Thursday evening presented an opportunity to check out a couple of teams that I had never seen before, at a ground I'd never visited before. Croxley Green of the Herts Senior County League Division Two taking on AFC Turnford, who play one division above them, in the Hertfordshire FA Intermediate Cup Final at the Herts FA headquarters in Letchworth Garden City. Both teams are pushing for promotion from their respective divisions. Croxley Green currently sit top of the league with a two point advantage and a game in hand over nearest rivals Enfield Rangers. AFC Turnford are in third, the last promotion spot, a point ahead of Ware United, also with a game in hand.
The route to the final for both teams had involved at least one penalty shootout, but it's fair to say that Croxley Green had the more difficult draws. Turnford received a bye in Round One then came through a Second Round tie against fellow Division 1 side Baldock Town Reserves, winning 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Next up for Turnford was a home 4-0 defeat of Division Two Chipperfield Corinthians Reserves, followed by a similar score in the semi-final, also against a Division Two outfit, Old Parmiterians.
Croxley Green, meanwhile, drew Spartan South Midlands Reserve League AFC Welwyn Development in Round One. After coming through that one by a 4-2 score line, they then welcome Division One Ware United, edging through 3-2. In the quarter-final Green took on another Division One side, Sandridge Rovers, and after a 4-4 draw, won the shootout 5-4 to set up a semi-final date with Letchworth Garden City Eagles u23. Once again penalties were required after a 3-3 draw. Croxley coming through this one by 5-3.
Many thanks to the Herts FA stadium announcer who was gracious enough to send me photos of both teams sheets just before kick-off. Very much appreciated.
The route to the final for both teams had involved at least one penalty shootout, but it's fair to say that Croxley Green had the more difficult draws. Turnford received a bye in Round One then came through a Second Round tie against fellow Division 1 side Baldock Town Reserves, winning 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Next up for Turnford was a home 4-0 defeat of Division Two Chipperfield Corinthians Reserves, followed by a similar score in the semi-final, also against a Division Two outfit, Old Parmiterians.
Croxley Green, meanwhile, drew Spartan South Midlands Reserve League AFC Welwyn Development in Round One. After coming through that one by a 4-2 score line, they then welcome Division One Ware United, edging through 3-2. In the quarter-final Green took on another Division One side, Sandridge Rovers, and after a 4-4 draw, won the shootout 5-4 to set up a semi-final date with Letchworth Garden City Eagles u23. Once again penalties were required after a 3-3 draw. Croxley coming through this one by 5-3.
Many thanks to the Herts FA stadium announcer who was gracious enough to send me photos of both teams sheets just before kick-off. Very much appreciated.
Todd from the spot The initial jousting was fairly even. However, just six minutes were on the clock when the deadlock was broken. Turnford broke quickly down their right flank. Josh Rubin was off his line quickly to narrow the angle, but the ball was lofted over him to find Tylar-Morgan Parker, coming in from the left, to apply a simple tap-in. 0-1
You could have forgiven the lower-ranked team for letting their heads drop after going a goal down so early on. However, the opposite was true. Croxley Green took the setback as a signal to up their game and they began to get their short passing approach into gear. Their biggest opportunity to get back into the game came just past the midway point when their press forced Turnford into turning over possession on the edge of their own penalty area. Harry Clark took aim from 18 yards but his low strike went just wide of Josh Tuansaam's right-hand upright.
On the half-hour an errant Croxley back pass allowed Bates to nip in, but Rubin was out quickly again, making the save and giving his defence chance to clear. Two minutes later, Croxley came close again when Alex Hilton had the ball some 20 yards out. Urged on by cries of "shoot!" from behind the gaol, he let fly and was unlucky to see his strike fly a foot over the bar.
At the other end, with four minutes of the half remaining, Rubin had to be at his agile best to tip over a George Williams piledriver that was destined for the net. As the half entered added time it appeared that Croxley Green's efforts would go unrewarded until, two minutes past the end of normal time, a cross from the right skipped off the surface and struck a Turnford arm. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. A tough one on the defender but, in this day and age, the referee had to award the spot-kick. James Todd stepped up and made no mistake. 1-1.
HT Croxley Green 1 AFC Turnford 1. The early Turnford goal seemed to spark Croxley into action and they were the better side for much of the half, using the artificial surface to assist with their short passing game. At one point they strung together 25+ passes, but didn't get a strike off. However, they deserved the late equaliser.
