Broxbourne Borough V & E 2 - 5 BTFC (Divisional Cup Rd 2)

Manager Chris Nunn made 6 changes for this cup tie on Tuesday night and The Waders had to weather an early storm from Boro'. It was against the run of play then when a neat breakaway brought the first goal of 7 on the night and all bar one were absolute crackers.

Boro scored from a magnificent free kick and a debutant signing from Stoke City for Bigg Town got a corking goal also. Keith Thomas grabbed a brace and was awarded man of the match. A late error from keeper Aaron Springham brought the score to 5-2, but the result was never in danger. The teas were great and tasted even better when a benched centre half is buying them!

Waders will now travel to Ruislip Manor in Round 3

During the day at the new stadium, the road network and car parks started to take real shape with tarmac being delivered all this week. The floodlights arrive on Tuesday and I can't wait to see them up and running.

Up The Waders!

Biggleswade Town 2-1 Hertford

'The Waders' went to the top of the table for the first time since 1993 this afternoon with a hard worked for victory over rivals Hertford Town. It was the visitors who took the lead but a goal before half time by defender Neil Morgan and then on 65 minutes through goal machine Dan Heron ensured all 3 points.

With the news that the mornings league leaders Harefield had lost at home to Broxbourne Borough V & E (who themselves had lost 6-0 in midweek!) meant that the top of the table slot was secured.

It was a thoroughly entertaining match fought for competitively by both sides and for Biggleswade Town a much more gutsy performance than the Wednesday night disappointment at Oxhey Jets (who won away from home today 7-0).

The top slot is not the be all and end all at this time of the season, but the teams hard work has deserved it. More is to be learnt and fought for though as a series of tough fixtures looms.

Well done one and all
Up The Waders!

Oxhey Jets 3-2 BTFC

Well, what a mess that was last night. Instead of going to the top of the table (which initself isn't the be all and end all at this stage of the season) we're looking back and trying to analyse why lessons have not been learnt from losing a 2 goal lead. To do it once offers a chance to learn, twice points to something wrong.

Despite what someone told me (who should know better really) we didn't have such a poor first half. We contained them well and scored 2 goals - Bradley Harrison from an acute angle on 18 minutes and Jamie Steele on 41 minutes after sublime work from Dan Heron had mesmerisded all who were watching. Our starting formation gave little cause for concern in the first period, with Harrison being very effective on the left and our defence holding their positions well.

The second period was a different matter though. Oxhey shifted things about a bit and Dan Heron was constantly shadowed, often with one defender just tucked in goalward side as well. They had learned their lessons from the first half well, and now used the midfield to their advantage, supplemented by 2 astute substitutions. That wasn't to say we didn't have a couple of golden chances though to seal the match, but couldn't find the that bit of quality when it mattered. Our formation play was beginning to collapse though under pressure, with only 3 effective players now in midfield for us and one of those playing ineffectually out of position. The front two became one and he became more and more isolated as ball after ball pinged straight back to a now crumbling defence as the midfield became overrun. It was only a matter of time before the now disorganised defence went the same way.

For me the substitutions came far too late as we continued to be reactive rather than pro-active and the second sub came on only after the lead had been whittled away. The fact we had a fully loaded 'bench' made it all the more frustrating.

The writing had been on the wall and we had stoically ignored it. 3-2 was another inevitable and it came in short enough order. Oxhey celebrated like they had won the FA Cup itself, and they deserved it thoroughly. For us a shabby performance and one that was tactically strange.

So, another 2 goal lead thrown away in a match we should really have done much better in. Grinding out performances away from home on a cold midweek evening is a an absolute must if this team wants to prove it's credentials to anyone.

Hertford at home (Bedford FC) on Saturday (3pm KO) now to look forward to.

Another week digging holes

The latest date for the Carlsberg Stadium grand opening is now in November some time. Floodlights arrive this week although erection depends on the weather. The 5/7-a-side facility buildings will be completed this month with 3 sets of changing rooms & showers ready to use and ideal for first team training until the main building is ready.

For 3 days now the pitch has had a makeover from a nice old gent with a country accent and some quite amazing machinery. He marvelled at the 60 tons of sand ready and waiting for him and waxed lyrical about the quality of it until we all fell about laughing at one mans intimate knowledge of such a thing. Still, he knows his onions (or in this case football pitches) and 3 days of intensive and expensive work has left the hallowed turf looking tasty & edible.

After a trip down to Upton Park today I can confirm that our pitch at least is looking as good as West Ham's who are also building things at their stadium - in this instance a new box exclusively for Sky Sports - apparantly they didn't like the one allocated to them last season. Hmmm.

Back in reality world, the dugouts were completed yesterday with a concrete technical area top-surfaced in astroturf. All workers on site promptly filled the covered benches, pretended they were George Borg and with interesting gestures screamed loudly at the empty pitch. Their taste for managers fame sated they were duly forced out of the shelters and back to work digging holes and trenches and filling them with concrete, because that's what our workers like to do!

No more concrete pouring tomorrow, but an SSML Premier Division match away at Oxhey Jets. KO 7.30pm.

Up The Waders!