SSML Challenge Trophy - 2024/25

[Rhodes]

On 17/10/2024 at 11:29, Rhodes said:

Tuesday 15 October
SSML Challenge Trophy Second Round
Dunstable Town 3 Milton Keynes Irish 1

Highlights from Creasey Park last Tuesday:

[Rhodes]

1 hour ago, Rhodes said:

Tuesday 15 October
SSML Challenge Trophy Second Round
Dunstable Town 3 Milton Keynes Irish 1

In addition groundhopper and blogger Oliver Sims was in attendance at Creasey Park last Tuesday:

 

[Rhodes]

On 13/10/2024 at 19:05, Rhodes said:

Saturday 5 October 
SSML Challenge Trophy Second Round
Moulton FC 0 New Bradwell St Peter 4

Highlights from this Second Round upset and photographs, courtesy of photographer Richard Eason:

https://richardeasonphotography.smugmug.com/MFC-v-NBSP-5-Oct-24

[Rhodes]

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

Saturday 31 August
SSML Challenge Trophy First Round
Milton Keynes College Football Academy 1 Eynesbury United 1 (Milton Keynes College Football Academy win 4-3 on pens)

Eynesbury United's match report from this First Round tie, I think it was originally reported that the hosts had won 5-4 on penalties:

Gladwish Cup 1st Round MK College (0)1 Eynesbury Utd (1)1 McLeod (MK win 4-3 on penalties)

The Bulls bowed out of the Gladwish Cup at the First Round after an 96th minute equaliser brought the home team level, as with the game at Aston Clinton a couple of weeks prior United should have been away and clear after the squandered plenty of chances.

Joe Morrallee’s and Ryan Baxter missed their penalties and the hosts went through.

United dominated for long spells of the game and Palmer and Jones had chances to put the Bulls ahead but failed in front of goal.

However it took an old head to score the opening goal as Ty McLeod smashed home from close range.

But that was as good as it got for the Bulls as chance after chance went begging, the Bulls picked up a number of yellow cards and they lost their discipline, but there was some shall we say debatable decisions, but poor defending from a corner in the 96th minute allowed MK to equalise.

Not a good day at the office and this squad has a lot to learn in relation to game management but still unbeaten in 90 minutes. Next game is away at Sarratt .. another tough away day.

[Rhodes]

The full draw for the Third Round of the competition with three Second Round ties still to be completed:

SSML Challenge Trophy Second Round 
Aylesbury Vale Dynamos v Harpenden Town (Tuesday 29 October)
Old Bradwell United v Wellingborough Whitworth (Saturday 2 November)
Baldock Town v Winslow United (Tuesday 12 November)

SSML Challenge Trophy Third Round 
New Bradwell St Peter v Desborough Town (Saturday 16 November)
Arlesey Town v Tring Athletic (Saturday 16 November)
London Lions v Wormley Rovers (Saturday 16 November)
Milton Keynes College Football Academy v Caddington AFC (Saturday 16 November)
Aylesbury Vale Dynamos or Harpenden Town v AFC Welwyn 
Potton United v Old Bradwell United or Wellingborough Whitworth
Letchworth Garden City Eagles v Colney Heath (Saturday 16 November)
Dunstable Town v Baldock Town or Winslow United 

https://fulltime.thefa.com/newsArticle.html?league=522238936&noticePlacementID=514741168&noticeID=518896845

[Rhodes]

A full update on the competition with six of the eight Third Round ties taking place on Saturday (16 November):

SSML Challenge Trophy First Round
Bovingdon 2 Ampthill Town 4
Buckingham FC 2 Tring Corinthians AFC 0 
Caddington AFC 2 Sarratt 2 (Caddington AFC win 5-4 on pens)
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) 
New Bradwell St Peter 2 Rushden & Higham United 0
Old Bradwell United 1 Eaton Socon 0
Pitstone & Ivinghoe 1 Moulton FC 2
Raunds Town 4 Padbury Village 2
Rothwell Corinthians AFC 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

SSML Challenge Trophy Second Round
AFC Welwyn 4 Langford 3
Aston Clinton 1 Milton Keynes College Football Academy 1 (Milton Keynes College Football Academy win 5-3 on pens)
Aylesbury Vale Dynamos 3 Harpenden Town 1
Baldock Town 1 Winslow United 4
Buckingham FC 0 Arlesey Town 3
Caddington AFC 3 Huntingdon Town 1
Colney Heath 1 Cockfosters 0
Desborough Town 3 Raunds Town 1
Dunstable Town 3 Milton Keynes Irish 1
FC Romania 3 Tring Athletic 4
Kempston Rovers 2 Letchworth Garden City Eagles 3
London Lions 5 Biggleswade United 0
Moulton FC 0 New Bradwell St Peter 4
Old Bradwell United 1 Wellingborough Whitworth 2
Shefford Town & Campton 1 Potton United 10
Wormley Rovers 3 Ampthill Town 2

SSML Challenge Trophy Third Round 
New Bradwell St Peter v Desborough Town (Saturday 16 November)
Arlesey Town v Tring Athletic (Saturday 16 November)
London Lions v Wormley Rovers (Saturday 16 November)
Milton Keynes College Football Academy v Caddington AFC (Saturday 16 November)
Aylesbury Vale Dynamos v AFC Welwyn (Saturday 16 November)
Letchworth Garden City Eagles v Colney Heath (Saturday 16 November)
Dunstable Town v Winslow United (Tuesday 19 November 
Potton United v Wellingborough Whitworth (Tuesday 3 December)

[Rhodes]

