WE LOSE BUT STILL STAY TOP

Our terrific run of 7 wins and a draw from our last 8 league games came to an end at Colney Heath on Saturday. Our 3 main rivals all won but we still remain top ahead on goal difference over Hadley who on Tuesday face 4th placed Biggleswade FC who are 6 points behind but have 3 games in hand. The other team in the running is Biggleswade United who are 3rd but are 5 points behind us.

It perhaps come as no surprise that we should come away empty handed as we have a very poor record at the Recreation Ground with just 5 victories from 21 visits.

The home side have been in fine fettle themselves having lost just once in their last 7 games and on the previous Saturday they inflicted a defeat on high riding Biggleswade FC.

The game was fast and furious and generally lacking in quality. It was fitting that a scruffy game should be settled 10 minutes from time with a fluke. Home player Danny Fitzgerald sent over a high hanging cross that deceived our young keeper Pat Sinfield who watched in horror as the ball hit the post just below the bar and bounce into the net.

We thought that we were going to be awarded a penalty after only 11 minutes when a home defender handled the bar well inside the area (so we are told by spectators standing nearby). However, the referee instead gave a free kick just outside the box.

We produced some promising moves during the early stages with James Verney and Jon Clements combining in the 27th minute to set up Ashton Campbell with a good shooting opportunity in the area but his left foot shot went wide of the far post.

Former Athletic player Chris Blunden shot over and centre back Sam Doolan headed a corner over the bar. Left winger Jack Woods was causing problems down the left wing but his crosses tended to be over hit. He did manage to get to a ball played into our area but his lob went over.

Ashton Campbell managed to get to the bye line but felt he was bundled over, but the Officials were not impressed.

A generally poor half unsurprisingly ended score less. HT Score 0-0.

Jack Wood managed to get goal side of his defender but sent his shot wide of the far post. It was a carbon copy of the first half with little to keep the crowd entertained. Jon Clements finally found some space and struck a fierce shot that the keeper Tom Blackman saved at the second attempt.

A scoreless draw looked the likely outcome with neither side threatening much around the goal areas but then came the goal out of the blue to give the home side the lead. Score 1-0.

We pushed forward leaving ourselves vulnerable at the back and Jack Wood and Harry Lewis nearly capitalised on the opportunity but the former's effort went wide whilst the latter forced a good save from Pat Sinfield.

There was one last roll of the dice for us when George Ironton went close with a difficult volley. But it was too little too late and Colney Heath for the second week running managed to bloody the nose of a title contender. FT Score 1-0.

This was an off day for our players and they may have had a hangover from Tuesday nights cup tie at Biggleswade FC. It was a poor performance all round but we are still very much in the mix and with 5 games to go we cannot afford anymore slip ups. Credit must go to Colney Heath who knocked us out of our stride and made life difficult for us.

Next up we have a home game against North Greenford on Saturday with a 3pm kick off.

Teams:

CH:1 Tom Blackman 2 Dominic Knaggs 3 Danny May 4 Joe Ladbury 5 Sam Doolan 6 Danny Fitzgerald 7 Daniel Westmore 8 Andy Sears-Black 9 Chris Blunden (15 Harry Lewis 61) 10 Spencer Clarke-Mardel (Capt) 11 Jack Woods. Subs not used: 12 Harry Shepherd 14 George Devine 16 Callum Dudrenec .

TA:1 Pat Sinfield 2 Joe Fitzgerald (12 Lee Stobbs 83) 3 Brima Johnson 4 Mark Riddick 5 Dave OConnor 6 Carl Mensah 7 James Verney (15 Billie Busari 63) 8 Luke Dunstan 9 Ashton Campbell 10 Jon Clements (Capt) 11 George Ironton. Subs not used: 14 Roy Byron 16 Tommy Twelves 17 Connor Sansom.

Scorers

CH:Danny Fitzgerald (80)

TA:-

Crowd:182

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