Eynesbury Rovers

[Rhodes]

An excellent 7-3 win for Eynesbury Rovers last Tuesday evening in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round, they will now travel to Eastern Counties League Premier Division Ely City in the Preliminary Round on Saturday 12 September:  

Tuesday 1 September 2020

FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round 

EYNESBURY ROVERS 7 DESBOROUGH TOWN 3

What a curtain raiser this was to the new season. After almost six months COVID delayed action, competitive football was back with Eynesbury and Desborough producing a spectacular FA Cup display to show what we all had been missing. Visitors Desborough led three times in a breathless first half, only for hosts Eynesbury to storm back in a spectacular second half with five goals to reach the next round of this famous old competition. It was a non-stop competitive exhibition of football for which the competition is famed and sent even the losing fans home, if not happy, then glad that football is back. Rovers had man of the match Jordan Brown in devastating form with four direct assists plus a spectacular goal of his own and there was a memorable hat trick for striker James Hatch.
There was entertainment from the first whistle as the sides displayed their respective attacking approaches. After Jordan Brown had cut in from the left to see his early effort blocked the visitors made the best of their first attack after 7 minutes when Barnes Gladman converted a right-wing cross from close range. Two minutes later Rovers were back in the match as James Hatch converted a Brown cross to level the scores. The end-to-end action continued when the visitors regained the lead after 25 minutes as the home keeper could only parry a fierce drive and substitute Danny Wells was quickly in to tap home. Ten minutes later Hatch doubled his personal tally and levelled the scores once again with another Brown assist, but Desborough had the last word in the first half when Gladman made it 3-2.
It was a well fired up Eynesbury that took to the pitch after the break. From a goal behind they took just eight minutes to turn the match around with Hatch completing his hat trick just 28 seconds into the second half, and then Brown setting up Craig Daniel for an impressive strike to make it 4-3 to the hosts. Understandably Desborough began to look shell shocked as they were compressed into their own half and after 58 minutes a desperate lunge by a defender took out the mercurial Brown and the resultant penalty kick was expertly despatched by Daniel. Desborough sent on substitutes and were unlucky when Steve Gentle cleared off the Eynesbury goal line after an incisive attack. However, the damage had been done by that early Rovers onslaught, and six minutes from time Jordan Brown reaped his reward for an excellent evening’s work when he added Rovers sixth goal. The final icing on the cake came a minute from time when home substitute Kelvin Osei-Addo tapped home to wrap up a memorable 7-3 victory.

Edited September 5, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 30/03/2020 at 22:48, Rhodes said:

Not directly Eynesbury Rovers related however I see that Mark Ducket will be continuing at The Eyrie next season along with his trusted Assistant Martin Standen and Coaches Ronayne Marsh-Brown and Gil Octave, I'm not sure whether he brought any of them over with him after suddenly, without any warning, jumping ship in January leaving a sour taste in the mouth at Hall Road where he had been at the helm for four years:

https://nonleaguedaily.com/bedford-town-back-ducket-to-manage-club-next-season/?

Not directly Eynesbury Rovers related however Martin Standen and Gil Octave have already departed Bedford Town, leaving former Eynesbury Rovers boss Mark Ducket not sounding best pleased reading between the lines of this article, I think there could be more to it than meets the eye:

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bedfordtownfootballclub/news/management-team-changes--player-departures-2564855.html

[Rhodes]

Eynesbury United, Eynesbury Rovers Reserves in other words, started their Cambridgeshire County League (Kershaw) Premier Division campaign last Saturday with a 1-1 local derby stalemate against Eaton Socon at Hall Road with 157 in attendance, on Saturday they entertain Ely City Reserves who are arguably the strongest side in the Division and Championship favourites:

Cambridgeshire County League (Kershaw) Premier Division

Comberton United First        

Foxton First        

Hemingfords United First        

Over Sports First        

Eaton Socon First        

Eynesbury United First        

Great Shelford First        

West Wratting First        

Linton Granta First        

Cambridge University Press First        

Ely City Reserves        

Witchford 96 First        

Gamlingay United First     

Fulbourn Institute First

Cherry Hinton First   

[Rhodes]

