SSML Challenge Trophy - 2024/25

[Rhodes]

The draw for our 'flagship' domestic cup competition has been made already:

SSML Challenge Trophy First Round (ties on Saturday 31 August unless stated)
1. Bovingdon v Ampthill Town 
2. Buckingham FC v Tring Corinthians AFC
3. Codicote v Wellingborough Whitworth
4. Crawley Green v Aston Clinton
5. Desborough Town v Cranfield United 
6. London Colney v AFC Welwyn
7. Long Buckby AFC v Winslow United
8. Milton Keynes College Football Academy v Eynesbury United
9. Pitstone & Ivinghoe v Moulton FC
10. Raunds Town v Padbury Village
11. Rothwell Corinthians AFC v Letchworth Garden City Eagles
12. Shefford Town & Campton v The 61 FC (Luton)
13. Stony Stratford Town v Langford
14. Totternhoe v Huntingdon Town
15. Wormley Rovers v Irchester United
16. New Bradwell St Peter v Rushden & Higham United (Saturday 7 September)
17. Old Bradwell United v Eaton Socon (Saturday 7 September)
18. Caddington AFC v Sarratt (Saturday 14 September)

First Round Byes: Remaining SSML Club's

[Rhodes]

No changes as yet to the dates for the First Round ties:

SSML Challenge Trophy First Round (ties to be played on Saturday 31 August unless stated)
1. Bovingdon v Ampthill Town 
2. Buckingham FC v Tring Corinthians AFC
3. Codicote v Wellingborough Whitworth
4. Crawley Green v Aston Clinton
5. Desborough Town v Cranfield United 
6. London Colney v AFC Welwyn
7. Long Buckby AFC v Winslow United
8. Milton Keynes College Football Academy v Eynesbury United
9. Pitstone & Ivinghoe v Moulton FC
10. Raunds Town v Padbury Village
11. Rothwell Corinthians AFC v Letchworth Garden City Eagles
12. Shefford Town & Campton v The 61 FC (Luton)
13. Stony Stratford Town v Langford
14. Totternhoe v Huntingdon Town
15. Wormley Rovers v Irchester United
16. New Bradwell St Peter v Rushden & Higham United (Saturday 7 September)
17. Old Bradwell United v Eaton Socon (Saturday 7 September)
18. Caddington AFC v Sarratt (Saturday 14 September)

First Round Byes: Remaining SSML Club's

[Rhodes]

Confirmation of Saturday's First Round ties taking place:

Saturday 31 August

SSML Challenge Trophy First Round (all kick off 3.00pm)

Bovingdon v Ampthill Town

Buckingham FC v Tring Corinthians AFC

Codicote v Wellingborough Whitworth

Crawley Green v Aston Clinton (at Aston Clinton FC)

Desborough Town v Cranfield United

London Colney v AFC Welwyn

Long Buckby AFC v Winslow United

Milton Keynes College Football Academy v Eynesbury United

Pitstone & Ivinghoe v Moulton FC

Raunds Town v Padbury Village

Rothwell Corinthians v Letchworth Garden City Eagles

Shefford Town & Campton v The 61 FC (Luton)

Stony Stratford Town v Langford

Totternhoe v Huntingdon Town

Wormley Rovers v Irchester United

[Rhodes]

This afternoon's First Round results:

Saturday 31 August

SSML Challenge Trophy First Round

Bovingdon 2 Ampthill Town 4

Buckingham FC 2 Tring Corinthians AFC 0

Codicote 0 Wellingborough Whitworth 1

Crawley Green 1 Aston Clinton 1 (at Aston Clinton FC, Aston Clinton win 5-4 on pens)

Desborough Town 1 Cranfield United 1 (Desborough Town win 4-2 on pens)

London Colney 0 AFC Welwyn 2

Long Buckby AFC 0 Winslow United 2

Milton Keynes College Football Academy 1 Eynesbury United 1 (Milton Keynes College Football Academy win 5-4 on pens)

Pitstone & Ivinghoe 1 Moulton FC 2

Raunds Town 4 Padbury Village 2

Rothwell Corinthians 2 Letchworth Garden City Eagles 3

Shefford Town & Campton 9 The 61 FC (Luton) 0

Stony Stratford Town 0 Langford 6

Totternhoe 0 Huntingdon Town 2

Wormley Rovers 3 Irchester United 2

[Rhodes]

On 31/08/2024 at 20:06, Rhodes said:

Saturday 31 August
SSML Challenge Trophy First Round
Pitstone & Ivinghoe 1 Moulton FC 2

A groundhopper from another Forum was at this tie:

Spartan South Midlands League Cup
Pitstone & Ivinghoe 1-2 Moulton
Attendance 33, admission £4, no programme
The original plan had been to do the Arsenal Women's game away at Southampton, but then Oasis reformed and put their tickets on sale on the Saturday morning. Ticketmaster was it's usual load of rubbish, and although tickets were eventually secured (a huge bucket list thing for me), it was way too late to get down to Southampton by the time it had happened.
Therefore, Fubology had to be fired up and this game fitted the bill perfectly, in the process completing the Spartan South Midlands Division 2
A good game, with Moulton taking the lead midway through the first half. Pitstone and Ivinghoe kept them on their toes and eventually got an equaliser 10 minutes from the end. Any hopes of taking the game to penalties were dashed when Moulton took the lead again 2 minutes from time.
A good venue with views out towards Ivinghoe Beacon adding to the backdrop. Relatively basic currently apart from the Clubhouse but I see no reason they couldn't upgrade to Step 6 grading if they so wanted.

[Rhodes]

The Second Round ties announced so far following the draw, three First Round ties still to be completed:

SSML Challenge Trophy Second Round

AFC Welwyn v Langford

Aston Clinton v Milton Keynes College Football Academy

Aylesbury Vale Dynamos v Harpenden Town

Baldock Town v Winslow United

Buckingham FC v Arlesey Town

Colney Heath v Cockfosters

Desborough Town v Raunds Town

Dunstable Town v Milton Keynes Irish

FC Romania v Tring Athletic

Kempston Rovers v Letchworth Garden City Eagles

London Lions v Biggleswade United

Shefford Town & Campton v Potton United

Wormley Rovers v Ampthill Town

Six remaining Club's joining the Second Round: Wellingborough Whitworth, Moulton FC, Huntingdon Town, New Bradwell St Peter or Rushden & Higham United, Old Bradwell United or Eaton Socon, Caddington AFC or Sarratt. I assume that Leighton Town Reserves, Stotfold Reserves, Royston Town Reserves, Newport Pagnell Town Development, Milton Keynes Irish Reserves and Huntingdon Town Under 23's are not taking part in the competition. 

Edited September 4 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 31/08/2024 at 20:06, Rhodes said:

Saturday 31 August
SSML Challenge Trophy First Round
Stony Stratford Town 0 Langford 6

A match report from Ostlers Lane and a groundhopper from another Forum was present but no sign of 'you know who' at this one:

https://www.stonystratfordtownfc.com/Matchreport.aspx?id=740343

Stony Stratford Town 0-6 Langford - Spartan South Midlands League Challenge Trophy
Saw Division 1 side Langford a couple of times last season and on both occasions they played some very good football, so this cup tie was a handy opportunity to see how Stony from Division 2 might match up against them. Conceding a particularly unlucky opener - a cross that drifted over the keeper and in at the far post - knocked the wind out of Stony’s sails and for the rest of the first half they struggled to contain the impressive visitors, who added three more before the break.
During the unsurprisingly less eventful second period, a curiosity was the brief but vigorous stand-up row between two elderly spectators, which caused bemusement among other attendees and even some of the players.

Edited September 6 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 15/08/2024 at 14:18, Rhodes said:

SSML Challenge Trophy First Round
16. New Bradwell St Peter v Rushden & Higham United (Saturday 7 September)
17. Old Bradwell United v Eaton Socon (Saturday 7 September)

Don't forget the two First Round ties taking place tomorrow afternoon, two home wins wouldn't be a complete surprise.

[Rhodes]

On 06/09/2024 at 16:10, Rhodes said:

Don't forget the two First Round ties taking place tomorrow afternoon, two home wins wouldn't be a complete surprise

Saturday's two results, New Bradwell St Peter now travel to Moulton FC and Old Bradwell United entertain Wellingborough Whitworth in the Second Round:

Saturday 7 September

SSML Challenge Trophy First Round

New Bradwell St Peter 2 Rushden & Higham United 0

Old Bradwell United 1 Eaton Socon 0

Edited September 15 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 15/08/2024 at 14:18, Rhodes said:

SSML Challenge Trophy First Round 
18. Caddington AFC v Sarratt (Saturday 14 September)

The final First Round tie took place yesterday, Caddington AFC will now entertain Huntingdon Town in the Second Round of the competition on Saturday 12 October:

Saturday 14 September

SSML Challenge Trophy First Round

Caddington AFC 2 Sarratt 2 (Caddington AFC win 5-4 on pens)

[Rhodes]

The revised Second Round draw:

SSML Challenge Trophy Second Round

AFC Welwyn v Langford (Saturday 12 October)

Aston Clinton v Milton Keynes College Football Academy (Saturday 5 October)

Aylesbury Vale Dynamos v Harpenden Town (Saturday 12 October)

Baldock Town v Winslow United (Tuesday 15 October)

Buckingham FC v Arlesey Town (Tuesday 15 October) 

Caddington AFC v Huntingdon Town (Saturday 12 October)

Colney Heath v Cockfosters (Tuesday 22 October) 

Desborough Town v Raunds Town (Saturday 12 October)

Dunstable Town v Milton Keynes Irish (Tuesday 15 October)

FC Romania v Tring Athletic (Wednesday 16 October) 

Kempston Rovers v Letchworth Garden City Eagles (Saturday 12 October)

London Lions v Biggleswade United (Wednesday 9 October) 

Moulton FC v New Brdwell St Peter (Tuesday 15 October)  

Old Bradwell United v Wellingborough Whitworth (Saturday 26 October)

Shefford Town & Campton v Potton United (Saturday 12 October)

Wormley Rovers v Ampthill Town (Tuesday 15 October) 

[Rhodes]

On 09/09/2024 at 09:45, Rhodes said:

Saturday 7 September

SSML Challenge Trophy First Round

Old Bradwell United 1 Eaton Socon 0

Highlights from this First Round tie at Abbey Road, courtesy of groundhopper and blogger Oliver Sims:

[Rhodes]

The Caddington AFC v Huntingdon Town and Moulton FC v New Bradwell St Peter ties have been brought forward to this afternoon:

Saturday 5 October

SSML Challenge Trophy Second Round

Aston Clinton v Milton Keynes College Football Academy (kick off 2.00pm)

Caddington AFC v Huntingdon Town (kick off 2.00pm)

Moulton FC v New Bradwell St Peter