A last minute change of plan on Tuesday saw me heading South rather than North, as was originally the idea. A combination of motorway problems and a late meeting scuppered my original game plan. However, I always have a list of backups, just for these occasions. So, after consulting traffic news again, I headed off down the A41 in the direction of Watford. My destination was the Spartan South Midlands Division One clash between Everett Rovers and Letchworth Garden City. The attraction was the chance to see how Rovers had got to this stage of the season, fourteen games in, unbeaten in the league and with an unblemished home record. All this is their first season at Step 6. Well worth a look in my book.
As stated, going into the game, Everett sat six points clear at the top of the table and had a 100% home record after six games. Their unbeaten league run was only slightly blemished by a 1-1 draw at Ampthill Town back in August. They'd also managed 51 goals in 14 games. All of this after being promoted from the Herts Senior Premier last season, following a third place finish. Letchworth began the evening in 18th spot, seven points above the bottom side Shefford Town & Campton. They did, however, have some recent history in their favour, having beaten Rovers 4-3 in the Herts FA Charity Shield back in August, thanks largely to a Will Blair hat-trick.
As stated, going into the game, Everett sat six points clear at the top of the table and had a 100% home record after six games. Their unbeaten league run was only slightly blemished by a 1-1 draw at Ampthill Town back in August. They'd also managed 51 goals in 14 games. All of this after being promoted from the Herts Senior Premier last season, following a third place finish. Letchworth began the evening in 18th spot, seven points above the bottom side Shefford Town & Campton. They did, however, have some recent history in their favour, having beaten Rovers 4-3 in the Herts FA Charity Shield back in August, thanks largely to a Will Blair hat-trick.
It felt chilly as the teams kicked off, Letchworth, in yellow, kicking towards the clubhouse end in the first half. For some reason it always feels 5 degrees below in these new cage style grounds. Presumably it's just the effect of the wind whipping through the mesh. Thanks to Everett for posting their team sheet on social media. Unfortunately, I didn't have the Eagles sheet, so I could only use shirt numbers. I tried to match a few to names as the game went on, but only caught a couple of them.
The first shot on target from with team was from one of the players I had no name to attach the shirt. Letchworth's number 11 with the shot that was comfortable for Jonathan Pitts. However, despite being the first to get a shot off in anger, Eagles soon found themselves increasingly chasing the ball.
When Letchworth keeper Adam Seymour punched a cross clear on 17 minutes, Archie Oates headed it straight back goalward but the keeper recovered well to push the ball wide of the post. The, two minutes later, a swift passing move set Harry Bennett free on the right side of the box, but his shot was well saved by Seymour.
Seymour was called into action again just before the half-hour, diving to his right to push away a shot on the turn from Alex Morgan.
After being on the back foot for 20 minutes, Letchworth then sprang into life, or rather, Will Blair did. With around ten minutes to go until the break, Blair was et free on the right. He drove forward before firing over a cross-shot that Pitts managed to fingertip against the bar before it was cleared. Two minutes later, Blair was again bursting down the right. This time he cut inside before firing back toward the near post, sending the effort just wide of the mark. Two reminders to Everett that Eagles were not just here to make up the numbers.
There was still time for Seymour to, once again, win a one on one battle, this time blocking well from Harley Sells.
HT Everett Rovers 0 Letchworth Garden City Eagles 0. Rovers with more possession but couldn't find a way to make it pay. Letchworth showed that they had the ability to create chances and, arguably, came closest to getting a goal. Letchworth's goalkeeper, Adam Seymour, made a number of good stops to keep the scores level.
The first shot on target from with team was from one of the players I had no name to attach the shirt. Letchworth's number 11 with the shot that was comfortable for Jonathan Pitts. However, despite being the first to get a shot off in anger, Eagles soon found themselves increasingly chasing the ball.
When Letchworth keeper Adam Seymour punched a cross clear on 17 minutes, Archie Oates headed it straight back goalward but the keeper recovered well to push the ball wide of the post. The, two minutes later, a swift passing move set Harry Bennett free on the right side of the box, but his shot was well saved by Seymour.
Seymour was called into action again just before the half-hour, diving to his right to push away a shot on the turn from Alex Morgan.
After being on the back foot for 20 minutes, Letchworth then sprang into life, or rather, Will Blair did. With around ten minutes to go until the break, Blair was et free on the right. He drove forward before firing over a cross-shot that Pitts managed to fingertip against the bar before it was cleared. Two minutes later, Blair was again bursting down the right. This time he cut inside before firing back toward the near post, sending the effort just wide of the mark. Two reminders to Everett that Eagles were not just here to make up the numbers.
There was still time for Seymour to, once again, win a one on one battle, this time blocking well from Harley Sells.
HT Everett Rovers 0 Letchworth Garden City Eagles 0. Rovers with more possession but couldn't find a way to make it pay. Letchworth showed that they had the ability to create chances and, arguably, came closest to getting a goal. Letchworth's goalkeeper, Adam Seymour, made a number of good stops to keep the scores level.
Page (10) glances home number two Rovers showed some early intent in the second half, attacking right from the off with Alex Morgan rising to get a header on target but not troubling Seymour. The hosts were now asserting their dominance more and it came as no real surprise when, after 52 minutes, they too the lead. The threat came down their left and when Sells laid the ball back across the edge of the area, there was Alex Morgan to drill a low shot into the net. 1-0.