Eynesbury Rovers sadly bit the dust yesterday in the FA Cup at Ely City's Unwin Ground, going down 3-1 in their Preliminary Round tie which was never going to be a walk in the park against the Eastern Counties League Premier Division outfit, not even Jordan Brown could do anything to prevent the defeat although the great man did unsurprisingly score albeit just a consolation goal when it was already 3-0:

[Rhodes]

I see that Mark Ducket is also out of the FA Cup, I wonder if his days at The Eyrie could be numbered:

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bedfordtownfootballclub/teams/92750/match-centre/0-4891325/report

FA Cup Preliminary Round @ Elderstubbs
Daventry Town (0) 1 Jack Bowen 90+4, pen
Bedford Town (0) 0
Att TBA my very rough est would be 220
Admission 5.15 (concession ticket plus fee), Sweepstake 2.00
Progs sold out
Weather Quite warm and very sunny
Colours All purple v All white

Match had been advertised as all ticket (400) but come Saturday cash on the gate was easily possible. Temperatures taken on entry and there was no problem social distancing once inside.
It was quite a hard fought game. An early chance fell to Daventry when Luke Emery looked to be through on goal only to be brought down on the edge of the box by Joe Steele who only received a yellow. Then by far the majority of the chances fell Bedford who let themselves down with poor finishing, no less than 3 goals disallowed for offside but also by a fine display in the home goal by James Martin. The game was only decided in second half stoppage time when scramble in the away box resulted in a handball with the penalty being converted by Jack Bowen.

[Rhodes]

You have to worry about Mark Ducket's future at The Eyrie don't you:

Thame United 3-0 Bedford Town
Southern League Division One Central
Attendance : 178
Entrance : £8
Programme : Online, printed teamsheets provided at entrance

A deserved win for Thame over a talented but ill-disciplined Bedford side who were reduced to 9 men after 60 minutes and didn't seem to be too aware of this season's law changes with respect to handball. However, of much more importance was the demonstration that football at this level with crowds of less than 200 can safely be held in accordance with all of the Covid safety requirements.

https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2020/09/thame-united-3-0-bedford-town-att-178.html

Edited September 20, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Surprise surprise folks:

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bedfordtownfootballclub/news/club-statement--mark-ducket-2570907.html

[Rhodes]

Bedford Town haven't wasted any time at all in making a new appointment, I wonder if Chairman Jon Taylor was glad to see the back of Mark Ducket and already had someone in the pipeline to replace him:

https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/bedford-town-appoint-gary-setchell-as-new-manager/

https://southern-football-league.co.uk/News/126115/Ducket-Quits-Bedford-Coup-Striker-Signing

[Rhodes]

An excellent, and very complimentary, 'Around The Grounds' feature from Chris White who was at Eynesbury Rovers SSML Premier Division fixture with Broadfields United yesterday (Saturday 26 September) which they won 2-1 with goals from, who else, Jordan Brown on 32 minutes and James Hatch in the last minute after Broadfields United had equalised shortly after the interval, Eynesbury Rovers could have made it easier for themselves but Joel Ives missed a penalty on 78 minutes:

 

[Rhodes]

On 10/09/2020 at 11:46, Rhodes said:

Eynesbury United, Eynesbury Rovers Reserves in other words, started their Cambridgeshire County League (Kershaw) Premier Division campaign last Saturday with a 1-1 local derby stalemate against Eaton Socon at Hall Road with 157 in attendance, on Saturday they entertain Ely City Reserves who are arguably the strongest side in the Division and Championship favourites:

