A M A T C H T D A Y P R F O G R A C M M E ARLESEY TOWN Bedford Tuesday 14th February Town Senior Cup
GGood evening and welcome to New Lamb Meadow for tonight’s Bedfordshire Senior Challenge Cup Quarter Final. We host Bedford Town, who are two divisions above us, having recently had a change in management. We come into this game in completely different form to when we knocked Step 4 Barton Rovers out of the last round. That display from my players optimised the belief running through the squad at the moment. We have lost just one game in the last 8, and although tonight’s test is something completely different, it will be a chance for us to try some new things and rest some players. With three games in five days between tonight and Saturday we are having to heavily rotate the squad to ensure we are as fresh as possible in each game. Tonight and Thursday are pressure-less games, as we clearly need to focus our attention to picking up points in the league. Ten points from the last seven league games is a start to pushing on from the position we are in. We would obviously prefer to have more wins instead of the draws but three of the draws came against three of the top six teams at the time of playing them. The message is consistent - we need points so if we can’t win a game, let’s make sure we don’t lose it. The progression this group has made is brilliant. Our defensive displays have meant we’ve conceded less than a goal per game in the last 8, with three clean sheets. Considering we have the youngest defence in the league the work everyone is putting in on and off the pitch will hopefully see us achieve what we all want to come the end of April. Our new attacking players are still gelling with the group and when they start to click, which there were signs of on Saturday, we will start seeing more goals again. We have a huge game on Saturday against London Colney - the proverbial six-pointer as they are currently bottom - but with their new signings it poses just as much threat as anyone else in the league. Please get behind the boys tonight and Saturday with as much noise as you’ve brought to the recent games. Enjoy the game. NICK BROWN
TODAY'S OPPONENT TBedford Town Football Club was formed in 1908 and has had a mixed history, that has seen it reach the higher levels of nonleague football, with some notable cup runs on the way. The Eagles started life playing in the United Counties League, and its predecessors the Northampton League and Northampton Alliance. In 1945 they moved to the Southern League but had little success until 1951 when player/manager Ronnie Rooke joined the club. Having a well-known former England and topflight footballer, inspired the local population to back the club, which paid off with some notable scalps in the FA Cup in the mid 50’s when Bedford saw national fame as giant killers. Notable victories included Watford 3-2, Norwich 2-4, Newcastle 1-2, Exeter 1-2, Brighton 2-1 and Oxford 1-0, but maybe the 2-2 draw at Highbury against Arsenal in front of 55,000 fans was their biggest achievement. Rooke’s management reign came to an end and the 60’s and 70’s saw a string of managers including Barry Fry in 1977 who was followed by Trevor Gould. The last match for the Eagles at its home in Queens Park was in 1982, when the grounds leaseholders reserved their right to terminate their contract. After 74 years, Bedford’s football team was no more. Bedford Town supporters have always been a determined bunch, and on 5th May 1989 some of them met with the aim of starting a campaign to reform the club. That campaign was so successful that they soon got council permission to play on a public pitch in Queens Park, finishing fourth in the first reformed season in the South Midlands League. Runaway success in the 1992/3 season under Terry King and Tony Sullivan saw them needing their own ground to progress. The council decided that the most appropriate location for the club was at a former tree nursery at Meadow Lane in Cardington. With financial support from the council and hard work by supporters the ground was ready for its first match Infront of a bumper crowd of 3,000 at the New Eyrie when Peterborough United came to town. The Eagles in their new home started life in the SML Premier Division and remained top all season, meaning more work at the ground was needed. Two more successive promotions followed before the club hit a stumbling block and risked relegation. The decision was made to Bring Mick Foster in as manager from Buckingham Town, who brought several of his players with him, rescuing the season where they finished in eighth in the end. 97/98 was Fosters best season, narrowly missing out on promotion and winning the Vandenel Cup and the Beds Premier Cup. Former players Jason Reed and Tony Luff took over as joint managers in 1998/99, having a good