herdman-Smith, 85), 14. Kevin Murphy (not used), 15. Cliff Lamptey (not used).

Leighton Town (red and white stripes / white / red): 1. James Heeps, 2. Ken Hollis, 3. Greg Pearson, 4. Craig McIntosh, 5. Steve Shea, 6. Mark Weedon, 7. Marc Andrews, 8. Nicky Sweetman, 9. Bradley Anderson, 10. Mark Watkins, 11. Craig Johnstone. Subs: 12. Gavin Jaggard (not used), 14. Keith Cooper (not used), 15. Justin Old (for Shea, 66).

Referee: R. Dodge (Luton).

Goals:
1-0 Dean Chapman (12)
2-0 Clive Woodland (42)

Cards:
Potton: Dean Chapman (YC, 63), Kevin Turner (YC, 68)
Leighton: Nicky Sweetman (YC, 50)

Wootton Blue Cross 1 Wellingborough Town 1

Saturday 18th January 1997
Wootton Blue Cross 1 Wellingborough Town 1
uhlsport United Counties League Premier Division
At: Weston Park
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £2; Programme: 20p (20 pages)
Attendance: 40 (headcount)
Weather: mild, cloudy


Wellingborough played really well during the first half and took the lead in the 12th minute. Brett Dixon won a tackle with John Searle on the left and took the ball forward five yards before firing home a right-foot drive from the edge of the area. Wootton got back into the game with a 38th-minute equaliser. David Robertson drove the ball past Wellingborough goalkeeper Stuart Knight from six yards out after John Willetts headed back Kevin Moul’s deep cross from near to the left corner flag. Wellingborough should have won this one.

Wootton Blue Cross (blue and white stripes / white / blue): 1. Martin Baker, 2. John Searle, 3. Kevin Moul, 4. Stuart Holmes, 5. Shaun Staplehurst, 6. Andrew Carey, 7. Andrew Watt, 8. David Robertson, 9. Rodney Griffiths, 10. John Willietts, 11. Gary Clarke. Subs: 12. Kevin Goodeve (for Griffiths, 83).

Wellingborough Town (red with white sleeves / red/ red and white hoops): 1. Stuart Knight, 2. Graham Knight, 3. Paul James, 4. Dave Botterill, 5. Brett Dixon, 6. Wayne Humphries, 7. Ryan Seaman, 8. Tyrone Kent, 9. Danny Hines, 10. Danny Kiernan, 11. Barrington Leslie. Subs: 12. Jamie Howe (not used), 14. Gary Kiernan (not used), 15. Darren McBride (not used).

Referee: D. McMorrow (Houghton Regis).

Goals:
0-1 Brett Dixon (12)
1-1 David Roberston (38)

Cards:
Wootton: None.
Wellingborough: Barrington Leslie (YC, 66)

Walton Casuals 1 Merstham 1

Saturday 11th January 1997
Walton Casuals 1 Merstham 1
Courage Combined Counties League
At: Franklyn Road Sports Ground
Kick-off: 2-00 pm
Admission: £1; Programme: 50p (28 pages)
Attendance: 50 (headcount)
Weather: cold, drizzle


A short trip to see hosts Walton Casuals record their first league draw of the season on my first visit to the ground.

Both sides have been struggling this season and went into this game languishing near the foot of the 20-team table. Casuals (18 points from 21 games) occupied 17th position with visitors Merstham (17 points from 20 games) immediately below with a game in hand.

Casuals, looking for a third straight win, took the lead in the 16th minute. Danny Nicholson received a short pass from Roland Hockin and hit a low angled 15-yard shot into the bottom right corner of the net.

Merstham were allowed back into the game after the break by complacent play from the home side and equalised midway through the second half. Reserve team keeper Steve Trippt, deputising for regular Steve Crozier, dropped a bouncing throughball under pressure from attackers Andy Smith and Justin Jones. Smith was left with the simple task of walking the ball into an empty net.

The Franklyn Road Sports Ground boasted a stand in front of the clubhouse and a fully railed-off pitch. There were no floodlights.

Walton Casuals (orange and white quarters / white / white): 1. Steve Trippit, 2. Michael Kennedy, 3. Gary Millar, 4. Graham Elliott, 5. Richard Murray, 6. Darren Legg, 7. Dave Francis, 8. Salvatore Costanzo, 9. Danny Nicholson, 10. Roland Hockin, 11. Mark Postins. Subs: 12. Steve Flack (for Elliott, 75), 14. Greg Tree (for ), 15. Rob Fraser (not used).

Merstham (yellow/white/yellow): 1. L. Satchell, 2. Brain Jupp, 3. Peter Turner, 4. Dave Mizon, 5. Nigel Charman, 6. Mervyn Nesbitt, 7. C. Scott, 8. Justin Jones, 9. Steve Elliott, 10. Andy Smith, 11. Andy Renton. Subs: 12. Stuart Bone (for Nesbitt, 60), 14. G. Bone (for Scott, 72), 15. C. Stewart (not used).

Referee: Kevin Batchelor (Cippenham).

Goals:
1-0 Danny Nicholson (16)
1-1 Andy Smith (67)

Cards:
None.

Feltham 2 Bedfont 3

Wednesday 1st January 1997
Feltham 2 Bedfont 3
Courage Combined Counties League
At: Feltham Sports Arena
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £2-50; Programme: 50p (24 pages)
Attendance: 60 (headcount)
Weather: very cold, dry


Feltham’s artificial pitch was the only destination of a very cold afternoon, even though I’d previously visited the ground in September 1991.

Both Feltham (9th position with 29 points from 18 games) and Bedfont (4th position with 37 points from 21 games) are enjoying a decent season, with Bedfont being a form side gaining 15 points from their last six games.

Befont missed a host of first-half chances before the closing stages proved to be eventful for Feltham’s Paul Edghill. He put his side in front in the 38th minute with a close-range shot from Anthony Clarke’s pull-back from the right. But, having already been booked, Edghill received a second yellow card two minutes later for dissent.

In the 59th minute, the ten men of Feltham doubled their advantage through Lee Channell. He received a throughball from Jimmy Moussi and hit a right foot drive on the run from 10 yards which Andrew Hoare got his hands to.

Bedfont started their eventually successful comeback with a long-range strike from Phil George who sent a 25-yard right-foot drive into the bottom-right corner following a poor clearance by Colin Ryder. They levelled tings up midway through the second half when Derek Brown, put clear by Bobby Watson, finished with a low shot from 15 yards out.

The winner came in the 76th minute to complete Bedfont’s comeback. David Logie was on target with a low right-foot drive from just eight yards out.

Feltham (blue and white halves / blue / blue): 1. Colin Ryder, 2. David Patience, 3. Lyazid Hadj-Lakehal, 4. Matthew Rice, 5. Kevin Bere, 6. Jason Baigent, 7. Tom Donegan, 8. Jimmy Moussi, 9. Lee Channell, 10. Paul Edghill, 11. Anthony Clarke. Subs: 12. Oludotun Olufawo For Donegan, 79), 14. Nick Aumonier (for Baigent, 79), 15. Robbie Blood (not used).

Bedfont (yellow/yellow/yellow): 1. Andrew Hoare, 2. Lynden Buckwell, 3. Cliff Williamson, 4. Simon Eyles, 5. Kevin Archer, 6. Stefan Elekes, 7. Phil George, 8. Paul Clarke, 9. Derek Brwon, 10. Bobby Watson, 11. David Logie. Subs: 12. Alan Stevenson (not used), 14. Gary Jenkins (for Elekes, 79).

Referee: Mark Wilkinson (Camberley).

Goals:
1-0 Paul Edghill (38)
2-0 Lee Channell (59)
2-1 Phil George (63)
2-2 Derek Brown (69)
2-3 David Logie (76)

Cards:
Feltham: Paul Edghill (YC, 21), Jimmy Moussi (YC, 38), Paul Edghill (YC/RC, 40)
Bedfont: Paul Clarke (YC, 42)