West Hertfordshire St Mary's Cup - 2022/23

[View from the Boundary]

Jets 3 Bovingdon 0

Not the confidence booster we might have hoped for against step 7 opposition considering our parlous league position at the foot of the Combined Counties Prem North, but in the end we got the job done.

Misplaced and overhit passes were the order of the day in the driving rain first half, during which our visitors helped us to a 2-0 interval lead courtesy of a diving header OG and a huge deflection which took the ball from one side of the goal to the other.

Bovvy improved as the rain subsided after the break, and would have got on the scoresheet but for some poor finishing, unfortunate ricochets and good keeping. Their good spell passed without further score though, and Jets duly got a late third from sub Archie James, having also hit the bar with a penalty shortly beforehand. The match was unusual though in that the hosts narrowly avoided a charge of failing to control their players, having had 4, yes 4 players booked for kicking the ball away. In such a relatively meaningless match this was quite unbelievable, and management thought so too as they quite rightly doubled the fines of the miscreants.

The feeling around the Boundary is that we're already doomed to the club's first ever relegation in 51 years, it's been one thing after another this season but every cloud has a silver lining and we have unearthed some real gems who have had to play more games than they should but in the long term will be the better for it, and we're already seeing that. Our two best players today, Archie and Henry Dudley, are both 16. A potential St Mary's Cup final would be a nice reward for their effort and character, but no doubt Tring will have their own thoughts about that.

Edited March 14, 2023 by View from the Boundary

[Rhodes]

View from the Boundary - Nice to see you post here. Yes, no apparent difficulties for Step 5 Oxhey Jets last night against Step 7 Bovingdon despite being rock bottom of the Combined Counties League Premier Division North and five points adrift, what is it specifically that has gone so horribly wrong at the Club this season and how is John Elliot trying to rectify it:

Edited March 15, 2023 by Rhodes

[View from the Boundary]

1 hour ago, Rhodes said:

View from the Boundary - Nice to see you post here. Yes, no apparent difficulties for Step 5 Oxhey Jets last night against Step 7 Bovingdon despite being rock bottom of the Combined Counties League Premier Division North and five points adrift, what is it specifically that has gone so horribly wrong at the Club this season and how is John Elliot trying to rectify it:

Broken leg, 2 broken ankles among 10 hospitalizations, Sean Giordmana did his groin for the second time in a month last night, it just doesn't stop We had 3 poached by Egham (see what I did there?). 

As for what John is doing, what can he and our management duo of Tom and Dave do now? Very difficult to find players at this stage of the season, and of course everyone is looking for a Haaland but finding one willing to play for nothing is a big ask! Putts was set to return for the odd game but did his knee which put the kibosh on that. Goals have been hard to come by and that's what's cost us more than anything. Our defence has improved significantly and we have a superb young keeper in Lewis Lavin, if he remains with us next year I shall be delighted and amazed in equal measure, he's much too good for step 5. But that is what our management team are doing, building great relationships with these young lads, that's the only way forward for a club like ours, and it's the right way. Not the scattergun casting of nets all over the place swiftly followed by a bawl out and being shown to the revolving door like the previous totalitarian regime. There are reasons that happened which I won't get into, but we're back on track. If we have to take a step back to move forward so be it. Relegation may be odds on, and while there is resignation about that there is also positivity for what the future holds.

[Rhodes]

On 22/02/2023 at 15:37, Rhodes said:

No difficulties for Leverstock Green last night against Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division Chipperfield Corinthians, see a match report, and they progress to the Semi Finals of the competition to play Harpenden Town or Amersham Town who do not meet at Spratleys Meadow until Tuesday 21 March

Harpenden Town and Amersham Town lock horns at Spratleys Meadow tomorrow evening for the right to meet Leverstock Green in the Semi Finals of the competition:

[Rhodes]

The Harpenden Town v Amersham Town Quarter Final tie at Spratleys Meadow on Tuesday evening was unfortunately called off due to a waterlogged pitch, a new date has yet to be arranged:

 

[Rhodes]

Harpenden Town and Amersham Town try again at Spratleys Meadow this evening:

[Rhodes]

What a game at Spratleys Meadow on Thursday evening and win for Amersham Town who now travel to Leverstock Green in the Semi Final pf the competition:

[View from the Boundary]

Could be a very interesting reunion if the Mags can overcome Levy and we can beat Tring! Last I heard the semi will be the Tuesday after the season has ended, we've been given an ungodly schedule which was already seeing 4 games in 10 days as scheduled but is now 6 in 12 starting tomorrow, ridiculous. Hate to think what could happen if we get more days like we had last week, we'll be playing every night. All those spare Tuesdays early season...

[Karen Browne]

Oxhey v Tring is Sat 29 April

[Rhodes]

An interesting Semi Final in prospect this afternoon at the Boundary Stadium with the other all SSML Semi Final, Leverstock Green v Amersham Town, taking place next Thursday evening (4 May) at Pancake Lane:

[Rhodes]

I'm assuming that View from the Boundary will be in attendance at the Boundary Stadium this afternoon:

[Rhodes]

I have it on good authority that the Final of the West Hertfordshire St Mary's Cup, involving either Oxhey Jets or Tring Athletic, will take place on Monday 8 May at Hemel Hempstead Town's Vauxhall Road, presumably kick off 3.00pm as it is a Bank Holiday:

[View from the Boundary]

A bridge too far for Jets, who were second best for large periods but managed to force extra time after a 2 all draw. Tring should have been out of sight but took their foot off the gas and paid the price temporarily, but put Jets to the sword in extra time with a further 3 unanswered goals and will now face Levy Green or Amersham at Hemel on the Bank Holiday after next, and good luck to them.

[Rhodes]

View from the Boundary - Thanks for the report, here is Tring Athletic's version of events:

https://www.tringathletic.co.uk/teams/252691/match-centre/0-5600926/report

[Rhodes]

The match programme for this evening's second Semi Final between Leverstock Green and Amersham Town for the right to meet Tring Athletic in the Final on Monday 8 May at Hemel Hempstead Town's Vauxhall Road:

https://issuu.com/tonysmart/docs/amersham_town_programme_2?fr=sZjEyZDM3NDYyODg

[Rhodes]

Amersham Town won't just lay down this evening at Pancake Lane will they:

[Rhodes]

No difficulties for Leverstock Green at Pancake Lane last night then, see both sides of the story and the 3-1 victory:

https://levgreenfc.co.uk/event/230503f/

Edited May 5, 2023 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Highlights from the Semi Final action at Leverstock Green on Thursday evening:

[Rhodes]

It should be a nice occasion at Vauxhall Road on Bank Holiday Monday with hopefully a decent attendance:

[Rhodes]

A narrow win for Leverstock Green in the Final of the West Hertfordshire St Mary's Cup on Bank Holiday Monday at Vauxhall Road, see Leverstock Green's version of events and congratulations to the Club:

Tring Athletic – Leverstock Green F.C. (levgreenfc.co.uk)

Edited May 9, 2023 by Rhodes