SSML Division Two Cup - 2024/25

[Rhodes]

The First and Second Round draws of the competition as far as I am aware:

SSML Division Two Cup First Round

Caddington AFC v New Bradwell St Peter (Saturday 31 August) 
Codicote v Milton Keynes Irish Reserves (Saturday 7 September)
Padbury Village v Aston Clinton (Saturday 7 September)

SSML Division Two Cup Second Round

Bovingdon v Pitstone & Ivinghoe (Saturday 19 October)
Eynesbury United v Totternhoe (Saturday 19 October)
Huntingdon Town Under 23's v Newport Pagnell Town Development (Saturday 19 October)
Sarratt v Milton Keynes College Football Academy (Saturday 19 October)
The 61 FC (Luton) v Old Bradwell United (Saturday 19 October)
Tring Corinthians AFC v Stony Stratford Town (Saturday 19 October)

Edited July 29 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

The first result of this season's competition and somewhat of a surprise:

Saturday 31 August

SSML Division Two Cup First Round

Caddington AFC 4 New Bradwell St Peter 1

[Rhodes]

On 29/07/2024 at 17:19, Rhodes said:

SSML Division Two Cup First Round
Padbury Village v Aston Clinton (Saturday 7 September)

How do we see this affair at Springfields going tomorrow afternoon:

[Rhodes]

A groundhopper from another Forum was at this comfortable 6-0 win for Aston Clinton who will travel to Codicote in the Second Round of the competition, Codicote received a First Round bye as did Milton Keynes Irish Reserves:

Spartan South Midlands Division Two Cup 1st Round
Padbury Village 0-6 Aston Clinton
Admission - free, Attendance - 27 (h/c)
Stats:
- 1st time at Padbury Pavilion marking it the 402nd venue I’ve seen a game at.
- 1st time seeing Padbury Village
- 3rd time seeing Aston Clinton - First saw them on 21/04/2022 when they beat Buckingham United away at the Lace Hill Academy 4-1. The second time was more recently on 18/04/2024 where they lost 3-0 at home to Pitstone & Ivinghoe at Aston Clinton Park.
Ground - Padbury Playing Fields - Padbury is a small village just south of Buckingham. The ground is located in a quiet residential estate. It has a small car park with some grass parking available. There is a decent sized Clubhouse which sits around 3 metres back from the touchline. A number of wooden benches offered seating options, as did a brick wall. Behind both goals are blocks of hedges, almost as if they have been grown to stop balls going into the fields behind. Some wheely dug outs and pop up advertisement boards were scattered around. The playing fields also offer a small 5 a side court, two tennis courts and another smaller grass pitch. I believe cricket is also played here in the summer.
Game - a difficult pitch to play on due to the recent dry weather. Aston took the lead around 12 minutes in when a rebound was smacked in from a difficult angle hitting the inside of the post and then the opposite side net. 0-1. Padbury had a half decent chance on the counter but the shot was straight into the Aston keepers arms. Almost straight after Aston went up the other end and the number 7 was able to hit a close range shot through the keeper and near post. 0-2. Aston had some very unique playing styles, especially for this level with the right back and right central midfielder switching freely causing confusion to Padbury. It looked like many of the players were able to freely switch positions as long as a team mate would cover. The number 2 was seen up front at times despite being the right back normally. Padbury should’ve pulled one back when a back pass was too short (not helped by the dry surface) to the keeper but the overstretching Padbury player could only poke it into the keepers chest. Straight after that they missed a header from 2 yards away. Aston were looking like they could score whenever they got near the Padbury box and the number 6 did when he was allowed to make a run freely into the box and hit a low shot through the Padbury keepers legs. 0-3. The number 10 managed to take out 4 Padbury players with two touches and was unlucky not to score with the ball just going wide. Half time 0-3. There was a controversial moment near the start of the second half when the Aston keeper charged out and swung his foot to make a clearance but in the same motion completely took out a Padbury player. Despite protests, an Aston throw was given. The Aston number 5 was given the first yellow of the game when he slid in and fouled a Padbury midfielder. The roles were reversed when the Aston number 10 was clean through and the onrushing keeper definitely made contact with him but no penalty was given. Aston scored from the resulting corner anyway when a low corner pinballed in. 0-4. Aston soon had a fifth when a through ball was passed through the terrible Padbury line and slotted in past the onrushing keeper. 0-5. Aston got a sixth late on when the substitute left back made a good run and was able to pull the ball back for the other substitute to fire one off which deflected into the far corner. 0-6. Padbury had some late chances causing the Aston keeper to work for his clean sheet and even when they beat the keeper, they had one cleared off the line. Overall Aston Clinton played some exceptional football, excellent movement and crisp passing football. It was probably made to look a lot better due to how poor Padbury were but it was easy to see who the established SSML Divison Two team were and who the new boys were.

https://x.com/groundbopping/status/1832446376736866614?s=46&t=zuiLm2gkSoRG71vJNhxjQQ

Edited September 9 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

The revised Second Round draw and dates:

SSML Division Two Cup Second Round

Bovingdon v Pitstone & Ivinghoe (Saturday 19 October) 
Codicote v Aston Clinton (Saturday 19 October) 
Eynesbury United v Totternhoe (Tuesday 22 October)
Huntingdon Town Under 23's v Newport Pagnell Town Development (Saturday 19 October)
Milton Keynes Irish Reserves v Caddington AFC (Saturday 19 October) 
Sarratt v Milton Keynes College Football Academy (Saturday 19 October)
The 61 FC (Luton) v Old Bradwell United (Saturday 19 October)
Tring Corinthians AFC v Stony Stratford Town (Saturday 19 October)

[Rhodes]

Saturday's results, unfortunately there were four postponements, see new dates bracketed:

Saturday 19 October

SSML Division Two Cup Second Round

Bovingdon P Pitstone & Ivinghoe (Saturday 7 December)

Codicote 3 Aston Clinton 1

Huntingdon Town Under 23's P Newport Pagnell Town Development (Saturday 7 December)

Milton Keynes Irish Reserves 1 Caddington AFC 1 (Caddington AFC win 4-2 on pens)

Sarratt P Milton Keynes College Football Academy (Saturday 30 November)

The 61 FC (Luton) P Old Bradwell United (Saturday 16 November)

Tring Corinthians AFC 2 Stony Stratford Town 1

[Rhodes]

5 minutes ago, Rhodes said:

Saturday 19 October
SSML Division Two Cup Second Round
Tring Corinthians AFC 2 Stony Stratford Town 1

A groundhopper from another Forum was at Icknield Way:

Tring Corinthians 2-1 Stony Stratford Town - Spartan South Midlands League Division 2 Cup
After a wet morning in Hertfordshire the afternoon turned out bright and sunny, which was very welcome considering how exposed Tring Corries’ ground is, with nothing but a wire fence between the touchline and open fields. Big skies and long views across to Ivinghoe Beacon were the order of the day.
A well-struck free kick had the home side 1-0 up at half time, their impressive keeper making several good saves as Stony pressed for an equaliser. This eventually came via a close-range finish with 20 or so minutes left, but when Corries scored again shortly afterwards - a scrambled effort from a corner - one sensed that was going to be that. With a visit to see the Thomas Denny window at St Bartholomew's in the neighbouring village of Wigginton and a pint at the craft ale place in Tring, all in all this was an extremely agreeable trip.

[Rhodes]

On 16/09/2024 at 16:01, Rhodes said:

SSML Division Two Cup Second Round
Eynesbury United v Totternhoe (Tuesday 22 October)

No problems at Hall Road this evening for this interesting looking tie, note the 7.45pm kick off as Full Time states 7.30pm:

Edited October 27 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Totternhoe come through last Tuesday's Second Round tie at Eynesbury United, see the hosts version of events:

Tuesday 22 October

SSML Division Two Cup Second Round

Eynesbury United 1 Totternhoe 2

Spartan South Midlands League Cup - Eynesbury Utd (0) 1 Totternhoe (1) 2 (Joe Gauge) - Att 46

The Bulls bowed out of the League Cup after a 91st minute goal sealed their fate. This was a great cup tie that went end to end, however as of the league game two weeks ago United could not find the final ball to kill Totternhoe off.

The Bulls forward line worked their socks off and the lively Ryan Baxter broke through, had his shot saved and Iwen Jones missed the rebound. Jones had another chance, but this time his shot did not trouble the keeper. The Bulls were made to pay for the early chances and a great move from the visitors saw McKenna smash the ball past Martin on 25 minutes to give Totternhoe the lead. One down and United continued to attack, once again a Baxter shot was saved by Palmer and United went in at half time one down.

United came out in the second half and attacked from the start. Once again Jones jinked his way through but again his shot was wayward. Totternhoe also had a good spell but like United couldn’t find that telling finish. Just when it looked like it wasn’t going to be United’s night, a great corner from King found Joe Gauge ghosting in and a deft touch found the ball nestling in the net. All square and the Bulls looked for the winner. Ryan Baxter again made a great chance for himself, but his rocket of a shot smashed into the crossbar. United threw everything at Totternhoe, but the hosts defence held firm, and like a few games lately United conceded late on when Riley Keeble turned smartly on the edge of the area and placed the ball past Martin. United pushed hard to try and take the game to penalties but it wasn’t to be. A great game and either team could have won it but fair play to the visitors who battled hard and defended well. MoM was once again Ryan Baxter, quality

Edited Saturday at 09:34 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

An update on the competition thus far:

SSML Division Two Cup Second Round

Bovingdon v Pitstone & Ivinghoe (now Saturday7 December) 
Codicote 3 Aston Clinton 1
Eynesbury United 1 Totternhoe 2
Huntingdon Town Under 23's P Newport Pagnell Town Development (Newport Pagnell Town Development walkover)
Milton Keynes Irish Reserves 1 Caddington AFC 1 (Caddington AFC win 4-2 on pens)
Sarratt v Milton Keynes College Football Academy (Saturday 30 November)
The 61 FC (Luton) v Old Bradwell United (now Saturday 16 November)
Tring Corinthians AFC 2 Stony Stratford Town 1