run in the FA Trophy, finally losing to the eventual winners Tiverton Town in the fifth round Infront of a bumper crown of 1,566 at the New Eyrie. Roger Ashby arrived the following season, with another strong cup run, this time losing out to Conference side Yeovil Town in the fourth round of the FA Trophy Infront of 2,010. he change of millennium also saw changes for the Eagles as they become a Private Limited Company, owned by David Howells. A generally poor season but great run in the FA Cup saw Match of the Day cameras arrive at the Eyrie as a bumper crowd enjoyed our 0-0 draw against then Division 2 Peterborough United, the replay at London Road saw Bedford miss out in a 2-1 score line. Ashby’s departure saw the arrival of former Northern Ireland international and Northampton Town Manager Kevin Wilson, results improved with him, but he soon departed to Aylesbury United. Dave Randell was next to take charge, but a poor run of results saw him replaced by Nick Platnauer. Platnauers first season in charge saw the team just miss out on promotion, but his second in 2005/06 saw the club move into its new facilities at the beginning of the season with a new function room and football facilities up to National Conference standard. The club were consistent throughout the season and earned a Playoff final spot at Chippenham. The Eagles had their day with a magnificent 3-2 win, the winning goal coming from a wonder strike by Tom Bonner two minutes from time. The Eagles now facing a new challenge in Nationwide South, the highest standard the club have played in since re-formation in 1990. The Eagles found life hard in the Conference South and in February 2007, Platnauer resigned, being replaced by Stuart Bimson. Results improved, but they were not enough to prevent relegation, and Bedford’s short foray into Conference football was over. Things got worse the following season, with a second relegation only avoided by the financial problems of other teams. Lee Howarth took over in the 2008/09 season, but struggled to find form, being replaced the following season by former Reading Captain and Welsh International Ady Williams. Survival in the division came in the last game of the season, where a 2-0 win over Tiverton saw survival by a point. The following season saw assistant manager Ady Hall promoted to the top job, but he struggled to find form and Nick Platnaeur returned to the club as his assistant before taking the helm again. Platnaeurs departure in 2013, saw a string of other manager appointments in the following years. Lee Barman from Cranfield United, former player Danny Nicholls, and Wellingborough Manager Craig Adams, who was in charge as the Eagles were relegated to Southern League Division One. Jon Taylor took over in 2015/16 and his first full season in charge the following year saw a mid-table finish. The 2017/18 season saw one of the clubs most significant moments, when in February 2018 the club was brought by a local consortium headed by David and Jon Taylor, while on the pitch the team missed out on playoffs, finishing once in 8th place. Rebuilding, of the club and the team followed during the Summer with several former league players joining. The team enjoyed a fantastic run in both the FA Cup and Trophy in 2018/19, but that affected results in the League, although they did make the playoffs, losing out to Corby Town. On 13th October 2019 the passing of owner David Taylor, saw his son and Manager Jon become club Director. With Jon moving upstairs Assistant Manager Nathan Abbey stepped up as Manager, winning his first match, but losing the next seven in nine, eventually being replaced by former player Mark Duckett.The season was declared null and void due to Covid-19, and work began preparing for the resumption of football in September 2020. An early exit in the FA Cup and defeat in the first League match last season aw Duckett depart, to be replaced by current manager Gary Setchell. Setchell and his assistant Darren Edey started their tenure well last season, remaining undefeated until the season was eventually curtailed once again. The 2021-22 season saw the prize the Eagles have been pursuing for
