Having already watched the first Bedfordshire Senior Trophy semi-final between Caldecote and AFC Oakley, I decided it was only right that I paid a visit to the second semi-final on Tuesday evening. Tier 6 Stotfold Reserves, the highest ranked side left in the competition, were taking on Bedfordshire County League Premier side, Queens Park Crescents. Both teams are currently in mid-table of their respective leagues
Both mid-table in their respective leagues, so could afford to devote some efforts toward the promise of some silverware.
Stotfold Reserves had made it to the semi-final by means of a 1st Round 3-1 defeat of Riseley Sports, another Bedfordshire County Premier side. In round two they were up against another team from that league, Biggleswade United Reserves. This ended 2-2 with The Eagles going through 3-1 on penalties. The quarter-final was at home to fellow Spartan League side, Ampthill Town, which Stotfold won 4-1.
QPC received a first round bye but then went on to beat Spartan Division One side Langford 2-0 in the second round. The quarter final was against current Bedfordshire County Premier League leaders, Marston Shelton Rovers. Crescents came through with a 4-2 score line.
Both mid-table in their respective leagues, so could afford to devote some efforts toward the promise of some silverware.
Stotfold Reserves had made it to the semi-final by means of a 1st Round 3-1 defeat of Riseley Sports, another Bedfordshire County Premier side. In round two they were up against another team from that league, Biggleswade United Reserves. This ended 2-2 with The Eagles going through 3-1 on penalties. The quarter-final was at home to fellow Spartan League side, Ampthill Town, which Stotfold won 4-1.
QPC received a first round bye but then went on to beat Spartan Division One side Langford 2-0 in the second round. The quarter final was against current Bedfordshire County Premier League leaders, Marston Shelton Rovers. Crescents came through with a 4-2 score line.
Wilcocks scores from the spot Stotfold made a quick start to the game. Strike Bobby Wilcock looked very lively, leading the line well and giving the Queens Park defenders plenty to think about. As early as the 6th minute only a last-ditch and brave defensive block prevented Wilcock from opening the scoring with a powerful shot from inside the 6-yard box.
The visitors responded in kind to the early pressure. An excellent run from Hassan Yousaf, bursting rom the centre of the park to overlap on the right, was found with a slide-rule pass. Yousaf's touch put the ball slightly too far ahead as he drove into the box, allowing The Eagles keeper Louis O'Neill to rush out. Yousaf managed to poke at the ball, putting it into the side-netting as his momentum carried him into the keeper. Both players were up after a short stoppage.
Crescents had displayed that they were capable of causing problems, but after 14 minutes they found themselves a goal down. Bobby Wilcock, with some nifty close control, weaved into the box and was brought crashing to the ground by a stray defensive boot. No doubt it was a penalty but great credit to Wilcock, a wily character who was fully aware that he was going to get some contact. Clever forward play. The striker picked himself up to take the spot-kick, sending Amaan Hussain the wrong way. 1-0
The home side were beginning to dominate the play at this point and it felt as if another goal may be on the cards. However, Queens Park dug in and, despite not threatening the home goal too much, they did prevent The Eagles from getting any meaningful chances on target.
With 35 minutes on the clock I posted that Stotfold were on top but couldn't find a second goal. Of course, no more than a minute later, they scored. Billy Little produced the perfect cross from the left, curling the ball into the six-yard box where Bobby Wilcock met it, flying in to volley into the corner of the net. 2-0
Once again, Crescents tried to respond. With 3 minutes of the half remaining Haseeb Fariad let fly with a rasping 25-yard free-kick that wasn't too far wide of O'Neil's post.
HT Stotfold Reserves 2 Queens Park Crescents 0. There was no doubt that Stotfold had the better of the half. They'd dominated possession and probably would have liked to have already put the game beyond the reach of their opponents. Queens Park had been restricted to long-range efforts in the main.
The visitors responded in kind to the early pressure. An excellent run from Hassan Yousaf, bursting rom the centre of the park to overlap on the right, was found with a slide-rule pass. Yousaf's touch put the ball slightly too far ahead as he drove into the box, allowing The Eagles keeper Louis O'Neill to rush out. Yousaf managed to poke at the ball, putting it into the side-netting as his momentum carried him into the keeper. Both players were up after a short stoppage.
Crescents had displayed that they were capable of causing problems, but after 14 minutes they found themselves a goal down. Bobby Wilcock, with some nifty close control, weaved into the box and was brought crashing to the ground by a stray defensive boot. No doubt it was a penalty but great credit to Wilcock, a wily character who was fully aware that he was going to get some contact. Clever forward play. The striker picked himself up to take the spot-kick, sending Amaan Hussain the wrong way. 1-0
The home side were beginning to dominate the play at this point and it felt as if another goal may be on the cards. However, Queens Park dug in and, despite not threatening the home goal too much, they did prevent The Eagles from getting any meaningful chances on target.
With 35 minutes on the clock I posted that Stotfold were on top but couldn't find a second goal. Of course, no more than a minute later, they scored. Billy Little produced the perfect cross from the left, curling the ball into the six-yard box where Bobby Wilcock met it, flying in to volley into the corner of the net. 2-0
Once again, Crescents tried to respond. With 3 minutes of the half remaining Haseeb Fariad let fly with a rasping 25-yard free-kick that wasn't too far wide of O'Neil's post.
HT Stotfold Reserves 2 Queens Park Crescents 0. There was no doubt that Stotfold had the better of the half. They'd dominated possession and probably would have liked to have already put the game beyond the reach of their opponents. Queens Park had been restricted to long-range efforts in the main.
QPC attacking the car park end It wasn't too long into the second half before it became apparent that Queens Park were determined to give it a real go. They were noticeably quicker to the ball, snappier in the tackle and generally more on the front foot than in the first half. They were starting to get under the skin of the Stotfold team but still couldn't find a way to beat O'Neil.
In fact, just past the hour, it was Stotfold who had a golden opportunity to put the result beyond doubt. Charlie Scott was put through with a clear run on goal. However, he hadn't bargained on Hussain, who was off his line quickly to make a very good block. Excellent goalkeeping, something that was going to be a theme in the last 20 minutes or so of the game. On 68 minutes Hussain was at it again. This time going full length to get fingertips to a Billy Little drive that was heading for the bottom corner.
This half, however, The Eagles weren't able to dominate play as the had in the first and, five minutes later, Crescents came within a whisker of getting a goal back when Fariad smashed another long-range free-kick agonisingly past the post. Each effort was getting closer to the target. Stotfold really needed to ensure they didn't give the number 11 another chance.
Back up the other end as we approached the final minute of the game, Hussain displayed his goalkeeping prowess again, not once but twice in the space of 10 seconds. On both occasion preventing Wilcock from claiming a hat-trick. The first stop, from a close range header, was very good. The second, diving full-length to his left, was superb.
FT Stotfold Reserves 2 Queens Park Crescents 0. Over the 90 minutes, a deserved victory for The Eagles who were dominant and a little too street-wide for Queens Park in the first half. However, great credit to Queens Park who showed a great deal of spirit and fight, especially in the second half. They made Stotfold work very hard for the win and, as a neutral, I would have loved them to have got a goal, especially as they had a fairly large following in the stadium. An impressive turnout for a Step 7 team away from home on a cold Tuesday night.
Stotfold will now face Caldecote AFC in the final.
If you want to catch either team in action this weekend, you can. Stotfold travel to Kiln Park to take on third from bottom Raunds Town. It's their first meeting this season. Meanwhile, Queens Park Crescents are back at home as Biggleswade Reserves pay a visit to Allen Park. The revere fixture ended 2-2 in a game that saw five yellow cards and a red for QP goalie Amaan Hussain.
Stotfold Reserves: O'Neil, Long, Hector, Bedford, Brown, Buckley(c), Haynes, Little, Wilcock, Mallett, Scott. Subs: Cane, Hope, Smith, Mullins, Brookes
Queens Park Crescents: 1.Hussain, Ali, 11.H.Fariad, Abbass, M.Rakhman, Mehmood, A.Rakhman, Sattar, F.Fariad, 2.Yousaf, Omar. Subs: Aqeeb, Shezad, 10.Boxall, Yambuya, Sharafuddin
In fact, just past the hour, it was Stotfold who had a golden opportunity to put the result beyond doubt. Charlie Scott was put through with a clear run on goal. However, he hadn't bargained on Hussain, who was off his line quickly to make a very good block. Excellent goalkeeping, something that was going to be a theme in the last 20 minutes or so of the game. On 68 minutes Hussain was at it again. This time going full length to get fingertips to a Billy Little drive that was heading for the bottom corner.
This half, however, The Eagles weren't able to dominate play as the had in the first and, five minutes later, Crescents came within a whisker of getting a goal back when Fariad smashed another long-range free-kick agonisingly past the post. Each effort was getting closer to the target. Stotfold really needed to ensure they didn't give the number 11 another chance.
Back up the other end as we approached the final minute of the game, Hussain displayed his goalkeeping prowess again, not once but twice in the space of 10 seconds. On both occasion preventing Wilcock from claiming a hat-trick. The first stop, from a close range header, was very good. The second, diving full-length to his left, was superb.
FT Stotfold Reserves 2 Queens Park Crescents 0. Over the 90 minutes, a deserved victory for The Eagles who were dominant and a little too street-wide for Queens Park in the first half. However, great credit to Queens Park who showed a great deal of spirit and fight, especially in the second half. They made Stotfold work very hard for the win and, as a neutral, I would have loved them to have got a goal, especially as they had a fairly large following in the stadium. An impressive turnout for a Step 7 team away from home on a cold Tuesday night.
Stotfold will now face Caldecote AFC in the final.
If you want to catch either team in action this weekend, you can. Stotfold travel to Kiln Park to take on third from bottom Raunds Town. It's their first meeting this season. Meanwhile, Queens Park Crescents are back at home as Biggleswade Reserves pay a visit to Allen Park. The revere fixture ended 2-2 in a game that saw five yellow cards and a red for QP goalie Amaan Hussain.
Stotfold Reserves: O'Neil, Long, Hector, Bedford, Brown, Buckley(c), Haynes, Little, Wilcock, Mallett, Scott. Subs: Cane, Hope, Smith, Mullins, Brookes
Queens Park Crescents: 1.Hussain, Ali, 11.H.Fariad, Abbass, M.Rakhman, Mehmood, A.Rakhman, Sattar, F.Fariad, 2.Yousaf, Omar. Subs: Aqeeb, Shezad, 10.Boxall, Yambuya, Sharafuddin
The Ground
Stotfold FC moved to the New Roker Park in February 2020. Situated just outside Stotfold on Arlesey Road, it's a purpose built facility with a large car park directly in front of the stadium. There's a deep walkway all around the pitch, giving the feeling of ample room around the ground. At the car park end, o to the right is a large clubhouse building that also houses the changing facilities. There is also a patio area with tables outside the clubhouse. There are two stands. On the clubhouse side, straddling halfway is a covered seating stand. Opposite this, flanked by the dugouts, there is also a small covered terrace. As expected with a relatively new, purpose-built stadium, the pitch has no slope and looked to be in pretty good condition, especially considering the wet winter we have had. You can see a few snaps of the build from the club website.
Ground Number: 439
Att:
Entrance: £6.00
Programme: N/A
Stotfold FC moved to the New Roker Park in February 2020. Situated just outside Stotfold on Arlesey Road, it's a purpose built facility with a large car park directly in front of the stadium. There's a deep walkway all around the pitch, giving the feeling of ample room around the ground. At the car park end, o to the right is a large clubhouse building that also houses the changing facilities. There is also a patio area with tables outside the clubhouse. There are two stands. On the clubhouse side, straddling halfway is a covered seating stand. Opposite this, flanked by the dugouts, there is also a small covered terrace. As expected with a relatively new, purpose-built stadium, the pitch has no slope and looked to be in pretty good condition, especially considering the wet winter we have had. You can see a few snaps of the build from the club website.
Ground Number: 439
Att:
Entrance: £6.00
Programme: N/A
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