Edgware stretch lead as Hertford LOSE at home!

[GRS67]

A comfortable victory at Holmer Green this afternoon, on a difficult pitch. Holmer were a much improved side from the one we beat 7-0 earlier in the season, and the first half was a midfield battle, however an early goal by Ben Can and a Penatly from Richard Morton on the stroke of HT gave us a two goal cusion.

 

The second half saw us get on top, and add a third from Adam Wallace.

 

The biggest cheer of the afternoon though, was reserved for the clubhouse when I phoned up to find out the scores, and that Hertford had been beaten 1-0 by Tring!!!! With Harefield winning 4-1, I feel they are after that second spot, and if Hertford drop points to them then that could be the case. Hertford must be gutted tonight!!!!!

[Horace]

Originally Posted By: Gavin

A comfortable victory at Holmer Green this afternoon, on a difficult pitch. Holmer were a much improved side from the one we beat 7-0 earlier in the season, and the first half was a midfield battle, however an early goal by Ben Can and a Penatly from Richard Morton on the stroke of HT gave us a two goal cusion.

The second half saw us get on top, and add a third from Adam Wallace.

The biggest cheer of the afternoon though, was reserved for the clubhouse when I phoned up to find out the scores, and that Hertford had been beaten 1-0 by Tring!!!! With Harefield winning 4-1, I feel they are after that second spot, and if Hertford drop points to them then that could be the case. Hertford must be gutted tonight!!!!!

Certainly are, Gavin, don't know how we are going to manage without you next season! Start checking how to get to Tilbury etc!

[Lato]

I'm surprised Hertford lost to Tring, just goes to show there are no certainties in football. Have to say I think the title is only Edgware's to lose now Gavin.

[GRS67]

Oh so you are there then Horace! I see the mito site has not been updated, is that because elaine is as gutted as you? and has not even updated them yet? I dont even know the scores of any other games other then ours, yours, and Harefield's win.

 

So...what the [****!!****]...happened, how did you lose at HOME to team that you beat 7-1 away earlier in the season? you had won ten wins and a draw from the last 11 games!!!! WTF happened?? DONT blame the pitch, becausse the pitch we played on at Holmer Green was awfull, due to the wet weather, but we still managed to beat a much improved Holmer side 3-0 away!

 

DONT blame the loss of Redford if he was missing, because a team that are in second place and chasing the leaders should NOT be relying on ONE man. We were more shocked then anything to hear your result, I had to call up the results secretary to make sure it was not a wind up as a Holmer Green member had told us and we were not too sure.

 

As for not knowing how to manage without us, I am sure you and Harefield will get along just fine as you both battle it out for the championship next season!

[Horace]

We hit the post and the crossbar (well, a Tring defender hit the crossbar!) but in general couldn't break down a team with 10 men behind the ball. The pitch did affect our ability to hit Tring quickly in our usual style, and we DID miss Ryno. Without him we have won 1 drawn 1 and lost 1 - he IS the difference!

[Horace]

HTFCewis entering the results "as we speak" - technical hiccup atthe SSMFL end!

[GRS67]

Originally Posted By: Lato

I'm surprised Hertford lost to Tring, just goes to show there are no certainties in football. Have to say I think the title is only Edgware's to lose now Gavin.

..
Lato DONT, take this as being big headed, BUT I think its been ours to lose since before xmas! Once we went 7 pts clear with a win at your place we were not looking back, then after going 11 clear in the first week in January, we have kept that lead for two months!

Only with us not playing last weekend and Hertford winning was the lead cut back to 8pts, IF Hertford had of played and beaten Harefield on Tuesday the lead would have been down to 5pts, BUT that never happened, and today I had Hertford down for a win, as I suspect did everyone.

It must be VERY soul desytroying to go on a nine game winning run and still not be able to catch us, then they dropped two home points against us, and now this defeat. Its ironic that I posted that Hertford had a tough Febuary, with games against Leverstock/Oxhey/Broxbourne, ALL of which they ended up winning, the draw with us, but it turns out that they slip up in the first week of March to TRING !!!!!!!

With Harefield in good form I really do think they could get caught by them, with our game with Harefield on Tuesday week, and then Hertford playing them twice, it could all be very clear who will finnish where in the next few weeks, with us of course top of the pile !!!!

[Horace]

We now want you to spank Harefield, Gav!

[GRS67]

Originally Posted By: Horace

We hit the post and the crossbar (well, a Tring defender hit the crossbar!) but in general couldn't break down a team with 10 men behind the ball. The pitch did affect our ability to hit Tring quickly in our usual style, and we DID miss Ryno. Without him we have won 1 drawn 1 and lost 1 - he IS the difference!

So did he play last week? I thought he had a 3 match ban? but you won last week at Broxbourne.

I am sure you will agree that if you have to rely on one player its not good enough.

As I said the other day its a shame that 'Morts' will miss 3 matches, BUT, we will not fall apart, our team has goals from all areas, and even though we would rather have Morts playing, we will do fine without him while he is suspended, if we could not then we would not be the team we are.

[GRS67]

Originally Posted By: Horace

We now want you to spank Harefield, Gav!

LOL, will you be coming to watch the match ?

[Horace]

We have a match of our own, so sorry, I won't.

[Horace]

"So did he play last week? I thought he had a 3 match ban? but you won last week at Broxbourne."

 

I said without him we had WON 1 DRAWN 1 LOST 1

 

Please don't lecture me any more about how versatile and strong your squad are. I know.

 

[GRS67]

Oh ok, sorry Horace, I am not giving you any lecture's and am NOT being big headed, but the league table does NOT lie.

 

In some ways it would be a lot more exciting if us/you and Harefield were all neck and neck going into the last month of the season, but I can't deny that if we win the league with matches to spare that it wont be nice relaxing way to end the season.

 

 

[Horace]

Well they feel like lectures!

You have spoiled things by being too good! Our Director of Football, who knows about these things ,thinks you can win Ryman 1 next year if you can keep your players, especially Morton. That would give Ken the jitters, eh?

[GRS67]

Er!!! we could win div 1 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! poor old Ken would have to dip into his savings as would all of us, if we won promotion to the Ryman Premier!!! Such lofty heights would be a dream come true, but I would be worried about playing at that level with the poor crowds we get, we would HAVE to get at least 200+ a game, and thats home support, I am not sure we can do that, but maybe we can with a sustained advetising drive.

 

I will be more then happy with cosoldation in Ryman 1 (if thats where we end up) once enough points to stay up are acheived then we could see where we are and maybe push for the playoffs.

 

As I said a club of Edgware's size would find it hard to be in the Ryman Prem, but I guess a club like Yeading/Northwood are the yardstick, thoguh Northwood are now in money trouble.

 

[GRS67]

It all kicked off at Whitehawk today in the FA vase, no supprise as they were egging for a fight when we went down there, but there was only the 3 of us singing so they did not bother. Turo turned up in BIG numbers, and it seems it got ugly

 

"It did get quite nasty near the end of the second half. Truro supporters, who i suspect didn't really understand where they were, started provoking the Whitehawk supporters. Some of them were literally asking for trouble and they weren't disappointed.

There was a lot of posturing and not much actual fighting, but it was intimidating and it could have got very ugly.

At one point Ian Chapman had to drag his own supporters away from Truro fans, not what he would have wanted to be doing in the eightieth minute of his biggest game as a manager.

Whitehawk's stewards did well, but you have to ask whether alcohol should have been served in glasses and bottles all afternoon, especially as at least one bottle was thrown at the away support.

[HTFCew]

Did you see that the favourites Leamington are out? Beaten 4-1 by Curzon Ashton.

[GRS67]

Yeah that supprised me, Truro must be odds on to win it now, I heard they have a wage bill akin to a Confernce South/North club and they are at step 6!!!!

 

I think they are on the start of a great ride, but for how long who knows, look at Canvey Island/Hornchurch, they have both tasted success in recent years due to big money backers, but are now back down in the doldrums. I would much rather win with hard work and good team spirit then with a sackful of cash that one day will run out.

[Football Man]

Gavin, Truro are only a step 6 club due to location. Their infrastructure is such that they would be step 5, if not step 4, were they based in London or the south east.

 

Also, Hornchurch are in a higher position now than they were before the money went in, have much better facilities these days and are near certainties for promotion to step 3. Hardly doldrums!

[GRS67]

Yes, but Hornchurch were in the doldrums before they had a backer werent they? Both Canvey and Hornchurch fell from the conference all the way down to Ryman 1 and Essex senior league, respectivly.

 

So,PBT, how do you think Edgware would do if we win promotion to the Ryman div 1 North for next season? I know you said you thought we would not do that well when you were asked a few months ago, do you still share that thought?

 

I am supprised to see Wingate & Finchley doing so well, do you think they could make the playoffs?