Leverstock Grn 0 Arlesey Town 0 With Leverstock away being the start of 4 games in 7 days for Arlesey, this was the start of a busy week. With the weather mild and a good flat surface Arlesey elected to play up the slope to start, those that know Leverstock will know that the slope plays a part of games there. Leverstock started strongly passing the ball around well. Adrian Pitfield had a shot that was well taken by Ollie Skinner and a good move down the wing by Luke Beckwith was well policed out by Will Mcclelland. A foul by Alex Taylor got him a deserved booking. The FK hit the wall before being put back in and put out for a corner that was headed wide. Another Home corner was well met by Alvin Kyeremeh but also well defended by Mcclelland heading over the bar for another corner that was well cleared by Dan Udanoh. Leverstock were pressing down the slope; Ethan Moody and Dan Weeks combined well but we're again well stopped by Mcclelland putting the ball out for a throw that came to Adrian Pitfield but his long range effort as the Arlesey defence closed him down was an easy take for Skinner. Another FK found Beckwith but his cross in was again well taken by Skinner. Another Leverstock corner came to Ibrahim Naghels who hit a good volley that was again well headed clear by Mcclelland. Leverstock kept pressing with Beckwith attacking into the box and again being g blocked by Mcclelland, and rom another corner Kyeremeh headed well over. A clear foul on Luke Smith was ignored or not seen by the ref but the ball went out to Gabriel Ryan who crossed in but it was taken by the keeper. A Leverstock cross in was well cleared by Dan Wappett before ex Arlesey player Elgeney Darlberg broke into the box before putting his cross/shot across the face of the goal and past the post. Taylor was clearly fouled but strangly the FK was awarded to Leverstock although it came to nothing before just before the break Kyeremeh got into the box and hit a shot that brought a good save from Skinner leaving it all square at HT. Now playing down the slope Arlesey pushed forward for the 2nd period. Taylor was fouled (again) on the edge of the box. The FK from Bruno Brito Wass cleared out to Reece Crowter but his shot was wide of the target. Arlesey looked much better now as they played down the slope; Brito found Ryan whose cross in was cleared. From a throw Smith showed some good skill to escape a crowd of defenders and hit a low shot that was taken by the keeper. Another clear foul on Smith was not given despite plea's from the bench. Ryan won a corner and from this Arlesey found Taylor who hit a good shot just overvthe bar. Arlesey replaced Ryan with Jaime Nvymba as they started preserving legs for the week ahead. A good ball from Tom Millett found Nvumba who put in a good cross, the keeper spilled the ball and Brito attacked the loose ball by the post, the defender clattered into the back of Brito and a huge shut of penalty went up fro nearly all of the Arlesey team but it was ignored by the ref, the ball was half cleared but then quickly recycled out to Smith who tried to curl it around the keeper who just about got a finger to it to stop what looked a goal. MATCH REPORT CHRIS STERRY A by now rare shot fro the home side was well stopped again by Mcclelland before yet another clear foul on Smith was again ignored by the ref but he didn't ignore Mcclelland going in on the Leverstock player, this the ref decided was studs up which it wasn't and he booked Mcclelland. Arlesey made a double change as Diamagio Robinson replaced Smith and new signing Freddie Stanley replaced Taylor. From a FK a good shot was well saved by Skinner pushing the ball onto the bar before the follow up shot was well over the bar. A good cross in from the by-line was well hooked out out by Mcclelland for a corner that was cleared. Nvumba worked well into the Leverstock box and found Crowter who found Brito who hit a good volley thatxwas cleared. Arlesey replaced Vinnie Baker with Matt Gilbert. A Leverstock corner was headed out for another by Mcclelland and that was well punched clear by Skinner before another clear foul on Stanley was yet again ignored by the ref. A FK from Brito was well taken by the keeper off of Mcclellands head A foul on Crowter was again not given and this led to the players starting to get frustrated with each other and a bit of "handbags" that would not have happened if the ref had done his job. A home corner was well cleared by Stanley before a good turn and shot by the Leverstock sub went over the bar. Brito was felled by a elbow but as the now normal it was waived away as Brito was left on the floor. A long ball found Robinson who tried to chip the keeper who was out of position but it went just put the post A cross in from Nvumba found Crowter who found Brito but as he found Robinson the flag went up for a tight O/S. As the game moved to added time the Leverstock winger cut in and hit a good shot that was again blocked by Mcclelland who was having an immense game for a corner. This was blocked by Brito for another corner that was cleared by Dan Udanoh. Right atvthe end a cross from Crowter found Robinson who jumped with the keeper and backheaded past him but it skimmed just past the post. FT 0-0. A good point and although the slope obviously dictated the game to be two separate half's Arlesey showed great defending in the 1st period especially. But they could also have taken the 3 points. Onward to Tuesday and the Beds Senior Cup game at home to Bedford Town.