Eynesbury United's Cambridgeshire County League (Kershaw) Premier Division campaign has got off to a resonable enough start with two wins and two draws from four games played, this includes a pulsating 5-5 stalemate at Ely City Reserves last Saturday (3 October) having beaten the Cathedral City Club 4-0 at Hall Road only three weeks before, with a 3-1 home win over Cambridge University Press sandwiched inbetween, this Saturday (10 October) they entertain Linton Granta. Meanwhile Eynesbury Rovers were caught up in some controversy this week when Chairman Matt Plumb took it upon himself to unceremoniously ban Leighton Town fans from Hall Road for the SSML Premier Division visit of the Bell Close Club on Tuesday however, rather mysteriously, the game was postponed when all the other fixtures went ahead that evening and with Hall Road boasting the best playing surface in the SSML. Eynesbury Rovers currently sit in fourth place after five League outings thus far however after a superb 5-1 win at Biggleswade United and successive home wins over Broadfield United and Crawley Green they inexplicably lost 3-1 to Harefield United at Hall Road last Saturday. Steve Kuhne, Ash Fuller and Dean Greygoose's men are not in FA Vase action this weekend as they receive a bye to a later round and, instead, travel to Vale Farm to take on a Wembley side who have blown hot and cold so far this season, mostly cold so three points would take them up to third place and possibly second.

[Rhodes]

Eynesbury Rovers team sheet this afternoon for the visit of Edgware Town and I understand that it is currently good news for Steve Kuhne, Ash Fuller and Dean Greygoose's men as they lead 3-0 just before the hour mark through an own goal on 49 minutes and then a Craig Daniel brace on 51 and 55 minutes, it's looking like they have not finished yet and Jordan Brown will no doubt wish to get on the score sheet. This will be the third successive League win following a 3-1 success at Wembley with goals from, who else, Jordan Brown, Joel Ives and Andre Olukanmiand and a 3-2 win over Baldock Town at Hall Road last Saturday with Joshua Brown, Martin Danobrega and, surprise, surprise, Jordan Brown finding the net, on Tuesday evening there is a visit to Creasey Park to take on Dunstable Town. Eynesbury United are currently in Cambridgeshire County League (Kershaw) Premier Division action at local rivals Gamlingay United, this follows a narrow 2-1 win over Linton Granta at Hall Road last Saturday and a trip to Cherry Hinton to look forward to next Saturday (24 October), they could well top the Division this evening with a win at the Gamlingay Playing Fields: 

[Rhodes]

Eynesbury Rovers team sheet for their visit to Dunstable Town last night with Steve Kuhne, Ash Fuller and Dean Greygoose's men winning 6-1 with goals from Joshua Brown, Martin Danobrega, substitute Charlie Moss and a hat trick from James Hatch, it makes you wonder what the scoreline would have been had Jordan Brown been playing who I assume was suspended again as, despite being a brilliant player, he sadly collects yellow cards like confetti. Meanwhile Eynesbury Rovers Reserves, namely Eynesbury United, triumphed 1-0 in their Cambridgeshire County League (Kershaw) Premier Division encounter on Saturday at local rivals Gamlingay United, with Shaun Flack netting late on, and they travel to Cherry Hinton on Saturday (24 October) whilst the First team shouldn't have any trouble disposing of North Greenford United at Hall Road even without Jordan Brown:

[Rhodes]

Jordan Brown made a return to the Eynesbury Rovers side this afternoon however even he was unable to prevent North Greenford United coming away from Hall Road with a 1-0 win following a 28th minute strike from Melford Simpson, Steve Kuhne, Ash Fuller and Dean Greygoose's men remain top of the table but only on goal difference from Colney Heath who also, somewhat surprisingly, dropped points with a draw at Potton United. At least Eynesbury United managed a hard fought 3-2 win at Cherry Hinton in a  Cambridgeshire County League (Kershaw) Premier Division fixture having been 2-0 down, Owen Dixon and Lee Bassett netted with an own goal winning the game fairly late on. Eynesbury Rovers travel to Aylesbury Vale Dynamos on Tuesday evening and then entertain Oxhey Jets next Saturday (31 October) whilst Eynesbury United travel to Comberton United on Saturday:

[Rhodes]

Over 150 photographs, courtesy of Sports Shots, and match report from Eynesbury Rovers v Biggleswade United, last season on Tuesday 10 March 2020, in a SSML Premier Division fixture just before the curtain came crashing down on the campaign, Eynesbury Rovers won 4-1 with goals from James Hatch, Christopher Lewis and a brace from, who else, Jordan Brown: 

https://biggleswadeutd.com/Matchreport.aspx?id=328619

Edited November 6, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Some Groundhoppers visits to Hall Road over the years:

http://stickypalms.blogspot.com/2016/10/eynesbury-rovers-2-1-peterborough-sports.html

http://footygrounds.blogspot.com/2014/12/eynesbury-rovers-albert-hall-memorial.html

http://pieandmushypeas.blogspot.com/1998/05/eynesbury-rovers-fc.html

https://thecoldend.blogspot.com/2020/01/ashton-campbell-hat-trick-hero-for.html

https://thetortoisetravels.blogspot.com/2018/04/eynesbury-rovers-alfred-hall-memorial.html

https://nlbpt.blogspot.com/search/label/Eynesbury Rovers FC

https://theviewfromtheshed.wordpress.com/2015/10/14/eynesbury-rovers-0-3-newport-pagnell-town/

https://modushopperrandom.blogspot.com/2013/09/eynesbury-hold-off-spirited-fakenham.html

[Rhodes]

Not SSML but almost 100 photographs from Spalding United v Eynesbury Rovers on Saturday 17 August 2013, in a 2013/14 FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie, United Counties League Premier Division Spalding United, who finished as Champions, won 4-2 with Lee Bassett and Ben Colmer netting for the visitors. Eynesbury Rovers were in the division below and were promoted that season, finishing second in Division One behind runaway winners Oadby Town:

Edited November 23, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Who remembers this FA Vase First Qualifying Round Replay on Tuesday 9 September 2014 following a 1-1 draw after extra time at Hall Road the previous Saturday with the score 0-0 after ninety minutes and both goals coming during the second period of extra time. Mildenhall Town won the replay 2-0 at their Recreation Way home only to exit the competition in the next round at Fakenham Town:

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/mildenhalltown/teams/10710/match-centre/0-2563803/report

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/mildenhalltown/teams/10710/match-centre/0-2631553/report

[Rhodes]

Eynesbury Rovers best season in the FA Cup, since they first entered in 1946/47, was 1954/55 when they reached the Fourth Qualifying Round, losing 3-1 at fellow Eastern Counties League Club Cambridge United, since then they have only reached the Third Qualifying Round twice, in 1955/56 and 1964/65, there seems to be lenghty periods when they didn't enter the competition for some reason, for example 1970/71 to 1988/89 inclusive and 2001/02 to 2012/13 inclusive. Historically the Club's FA Cup Qualifying Round ties have, for some unknown reason, always produced plenty of goals such as the 7-3 win over Desborough Town this term, there was a 3-3 home draw with Wellingborough Town last season, losing the replay 4-1, twelve goals in two ties with Southall in 1998/99, thirteen goals in two ties with Wisbech Town in 1995/96, a 5-4 home defeat to Milton Keynes Borough in 1992/93 (see programme cover) and an embarrassing 9-1 home reverse to St Neots Town in 1960/61:

[Rhodes]

A nice aerial view of Hall Road:

[Rhodes]

Nice photographs and match report from Holbeach United v Eynesbury Rovers in a 2015/16 United Counties League Premier Division fixture on Saturday 16 April 2016, Eynesbury Rovers won 3-1 with goals from Lee Bassett, Joseph Bradbury and Rhys Thorpe:

2015/16 : Holbeach United v Eynesbury Rovers (16.04.16) (pitchero.com)

‘Shattered’ Holbeach United beaten again as Roberts admits his players need a rest – The Voice (spaldingvoice.co.uk)