Good to chat with a Turnford supporter at the break, who also happened to be the father of their scorer. We initially discussed the penalty, because I had a clearer view than he did. As a neutral, I thought it was the correct decision, but a few years ago it wouldn't have been given. We agreed that handball, offside rules and many other things in the game were becoming a bit of a mystery to everyone.
You could have forgiven the lower-ranked team for letting their heads drop after going a goal down so early on. However, the opposite was true. Croxley Green took the setback as a signal to up their game and they began to get their short passing approach into gear. Their biggest opportunity to get back into the game came just past the midway point when their press forced Turnford into turning over possession on the edge of their own penalty area. Harry Clark took aim from 18 yards but his low strike went just wide of Josh Tuansaam's right-hand upright.
On the half-hour an errant Croxley back pass allowed Bates to nip in, but Rubin was out quickly again, making the save and giving his defence chance to clear. Two minutes later, Croxley came close again when Alex Hilton had the ball some 20 yards out. Urged on by cries of "shoot!" from behind the gaol, he let fly and was unlucky to see his strike fly a foot over the bar.
At the other end, with four minutes of the half remaining, Rubin had to be at his agile best to tip over a George Williams piledriver that was destined for the net. As the half entered added time it appeared that Croxley Green's efforts would go unrewarded until, two minutes past the end of normal time, a cross from the right skipped off the surface and struck a Turnford arm. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. A tough one on the defender but, in this day and age, the referee had to award the spot-kick. James Todd stepped up and made no mistake. 1-1.
HT Croxley Green 1 AFC Turnford 1. The early Turnford goal seemed to spark Croxley into action and they were the better side for much of the half, using the artificial surface to assist with their short passing game. At one point they strung together 25+ passes, but didn't get a strike off. However, they deserved the late equaliser.
Good to chat with a Turnford supporter at the break, who also happened to be the father of their scorer. We initially discussed the penalty, because I had a clearer view than he did. As a neutral, I thought it was the correct decision, but a few years ago it wouldn't have been given. We agreed that handball, offside rules and many other things in the game were becoming a bit of a mystery to everyone.
Turnford looking for more goals Possibly buoyed by the late equaliser, Croxley came out for the second half and immediately went on the offensive. Harry Clark getting off the first strike of the half, but a defensive block took the sting out of it, making it easy for Tuansaam.
That, however, proved to be Croxley's only real chance for a while, as Turnford began to assert themselves, shutting down Croxley's quick passing movement much more effectively than they did in the first half. On the hour mark, after a couple of changes, one of the substitutes, Mark Thurlow, outpaced his marker and then won a 50-50 challenge with Rubin. With the goalkeeper out of position, Thurlow squared for Ronnie Bates to put Turnford back in front. 1-2.
Again, Croxley responded brilliantly. Only five minutes later, following a corner from their right which was headed goalward and blocked, the ball was slammed straight back past everyone for 2-2. From my vantage point, I couldn't see who scored. A minute after that, with their tails up, Croxley came very close to going ahead for the first time. Todd sprung the offside trap but, one on one with Tuansaam, the goalkeeper came out on top, making an excellent save.
That save proved to be pivotal too. Five minutes later, Turnford attacked up the right and when the ball ran loose inside the penalty area, Usher Adamson reacted quickest to lash a volley past Rubin. 2-3
This time Croxley were unable to find the same level of response to the goal. Tuansaam did have to react quickly in the 80th minute, but the Greens couldn't find a way back in again. In fact the final two chances both fell to Turnford. With a minute remaining Bates saw his headed deflected just wide for a corner which, when delivered by Adamson, was inches too high for captain Craig Lovett to make clean contact.
Which just left a final blast of the whistle for the Turnford celebrations to begin.
FT Croxley Green 2 AFC Turnford 3. A very competitive game, great to watch as a neutral. Eventually the Division One side came out on top, but Croxley Green showed why they will be playing at this level next season. A talented bunch, who play some delightful football. Turnford, in the end, showed their higher level experience. They too are a very good side who may well get promotion themselves this season.
Both teams are back in action this Saturday, Non-League Day. Croxley Green travel to 10th placed Hatfield Athletic in a league game, having already beaten Athletic 2-0 at home. Turnford have another cup game, a Greg Cup semi-final against Ware United at Wodson Park Sports Centre.