To be fair, Letchworth dug in at this point and, although not threatening the home goal, they did hold their hosts at bay in a game that was getting increasingly tetchy as it progressed. There'd been a couple of minor flare-ups in the first half, but the underlying tension was more evident in the second.
Seymour's one man duel with the home strike force continued, this time blocking well from Harry Bennett just past the hour mark, but even he was powerless when Brandon Bernhauser sent a strike fizzing just past his right-hand post, but the score remained 1-0.
With fourteen minutes remaining, however, the home side doubled their lead when Romeo Brandy's left-wing corner was glanced home by Nathan Page. 2-0. If that didn't seal the points, two minutes later the game was put beyond doubt. Rovers applied a full-pitch press from a Letchworth goal-kick. The pressure was perfectly executed, winning the ball back deep in Letchworth territory. Page slid the ball inside to Harley Sells and he duly rattled the ball past Seymour. 3-0.
FT Everett Rovers 3 Letchworth Garden City Eagles 0. Rovers maintain their 100% home record and increase their lead at the top to nine points. Credit to Eagles though, they frustrated the leaders and made them work exceptionally hard to get the three points. Their performance was way better than their league position indicates.
On Saturday both teams are back in league action. Everett take on the only team to take anything from them this season, fourth placed Ampthill Town. Letchworth make the journey over to Rushden & Higham United, who won 3-2 in the reverse fixture.
Everett Rovers: Pitts(c), Brinton, Speer, Cruz-Pinedo, McNamara, O'Sullivan, Sells, Oates, Morgan, Page, Bennett. Subs: Ward, Preedy, Pettingell, Bernhauser, Brandy
Letchworth Garden City Eagles(squad): Ali, Blair, Charles(c), Gillham, Goodwin, Humphreys, Morgan, Ryan, Seymour, Shimell, Kosky. Subs: Austin, Clare, Coker, Skelly
To be fair, Letchworth dug in at this point and, although not threatening the home goal, they did hold their hosts at bay in a game that was getting increasingly tetchy as it progressed. There'd been a couple of minor flare-ups in the first half, but the underlying tension was more evident in the second.
Seymour's one man duel with the home strike force continued, this time blocking well from Harry Bennett just past the hour mark, but even he was powerless when Brandon Bernhauser sent a strike fizzing just past his right-hand post, but the score remained 1-0.
With fourteen minutes remaining, however, the home side doubled their lead when Romeo Brandy's left-wing corner was glanced home by Nathan Page. 2-0. If that didn't seal the points, two minutes later the game was put beyond doubt. Rovers applied a full-pitch press from a Letchworth goal-kick. The pressure was perfectly executed, winning the ball back deep in Letchworth territory. Page slid the ball inside to Harley Sells and he duly rattled the ball past Seymour. 3-0.
FT Everett Rovers 3 Letchworth Garden City Eagles 0. Rovers maintain their 100% home record and increase their lead at the top to nine points. Credit to Eagles though, they frustrated the leaders and made them work exceptionally hard to get the three points. Their performance was way better than their league position indicates.
On Saturday both teams are back in league action. Everett take on the only team to take anything from them this season, fourth placed Ampthill Town. Letchworth make the journey over to Rushden & Higham United, who won 3-2 in the reverse fixture.
Everett Rovers: Pitts(c), Brinton, Speer, Cruz-Pinedo, McNamara, O'Sullivan, Sells, Oates, Morgan, Page, Bennett. Subs: Ward, Preedy, Pettingell, Bernhauser, Brandy
Letchworth Garden City Eagles(squad): Ali, Blair, Charles(c), Gillham, Goodwin, Humphreys, Morgan, Ryan, Seymour, Shimell, Kosky. Subs: Austin, Clare, Coker, Skelly
The Ground
Everett Rovers are based in the Leggatts Green area of Watford, just off the A41 and just a short Nimbus 2000 ride from Warner Bros. Studio. In the Summer of 2023 they installed a brand new artificial pitch. There's a good-sized car park just a short walk from the clubhouse building, which sits back from the pitch. Access to the ground is through a single gate reached via a path from the clubhouse. There's not too much to say about the pitch itself. It's a standard playing surface enclosed by the now familiar green mesh fencing. Spectator access is only allowed on one side and behind the clubhouse end goal. There is a small covered standing section just past the halfway line, with the dugouts on the opposite side of the ground.
Ground Number: 468
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Everett Rovers are based in the Leggatts Green area of Watford, just off the A41 and just a short Nimbus 2000 ride from Warner Bros. Studio. In the Summer of 2023 they installed a brand new artificial pitch. There's a good-sized car park just a short walk from the clubhouse building, which sits back from the pitch. Access to the ground is through a single gate reached via a path from the clubhouse. There's not too much to say about the pitch itself. It's a standard playing surface enclosed by the now familiar green mesh fencing. Spectator access is only allowed on one side and behind the clubhouse end goal. There is a small covered standing section just past the halfway line, with the dugouts on the opposite side of the ground.
Ground Number: 468
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
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