POS Team P W D L GD PTS 1 Stotfold 23 14 7 2 25 49 2 Leighton Town 20 14 3 3 36 45 3 Crawley Green 24 14 3 7 21 45 4 Dunstable Town 21 12 6 3 19 42 5 St Panteleimon 24 12 4 8 7 40 6 Leverstock Green 23 9 10 4 13 37 7 Biggleswade United 19 11 3 5 7 36 8 Risborough Rangers 21 10 5 6 11 35 9 Potton United 22 9 8 5 8 35 10 Tring Athletic 22 9 5 8 -1 32 11 Aylesbury Vale Dynamos 23 9 4 10 2 31 12 Cockfosters 23 7 9 7 5 30 13 Shefford Town & Campton 22 9 2 11 2 29 14 Ardley United 23 7 7 9 -5 28 15 Harpenden Town 22 8 4 10 -5 28 16 Baldock Town 26 8 3 15 -17 27 17 Colney Heath 25 5 4 16 -26 19 18 Arlesey Town 24 4 6 14 -18 18 19 Hoddesdon Town 24 4 6 14 -34 18 20 London Colney 23 1 3 19 -50 6 SSML PREMIER DIVISION 2 0 2 2 FIXTURES TABLE RESULTS PREM 14/02/23 19:45 Cockfosters VS Leverstock Green PREM 14/02/23 19:45 Harpenden Town VS Dunstable Town PREM 14/02/23 19:45 London Colney VS St Panteleimon PREM 14/02/23 19:45 Stotfold VS Baldock Town GCT 14/02/23 19:45 Northampton Sileby Rangers VS Leighton Town DLC 14/02/23 19:45 Potton United VS Ardley United CC 14/02/23 19:45 Arlesey Town First VS Bedford Town First GCT 16/02/23 19:45 Holmer Green VS Cockfosters GCT 16/02/23 19:45 Potton United VS Arlesey Town PREM 18/02/23 15:00 Ardley United VS Shefford Town & Campton PREM 18/02/23 15:00 Arlesey Town VS London Colney PREM 18/02/23 15:00 Colney Heath VS Aylesbury Vale Dynamos PREM 18/02/23 15:00 Dunstable Town VS Leverstock Green PREM 18/02/23 15:00 Harpenden Town VS Baldock Town PREM 18/02/23 15:00 Hoddesdon Town VS Biggleswade United PREM 18/02/23 15:00 Risborough Rangers VS Cockfosters PREM 18/02/23 15:00 Stotfold VS St Panteleimon PREM 18/02/23 15:00 Tring Athletic VS Leighton Town GCT 18/02/23 15:00 Rugby Borough VS Crawley Green Sat 11 Feb 2023 15:00 PREM Baldock Town 1 - 2 Biggleswade United PREM Crawley Green 0 - 0 Aylesbury Vale Dynamos PREM Dunstable Town 2 - 0 Hoddesdon Town PREM Harpenden Town 4 - 1 Potton United PREM Leighton Town 0 - 2 Cockfosters PREM Leverstock Green 0 - 0 Arlesey Town PREM Shefford Town & Campton 2 - 3 Risborough Rangers PREM St Panteleimon 1 - 2 Colney Heath PREM Stotfold 3 - 0 Ardley United FAV Tring Athletic 1 - 2 Bury AFC Fifth Round Thu 09 Feb 2023 19:30 DLC Ardley United 3 - 2 Hoddesdon Town Tue 07 Feb 2023 19:45 PREM Aylesbury Vale Dynamos 2 - 0 Colney Heath PREM Baldock Town 0 - 3 Ardley United SC null A - A null PREM Dunstable Town 5 - 1 Cockfosters PREM Leverstock Green 1 - 0 St Panteleimon PREM Risborough Rangers 0 - 0 Stotfold PREM Potton United 0 - 4 Shefford Town & Campton
Player Goals Yel Red Started Subbed On Captain Ali Don, Khalid Azimi, Raphael 1 Baker, Vinnie 2 1 20 1 Balogun, Lanrewaju 1 2 2 Banks, Jayden blackwood, cordell 3 7 1 Brooks-Ritchie, Courtney 1 2 Busby, Rory 4 4 Cankurt, Furkan 1 Crowter, Reece Lewis Patrick 1 10 1 Dallas, Tarik 1 9 1 Davis-Thomas, Lavel 2 5 1 Davis, Jake 3 2 Ejiasi, Richmond 1 Ezeigwe Udanoh, Daniel Chukwubuikem 2 19 2 Gaffney, Aedan 1 3 17 4 Gilbert, Matt 2 8 1 Gilmartin, Lincoln Joseph 1 4 5 Gooch, Aaron 2 9 4 Jaiyeola, Akintomide 6 5 Kanu, Amadu 1 Lobo Brito, Bruno 1 1 20 5 14 Ludlow-Hillard, Ryan 1 15 Maslin, Harry 2 5 2 McClelland, William 4 8 21 2 4 Mendoza, Jesus 2 1 8 3 Millett, Tom 4 16 4 Mmakola, Thami 1 4 11 6 Mohamed, Yousaf 3 Mortimer, Stuart 2 12 8 Newman, Mathew 1 Nwogwugwu, Alvin Obama Nvumba, Jaime 1 2 1 Otono, Ivan 1 1 6 3 Randall, Adam 10 5 8 Robinson, Dimagio Treorry Jahlemo 1 1 Ryan, Gabriel 1 1 Sayer, Archie 1 SQUAD STATS 2 0 2 2
PREM 02/08/22 19:45 Arlesey Town 0-2 Biggleswade United FAC 06/08/22 15:00 Barton Rovers 1-1 Arlesey Town FAC 06/08/22 15:00 Arlesey Town 0-2 Barton Rovers PREM 13/08/22 15:00 Colney Heath 2-0 Arlesey Town Prem 20/08/22 / 15:00 Arlesey Town 1-1 Tring Atheltic FAV 27/08/22 15:00 Milton Keynes Irish First 1-0 Arlesey Town PREM 03/09/22 15:00 Risborough Rangers 5-3 Arlesey Town Cup 06/09/22 19:45 London Colney 1-2 Arlesey Town PREM 13/09/22 19:45 Arlesey Town 0-1 St Panteleimon PREM 17/09/22 15:00 Cockfosters 1-0 Arlesey Town PREM 24/09/22 19:45 Arlesey Town 2-3 Shefford Town & Campton PREM 01/10/22 15:00 Arlesey Town 1-1 Leverstock Green PREM 08/10/22 15:00 London Colney 0-2 Arlesey Town PREM 15/10/22 15:00 Harpenden Town 2-0 Arlesey Town PREM 10/09/22 15:00 Aylesbury Vale Dynamos 2-3 Arlesey Town PREM 11/10/22 19:45 Arlesey Town 0-1 Potton United PREM 05/11/22 15:00 Tring Athletic 3-0 Arlesey Town Beds 17/11/22/ 19:45 Barton Rovers 1-2 Arlesey Town PREM 19/11/22 15:00 Arlesey Town 0-2 Risborough Rangers PREM 22/11/22 19:45 Dunstable Town 2-0 Arlesey Town PREM 26/11/22 19:45 Arlesey Town 2-3 Ardley United PREM 03/12/22 15:00 Hoddesdon Town 1-3 Arlesey Town PREM 27/12/22 15:00 Arlesey Town 1-0 Baldock Town PREM 07/01/23 15:00 Potton United 2-2 Arlesey Town PREM 10/01/23 19:45 Arlesey Town 0-0 Stotfold PREM 14/01/23 15:00 Arlesey Town p-p Colney Heath PREM 21/01/23 15:00 Arlesey Town VS Aylesbury Vale Dynamos PREM 28/01/23 15:00 Arlesey Town 1-1 Cockfosters PREM 04/02/23 15:00 Arlesey Town 0-1 Dunstable Town PREM 11/02/23 15:00 Leverstock Green 0-0 Arlesey Town PREM 18/02/23 15:00 Arlesey Town VS London Colney PREM 04/03/23 15:00 Stotfold VS Arlesey Town PREM 11/03/23 15:00 Arlesey Town VS Harpenden Town PREM 18/03/23 15:00 St Panteleimon VS Arlesey Town PREM 28/03/23 Arlesey Town VS Leighton Town PREM 01/04/23 15:00 Shefford Town & Campton VS Arlesey Town PREM 08/04/23 15:00 Arlesey Town VS Crawley Green PREM 10/04/23 15:00 Baldock Town VS Arlesey Town PREM 15/04/23 15:00 Biggleswade United VS Arlesey Town PREM 22/04/23 15:00 Arlesey Town VS Hoddesdon Town PREM 18/04/22 15:00 Leighton Town VS Arlesey Town FIXTURES & RESULTS 2 0 2 2
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