Hoddesdon Town vs Kentish Town

[NeutralFan]

OK.. shall we get back to the post title? Here is the match match from the Hoddy website!

 

FLOODLIGHT PYLON FLAUNTS THE NO-SMOKING BAN AND FORCES AN EARLY FINISH

 

On a historic night for football at Lowfield on Wednesday, Hoddesdon Town’s first ever home game in the month of August was spoilt after fifty-one minutes of play when an Assistant Referee spotted smoke coming from a floodlight pylon. In the interests of safety the Club had no option other than to shut the floodlights down, (an action subsequently fully endorsed by the floodlight contractors) and the Referee was forced to abandon the game. Having had their proposed first home game the previous week postponed after Haringey were obliged to play an FA Cup replay instead, Hoddesdon were once again frustrated by a situation that was completely beyond their control. Nevertheless, the evening, made possible by a generous gesture by the Cricket Club, was otherwise a huge success, as a large crowd gathered to celebrate this unique occasion on a calm and balmy evening at Lowfield. It was just a shame that what was turning into a fascinating game had to be curtailed so soon after the interval.

 

On the balance of play Hoddesdon just shaded the first half, but both sides looked lively, and both had chances to score in the opening forty-five minutes, the best of them falling to Hoddesdon. For the first ten minutes Hoddesdon were camped in their visitors half, which made for scrappy play as there was little spare space available. With seven minutes gone Nick Newbury should have put the Lilywhites ahead when he met a cross curled back from the line, and in front of an almost unguarded goal put the ball wide from ten yards. Having then been on top for the best part of twenty minutes, Hoddesdon won a corner which Matt Spiers drove to the far post where Damien Thomas headed the ball inches over the crossbar.

 

It took a while for the visitors to settle down, but when they did the home defence had to be in good form to keep them at bay. Kentish Town’s first real threat on their hosts’ goal didn’t come until the twenty-third minute when a shot from the edge of the penalty area was comfortably gathered by Chris Fitkin diving low to his right. Fitkin had to be much sharper a minute later when the visitors’ Ricky Lucas broke past the Hoddesdon defence well inside the penalty area on the left, and the Lilywhites ‘keeper made a good save at his near post at the expense of a corner.

 

Of the two teams, Hoddesdon looked to be the more likely to score first, and they thought they had gone ahead when Peter Ulatowski had the ball in the back of the net after twenty-six minutes. His chance had come after Matt Spiers collected a huge kick from Chris Fitkin and fed the ball through, but Hoddesdon’s striker had just strayed offside and the Assistant Referee’s flag ruled out the effort. Just past the half hour mark the Lilywhites showed the quality of football of which they are capable when a great move, which switched play from the middle to the right, was finished off by a terrific cross from NF that was just a little too close to the visitors’ ‘keeper.

 

As the half started to draw to a close both sides were beginning to exploit some of the gaps that were appearing, and when Kentish Town’s Kelfala Fofana smashed a thirty yard effort in the thirty-seventh minute, from the far side it looked as though the ball was going to rip the back of the net. Fortunately for Hoddesdon the ball ended up wide of the target and the home supporters drew a breath of relief! A minute later, another great cross from NF wide on the right found Gareth Lippiatt at the far post, but the ball was just a little too high and the resulting header didn’t trouble the visitors’ goalkeeper.

 

After what was generally a good forty-three minutes for Hoddesdon they were desperately unlucky not to take a 1-0 lead into the interval. Another excellent move through midfield was finished off by a cross from the right, and Peter Ulatowski’s terrific shot smashed against the crossbar and back into play. Nick Newbury tried to lob the ball back over the ‘keeper but it took a deflection to earn the Lilywhites a corner which the visitors eventually cleared.

 

At half time there was no indication of the drama that was to later unfold, and five minutes into the second half Matt Spiers got on the end of a Gareth Lippiatt cross from the left to force the ‘keeper to make a good catch. A minute later the Referee’s attention was drawn to the smoking floodlight pylon, and after a couple of minutes delay, having consulted with his Assistant, he restarted the game. Hoddesdon were certainly getting themselves back in the ascendancy at this point, but after the state of the pylon was checked by home Officials, and smoke was seen to still be coming from it, the decision was made to turn off the bank of four pylons on the stand side of the ground. Under the circumstances the Referee had no other option than to abandon the game, much to the disappointment of players and spectators alike. What made the situation all the more galling for the home club was that the floodlights had recently undergone a full check-over and lux-reading assessment. So, for only the second time in thirty-four years, since the floodlights were first installed, their failure caused the abandonment of a game.

 

The first half performance by the Hoddesdon lads certainly gave cause for optimism, Damien Thomas was in imperious form, Matt Spiers was a constant threat to the Kentish Town defence, and Kevin Metivier showed just why he is highly rated at the Club despite his young age. Hoddesdon face the same opponents in the FA Vase on the 8th September so will want to be just as sharp for that game. Tonight’s starting line-up was backed up by a strong bench with players anxious to be part of a successful squad.

 

Tonight’s game, whilst hugely disappointing in its outcome, will hopefully herald a new era of cooperation between the Town’s two senior clubs. Being able to stage a few midweek home games before the official handover of tenancy gives the football club the opportunity to get away from the difficulties of playing several consecutive away games at the start of the season. The cricket club will also accrue some benefit from such an arrangement, and the football club’s Committee is absolutely delighted with what has been agreed this year.

 

Finally, many of the large crowd at Lowfield tonight praised the quality of the Lowfield pitch and the significant improvement brought about by the installation of the new goalposts. Much of the improvement in quality has been brought about by a lot of hard work over the summer by groundsman Phil Maybury, a grant from the Football Foundation and the generosity of Hoddesdon Town supporters who contributed towards the cost of the new posts.

 

Hoddesdon Town 29 08 07

Chris Fitkin, NF, Mark Teasdale, Damien Thomas©, Lee Knight, Nick Newbury, Matt Spiers, Gareth Lippiatt, Peter Ulatowski, Halil Akil, Kevin Metivier

 

[Wader]

A grate shame the embers of the game couldn't be played out, both teams were obviously fired up for it. The lino sounded like a bright spark though to spot that smoke and not to inflame the situation by discreetly bringing it to the refs attention. It certainly sounded a crackling match up to that point.

[Football Man]

You could get fired for a post like that!

[Sharming Paula]

I bet there was some 'hot stuff' on the pitch

[Tubbsy8]

And off with Rhodes' ears present!

[Rhodes]

Originally Posted By: Paula

I bet there was some 'hot stuff' on the pitch

Well Thomas Looney for one but the only problem if you had have turned up was that his girlfriend was there.

[Football Man]

Originally Posted By: Rhodes

if you had have turned up

Interesting emphasis on the word if, given that the author has missed half of Kentish Town's games himself this season!

[urchinboy2]

c'mon kentish,c'mon kentish,c'mon kentish

[Rhodes]

Originally Posted By: Football Man

Interesting emphasis on the word if, given that the author has missed half of Kentish Town's games himself this season!

I was being sarcastic about the Queen of no shows, Hertford Town v Ruislip Manor last season, England v Brazil and Hamilton Hall to give just three of many examples.

[Sharming Paula]

Are you keeping a log then?? At least I go to ALL Canveys games (with the exception of next weekend as we'll be at Twickenham seeing the Police).

Can you say that about Kentish Town?? I think not.

Also, what about the two or three times you promised to come over to Canvey??

Glad to see you recognise me as royalty now

[Rhodes]

All I'm saying is that it's probably something in your make up that you can't go through with things for one reason or another, it's a common problem and I'm not having a go as it's a free Country. Incidentally I didn't think anything came before Canvey including Sting, Stewart Copeland and the other bloke, anyway wouldn't the Police come on stage about 8.00pm giving you plenty of time to go to the game first and watch the England v Israel encounter too for that matter.

[Rhodes]

Jonno/NeutralFan - Looks like we will be making our third trip of the season to Lowfield on Tuesday 6 November, you had better save some fireworks from the night before

[Jonno]

Some of your players need a rocket up their backsides if the league table is anything to go by!!!!!!!!

[Septimus]

Maybe they just need to get a better coach

[Rhodes]

I think that's pretty unlikely don't you with two UEFA 'A' qualified Coaches at the Club, one of which was Roy Keane's 'mentor' when Roy took his badge in Lilleshall last year and the other who learned his trade from many of the Dutch greats such as Rijsbergen, Suurbier, Haan, the van de Kerkhof brothers, Rensenbrink, Rep, Jansen, Krol and Neeskens to name a few.

[NeutralFan]

Yawn...

[PB!]

Heavy night NF!!!!

 

 

[eagles1981]

Originally Posted By: Rhodes

I think that's pretty unlikely don't you with two UEFA 'A' qualified Coaches at the Club, one of which was Roy Keane's 'mentor' when Roy took his badge in Lilleshall last year and the other who learned his trade from many of the Dutch greats such as Rijsbergen, Suurbier, Haan, the van de Kerkhof brothers, Rensenbrink, Rep, Jansen, Krol and Neeskens to name a few.

Just as a matter of interest, what is Hector Varela's record of results since joining Kentish Town?

Maybe he should be re-assessed?

[Rhodes]

It's nothing to write home about at this early stage of the campaign however give him time, like I said he's the most tactically astute Coach I've ever come across but don't forget he's only second in command and doesn't have overall control of the team similar to Venables and MacLaren with England if you like, a frightening thought!

[HTFCew]

How much time are you going to give to the coach who's been around for over a year now?