On 14/11/2024 at 11:24, Rhodes said:

SSML Challenge Trophy Third Round
Letchworth Garden City Eagles v Colney Heath (Saturday 16 November)

Letchworth Garden City Eagles host Colney Heath tomorrow in an interesting looking Third Round tie:

[Rhodes]

On 14/11/2024 at 11:24, Rhodes said:

SSML Challenge Trophy Third Round
London Lions v Wormley Rovers (Saturday 16 November)

I have it on good authority that London Lions hold the upper hand at Rowley Lane in this Third Round tie at the moment:

[Rhodes]

23 hours ago, Rhodes said:

SSML Challenge Trophy Third Round
London Lions v Wormley Rovers (Saturday 16 November)

Two groundhoppers from another Forum were at this fairly comfortable 2-0 Third Round win yesterday for London Lions:

London Lions 2-0 Wormley Rovers, Gladwish Cup Round 3
Maccabi London Sports Ground. Adm. £6 (conc), cash only. No paper. Att, approx 30
Another new ground for me in the Spartan South Midland League. A rather strange “welcome” as I drove into the car park the attendant asked if I was with Lions or Wormley, the response of neither was clearly a “computer says no” answer and he had to refer to his “Manager”. The young lady came across and directed me to the overflow car park at the far end of the pitch (where I was going anyway).
Very basic ground with just one 4 row stand along one side, probably about 200 seats, standing on that side and the end behind the goal where you enter. More than ample for the crowd which included a handful from Wormley.
As for the match – LL totally dominated the first half and carved through the WR defence on regular occasions. The pressure had been building and the opening goal was no surprise on the half hour. This was doubled 7 minutes later from a long range shot which the keeper flapped at and it ended in the net. This was a shame for him as had pulled off a number of outstanding saves. There was a flare up following a tackle just before the break, well handled by the officials – 2 yellow cards produced, where some may have brandished 2 of a different colour.
In the second half Wormley improved (as they had when I saw them at MK Irish last month) but they never really looked like scoring. Despite having less of the play Lions looked more likely to extend the lead and hit the woodwork 3 times. No more goals however and a very comfortable home win.

Maccabi London Lions 2 Wormley Rovers 0 (Gladwish Challenge Trophy).
Both are members of the Spartan South Midlands Football League and are both mid-table. Lions have had a short history, formed as MALEX in 1995. A name change and progress up the leagues followed for (as the name suggests) this all-Jewish Club.
Short trip along the M25, down the A1/M, left at the first r/about. The ground itself is not signposted, I presume for security reasons? but knew where it was from google maps. Plenty of parking. Main pitch in immaculate condition, one decent sized covered stand to the right as you walk in, just a path around the rest of the pitch. Main Clubhouse under refurbishment, but very clean and tidy bar/cafe perfectly adequate. There must have been another 4 or 5 pitches (grass and 3G) and looks a really impressive set-up. Some big cars in the car park, there must be some serious money floating about. Lions in blue, Wormley Rovers in their usual red shirts & black shorts.
1st Half. Lions better all over the pitch. No long balls. Quick, one touch passing. Not pointless possession play though. Both sides quite pyhsical, but played in good spirit. Lions were having a lot of success down their right, but just lacked the final killer pass. Mid-way through the first half Lions unlocked the Wormley defence, neat ball through the middle, leaving a 1 on 1 with the keeper. Tidy finish (caught on camera for a change!). Lions kept on top and the odd Wormley attack was easily dealt with. Not long after the first goal, a second arrived. A corner came in, a shot initially parried by the keeper, looked like it was going over, keeper adjusted his position, the spin on the ball brought it back just under the bar, and he desperately scrambled to keep it out, to no avail as it came off of stanchion and keeper helped it into his own net. Some sniggering from some of the Lions players. 2-0 and a mountain to climb for Wormley. Wormley were getting frustrated by this point. A late tackle left a Lions player writhing on the floor, Lions No5 came piling in and the proverbial melee ensued. Officials discussed the sequence of events and dished out a a yellow to the Wormley tackler and the Lions No5. Very good refereeing to keep everything under control. Bottle of Pironi HT.
2nd Half. More of the same. A Lions ball ran along the Wormley goalmouth and just lacked a touch from one of three players for 3-0. Lions hit the post and crossbar. Wormley just found it all too much to deal with. After the fisty cuffs before HT the game settled down. No more yellow cards and I though very good officiating. Wormley bench were a bit gobby. Frustrated. But sometimes you're better off just taking a loss on the chin. Very professional set up at Lions, wouldn't be surprised to see them climb further up the pyramid.
Entry: £8. No programme (paper or on-line). 2 bottles of Pironi a little toppy at £8. Attendance est. 35-40.

Edited Sunday at 16:13 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

On 14/11/2024 at 11:24, Rhodes said:

SSML Challenge Trophy Third Round
New Bradwell St Peter v Desborough Town (Saturday 16 November)

What a win for New Bradwell St Peter on Saturday, defeating high flying Division One Club Desborough Town 2-0 on Saturday to reach the  Quarter Finals of the competition, see highlights from the action:

https://www.sportsshots.org.uk/2024/11/16/2024-5-gladwish-trophy-3r-burrows-double-gives-new-bradwell-st-peter-big-cup-upset/

[Rhodes]

On 14/11/2024 at 11:24, Rhodes said:

SSML Challenge Trophy Third Round
Dunstable Town v Winslow United (Tuesday 19 November 

Dunstable Town are expected to come through tomorrow evening however you never know which Winslow United is going to turn up on the day: