Results > First team > Report
Sat 23rd Mar 2019
League
Sponsored by Mark Scott Construction
TAFC First team 5-0 Arlesey Town
TAFC goals: Jon Clements (3), George Ironton (2)
League
Sponsored by Mark Scott Construction
TAFC First team 5-0 Arlesey Town
TAFC goals: Jon Clements (3), George Ironton (2)
TERRIFIC FIVE STAR PERFORMANCE FROM THE PLAYERS
After a long hard slog and with the home straight in sight we produced probably our best performance of the season to send a message to the chasing pack that we are still on track for the title. There are still 6 leagues games left and we face some stiff challenges but this was a most encouraging performance and result.
We dominated the game, reduced a tough opposition to few scoring chances and played at a high tempo throughout. We have had a tendency to make it difficult for ourselves by failing to put away a decent percentage of our chances but not so on Saturday, we scored early in both halves and basically put Arlesey to the sword.
Okay we could have scored a few more goals (a point made on Twitter by our opponents) but to score 5 goals against an in-form side 7th in the table with just one defeat from their last 9 games and who secured draws against Hadley and Biggleswade United is no mean feat.
The plaudits will rightly go to Jon Clements for his first hat-trick for the Club and George Ironton who got a brace of goals. Both scored crackers that are detailed below. But a special mention should also go to Jack Sunderland and new signing Brima Johnson. Both played superbly well, not only defending solidly but getting forward at every opportunity to support our attacks. Centre backs Carl Mensah and DOC were also superb but it has to be said everyone was terrific.
Ian Richardson summed up the game by saying " A great performance from the boys, probably our best 90 minutes of the season. Some great football, a Jon Clements hat-trick (what a great volley for his first) and a George Ironton free kick out of the top draw. Six more performances at the same level and we might have a chance!"
Before the game there was a minutes silence in honour of Graham Smart who tragically died the previous day. Graham was Chairman of Leverstock Green and was well known and respected figure in local football. We pass on our condolences to his family at their sad loss.
We started the game at a blistering pace and after only 3 minutes Ashton Campbell missed the sort of chance he would normally put away with his eyes shut. But our leading marksman made up for it a minute later by setting up a cracking opening goal.
A burst of pace saw Ash speed away down the left and then send over a precise cross to pick out Jon Clements who produced a glorious first time left foot volley that ripped into the net. It was a stunning goal and our opponents never really recovered from this early setback. Score 1-0.
Six minutes after taking the lead there was a call for a penalty when skipper Kieran Turner appeared to be tripped in the area but undeterred by the Referee waving away our appeals we continued to dominate the game. James Verney's dribble and shot was deflected just over the bar and from the resulting corner the impressive Mark Riddick sent a trade mark header against the bar with the keeper well beaten.
Aston Campbell shot across goal after being sent through the visitors defence by Mark Riddick's header and Jon Clements saw his shot cleared off the line. The whole team worked hard to deny our opponents time and space and this was typified by James Verney sprinting back to tackle and stop an opposition player from getting away.
They visitors did manage to finally rouse themselves after a testing opening 20 minutes but despite producing some decent moves and looking threatening when their lively leading scorer Lorrell Smith was on the ball they failed to test young Patrick Sinfield in goal.
A period of pressure finally told in the 33rd minute with Town keeper Robbie Ponting making 3 terrific saves, firstly from Jon Clements and then Ashton Campbell but was finally beaten by Clems clever deft header into the corner from a Jack Sunderland cross. Score 2-0.
A superb first half ended with us holding a two goal lead and looking in control of the game, but with still 45 minutes to go. HT Score 2-0.
Any hopes Arlesey may have had that we may run out of steam after a highly charged first half were dispelled within 26 seconds of the restart when a lovely move set up Jon Clements whose shot was saved by the keeper. Just a few minutes later it was James Verney's turn to test the visitors keeper.
Our supporters didn't have to wait long for a third goal - just eight minutes into the second half. When a visiting defender failed to keep control of the ball Jon Clements seized on the opportunity to run through and coolly slot the ball home for his first hat-trick for the Club. That was Clems 6th goal of the season and has been a superb signing. Score 3-0.
On the hour we made absolutely sure of the result with a 4th goal again of some quality. We were awarded a free kick a few yards outside of the area and up stepped George Ironton to curl the ball over the wall and beyond the keeper's reach for a top, top goal. Score 4-0.
With over an hour gone Arlesey had still not conjured up a scoring opportunity of any note but they had a faint glimmer of hope in the 68th minute when visiting captain Jason Darvall just failed to convert an inviting cross into our area.
James Verney went close with a free kick, Ashton Campbell forced the keeper into a good save after he skilfully created space for a shot in a crowded area then he later volleyed an opportunity wide after Carl Mensah had headed a free kick back across goal. Then George Ironton hit the bar with a free kick from almost the identical same spot that he scored from.
George Ironton capped a fine performance (he has been another terrific new signing) with his second goal in the 85th minute. Carl Mensah started the move with one of his long, raking passes that picked out Aston Campbell who unselfishly laid the ball off to George to convert his 7th goal of the season and to round off the scoring. Score 5-0.
However the game was not over for Patrick Sinfield who had to be alert to tip over a well struck shot in time added on from Aedan Gaffney to ensure he kept a clean sheet. FT Score 5-0.
The win ensures we still remain top ahead of Hadley (3 points behind) and Biggleswade United (8 points adrift) with us having a much better goal difference than both of our rivals.
Our main rivals Biggleswade FC slipped to 4th place after Losing 2-1 at home to Colney Heath. The Beds side are 9 points behind with 3 games in hand but have hit a patch of poor form with just 8 points gained from their last 6 league games.
We will find out on Tuesday (26/3/19) what sort of form Biggleswade FC are in when we visit our rivals for a League Cup Semi-Final. Then on Saturday we face another tough game when we visit Colney Heath.
Finally it was a good day all round with the Reserves beating League Leaders Ascot United 5-2 away. It was Ascot's first defeat in the league and our Reserves are now only 3 points behind them in second place.
Also congratulations to the A Team who won 2-1 away at Glenn Sports, who had a certain Sam Joliffe in their ranks, to reach the Final of the West Herts Senior Cup. This will be their second final having already reached the final of the Herts Junior Cup.
Well done to both teams.
Teams:
TA:1 Pat Sinfield 2 Brima Johnson 3 Jack Sunderland (15 Joe Fitzgerald 72) 4 Mark Riddick (12 Lee Stobbs 62) 5 Dave OConnor 6 Carl Mensah 7 James Verney 8 Jon Clements (14 Luke Dunstan 62) 9 Ashton Campbell 10 Kieran Turner (Capt) 11 George Ironton. Sub not used: 16 Roy Byron.
AT:1 Robbie Ponting 2 Lewis Sinclair (14 Phil Payne 62) 3 Demi Debola 4 Jason Darvall (Capt) 5 Aaron Gooch 6 Adam Randall (12 Fabian Brown-Johnson 87) 7 Ryan Lamond (16 Aaron Browne 54) 8 Stuart Richardson 9 Lorrell Smith 10 Alex O'Brien 11 Aedan Gaffney. Subs not used: 15 Ricky Lawrence, 17 Adam Mead.
Scorers
TA:Jon Clements (4, 33, 53), George Ironton (60, 85).
AT:-
Crowd:118
After a long hard slog and with the home straight in sight we produced probably our best performance of the season to send a message to the chasing pack that we are still on track for the title. There are still 6 leagues games left and we face some stiff challenges but this was a most encouraging performance and result.
We dominated the game, reduced a tough opposition to few scoring chances and played at a high tempo throughout. We have had a tendency to make it difficult for ourselves by failing to put away a decent percentage of our chances but not so on Saturday, we scored early in both halves and basically put Arlesey to the sword.
Okay we could have scored a few more goals (a point made on Twitter by our opponents) but to score 5 goals against an in-form side 7th in the table with just one defeat from their last 9 games and who secured draws against Hadley and Biggleswade United is no mean feat.
The plaudits will rightly go to Jon Clements for his first hat-trick for the Club and George Ironton who got a brace of goals. Both scored crackers that are detailed below. But a special mention should also go to Jack Sunderland and new signing Brima Johnson. Both played superbly well, not only defending solidly but getting forward at every opportunity to support our attacks. Centre backs Carl Mensah and DOC were also superb but it has to be said everyone was terrific.
Ian Richardson summed up the game by saying " A great performance from the boys, probably our best 90 minutes of the season. Some great football, a Jon Clements hat-trick (what a great volley for his first) and a George Ironton free kick out of the top draw. Six more performances at the same level and we might have a chance!"
Before the game there was a minutes silence in honour of Graham Smart who tragically died the previous day. Graham was Chairman of Leverstock Green and was well known and respected figure in local football. We pass on our condolences to his family at their sad loss.
We started the game at a blistering pace and after only 3 minutes Ashton Campbell missed the sort of chance he would normally put away with his eyes shut. But our leading marksman made up for it a minute later by setting up a cracking opening goal.
A burst of pace saw Ash speed away down the left and then send over a precise cross to pick out Jon Clements who produced a glorious first time left foot volley that ripped into the net. It was a stunning goal and our opponents never really recovered from this early setback. Score 1-0.
Six minutes after taking the lead there was a call for a penalty when skipper Kieran Turner appeared to be tripped in the area but undeterred by the Referee waving away our appeals we continued to dominate the game. James Verney's dribble and shot was deflected just over the bar and from the resulting corner the impressive Mark Riddick sent a trade mark header against the bar with the keeper well beaten.
Aston Campbell shot across goal after being sent through the visitors defence by Mark Riddick's header and Jon Clements saw his shot cleared off the line. The whole team worked hard to deny our opponents time and space and this was typified by James Verney sprinting back to tackle and stop an opposition player from getting away.
They visitors did manage to finally rouse themselves after a testing opening 20 minutes but despite producing some decent moves and looking threatening when their lively leading scorer Lorrell Smith was on the ball they failed to test young Patrick Sinfield in goal.
A period of pressure finally told in the 33rd minute with Town keeper Robbie Ponting making 3 terrific saves, firstly from Jon Clements and then Ashton Campbell but was finally beaten by Clems clever deft header into the corner from a Jack Sunderland cross. Score 2-0.
A superb first half ended with us holding a two goal lead and looking in control of the game, but with still 45 minutes to go. HT Score 2-0.
Any hopes Arlesey may have had that we may run out of steam after a highly charged first half were dispelled within 26 seconds of the restart when a lovely move set up Jon Clements whose shot was saved by the keeper. Just a few minutes later it was James Verney's turn to test the visitors keeper.
Our supporters didn't have to wait long for a third goal - just eight minutes into the second half. When a visiting defender failed to keep control of the ball Jon Clements seized on the opportunity to run through and coolly slot the ball home for his first hat-trick for the Club. That was Clems 6th goal of the season and has been a superb signing. Score 3-0.
On the hour we made absolutely sure of the result with a 4th goal again of some quality. We were awarded a free kick a few yards outside of the area and up stepped George Ironton to curl the ball over the wall and beyond the keeper's reach for a top, top goal. Score 4-0.
With over an hour gone Arlesey had still not conjured up a scoring opportunity of any note but they had a faint glimmer of hope in the 68th minute when visiting captain Jason Darvall just failed to convert an inviting cross into our area.
James Verney went close with a free kick, Ashton Campbell forced the keeper into a good save after he skilfully created space for a shot in a crowded area then he later volleyed an opportunity wide after Carl Mensah had headed a free kick back across goal. Then George Ironton hit the bar with a free kick from almost the identical same spot that he scored from.
George Ironton capped a fine performance (he has been another terrific new signing) with his second goal in the 85th minute. Carl Mensah started the move with one of his long, raking passes that picked out Aston Campbell who unselfishly laid the ball off to George to convert his 7th goal of the season and to round off the scoring. Score 5-0.
However the game was not over for Patrick Sinfield who had to be alert to tip over a well struck shot in time added on from Aedan Gaffney to ensure he kept a clean sheet. FT Score 5-0.
The win ensures we still remain top ahead of Hadley (3 points behind) and Biggleswade United (8 points adrift) with us having a much better goal difference than both of our rivals.
Our main rivals Biggleswade FC slipped to 4th place after Losing 2-1 at home to Colney Heath. The Beds side are 9 points behind with 3 games in hand but have hit a patch of poor form with just 8 points gained from their last 6 league games.
We will find out on Tuesday (26/3/19) what sort of form Biggleswade FC are in when we visit our rivals for a League Cup Semi-Final. Then on Saturday we face another tough game when we visit Colney Heath.
Finally it was a good day all round with the Reserves beating League Leaders Ascot United 5-2 away. It was Ascot's first defeat in the league and our Reserves are now only 3 points behind them in second place.
Also congratulations to the A Team who won 2-1 away at Glenn Sports, who had a certain Sam Joliffe in their ranks, to reach the Final of the West Herts Senior Cup. This will be their second final having already reached the final of the Herts Junior Cup.
Well done to both teams.
Teams:
TA:1 Pat Sinfield 2 Brima Johnson 3 Jack Sunderland (15 Joe Fitzgerald 72) 4 Mark Riddick (12 Lee Stobbs 62) 5 Dave OConnor 6 Carl Mensah 7 James Verney 8 Jon Clements (14 Luke Dunstan 62) 9 Ashton Campbell 10 Kieran Turner (Capt) 11 George Ironton. Sub not used: 16 Roy Byron.
AT:1 Robbie Ponting 2 Lewis Sinclair (14 Phil Payne 62) 3 Demi Debola 4 Jason Darvall (Capt) 5 Aaron Gooch 6 Adam Randall (12 Fabian Brown-Johnson 87) 7 Ryan Lamond (16 Aaron Browne 54) 8 Stuart Richardson 9 Lorrell Smith 10 Alex O'Brien 11 Aedan Gaffney. Subs not used: 15 Ricky Lawrence, 17 Adam Mead.
Scorers
TA:Jon Clements (4, 33, 53), George Ironton (60, 85).
AT:-
Crowd:118