Croxley Green: 1.Rubin, 2.Tyson, 3.Fitzgerald, 4.Blake, 15.Hilton, 6.D.New(c), 14.Tuckley, 19.Weiss, 16.Todd, 10.Larkin, 11.Clark. Subs: 12.Tannian, 8.J.New, 26.Lawrence, 7.Payne, 5.Rhodes
AFC Turnford: 1.Tuansaam, 3.Wilson, 4.Williams, 5.Lovett(c), 6.Martson, 8.Offer, 9.R.Bates, 10.Adamson, 20.Parker, 56.Asaffo, 79.B.Bates. Subs: 11.Thurlow, 12.Braine-Edwards, 7.Emory, 23.Murphy-Froom, 13.Stapleton
That, however, proved to be Croxley's only real chance for a while, as Turnford began to assert themselves, shutting down Croxley's quick passing movement much more effectively than they did in the first half. On the hour mark, after a couple of changes, one of the substitutes, Mark Thurlow, outpaced his marker and then won a 50-50 challenge with Rubin. With the goalkeeper out of position, Thurlow squared for Ronnie Bates to put Turnford back in front. 1-2.
Again, Croxley responded brilliantly. Only five minutes later, following a corner from their right which was headed goalward and blocked, the ball was slammed straight back past everyone for 2-2. From my vantage point, I couldn't see who scored. A minute after that, with their tails up, Croxley came very close to going ahead for the first time. Todd sprung the offside trap but, one on one with Tuansaam, the goalkeeper came out on top, making an excellent save.
That save proved to be pivotal too. Five minutes later, Turnford attacked up the right and when the ball ran loose inside the penalty area, Usher Adamson reacted quickest to lash a volley past Rubin. 2-3
This time Croxley were unable to find the same level of response to the goal. Tuansaam did have to react quickly in the 80th minute, but the Greens couldn't find a way back in again. In fact the final two chances both fell to Turnford. With a minute remaining Bates saw his headed deflected just wide for a corner which, when delivered by Adamson, was inches too high for captain Craig Lovett to make clean contact.
Which just left a final blast of the whistle for the Turnford celebrations to begin.
FT Croxley Green 2 AFC Turnford 3. A very competitive game, great to watch as a neutral. Eventually the Division One side came out on top, but Croxley Green showed why they will be playing at this level next season. A talented bunch, who play some delightful football. Turnford, in the end, showed their higher level experience. They too are a very good side who may well get promotion themselves this season.
Both teams are back in action this Saturday, Non-League Day. Croxley Green travel to 10th placed Hatfield Athletic in a league game, having already beaten Athletic 2-0 at home. Turnford have another cup game, a Greg Cup semi-final against Ware United at Wodson Park Sports Centre.
Croxley Green: 1.Rubin, 2.Tyson, 3.Fitzgerald, 4.Blake, 15.Hilton, 6.D.New(c), 14.Tuckley, 19.Weiss, 16.Todd, 10.Larkin, 11.Clark. Subs: 12.Tannian, 8.J.New, 26.Lawrence, 7.Payne, 5.Rhodes
AFC Turnford: 1.Tuansaam, 3.Wilson, 4.Williams, 5.Lovett(c), 6.Martson, 8.Offer, 9.R.Bates, 10.Adamson, 20.Parker, 56.Asaffo, 79.B.Bates. Subs: 11.Thurlow, 12.Braine-Edwards, 7.Emory, 23.Murphy-Froom, 13.Stapleton
The County Ground
The Ground
The Hertfordshire FA County Ground is situated just off Baldock Road on the Eastern edge of Letchworth Garden City. There's a reasonable car park on site, further parking on the opposite side of Baldock Road and in adjacent roads. There is platy of spectator cover available. On the car park side there is a covered seating stand that runs around a third of the length of the pitch. Next to this is the café and toilets. There's covered standing shelters behind both goals, one of which is slightly elevated on a grass bank. There's also another small covered stand in the corner of the ground between thee café and the Radburn Way end goal. On the opposite side from the main stand is another large covered terrace that spans half the length of the pitch, straddling the half way line. The playing surface is artificial.
Ground Number: 481
Att:
Entrance: £8.00
Programme: Yes, but none available when I tried to get one
The Hertfordshire FA County Ground is situated just off Baldock Road on the Eastern edge of Letchworth Garden City. There's a reasonable car park on site, further parking on the opposite side of Baldock Road and in adjacent roads. There is platy of spectator cover available. On the car park side there is a covered seating stand that runs around a third of the length of the pitch. Next to this is the café and toilets. There's covered standing shelters behind both goals, one of which is slightly elevated on a grass bank. There's also another small covered stand in the corner of the ground between thee café and the Radburn Way end goal. On the opposite side from the main stand is another large covered terrace that spans half the length of the pitch, straddling the half way line. The playing surface is artificial.
Ground Number: 481
Att:
Entrance: £8.00
Programme: Yes, but none available when I tried to get one
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