Monday 18 March 2024

LANGFORD PROGRESS IN THE SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CUP AGAINST BURTON PARK WANDERERS

Langford progressed to the SSMFL Division One Cup Quarter-Final with a comfortable 4-1 'away' win over Burton Park Wanderers in the Second Round on Tuesday 5th March. The game was officially a home game for the Northamptonshire based club but was switched to Langford's Forde Park due to problems with their Latimer Park pitch. A crowd of 36 people saw the game. 

It was Wanderers who scored first via former Long Buckby player Jai Newell-Hollely. On the balance of play the result was the correct one as Langford were the better side from then on with two goals in each half with Fikile Mqobongo (2), Charan Basra and Rakeem Kamara on the score-sheet. Basra had a very good game on the right side of midfield going forward and he really deserved his goal for all the hard work he put in. 

It's been a struggle of a season for Burton Park Wanderers who are currently bottom of Division One seven points below Irchester United - they have just 3 league wins from their 28 games played in which they have let in 109 goals already! They do like playing against Letchworth FC Eagles as they won 1-2 at Pixmore earlier in the season, beat them 2-1 at home in the Division One Cup in January and then on Saturday won 1-0 at home in the league with Regan Barrs scoring the winner. Their other win came at Huntingdon Town where they won 2-5. 

It would be good to see them getting a few more positive results in the next few months - It could be relegation to the Step Seven Northants Combination Premier for the 24/25 campaign for Luke Eaton's team. He was been boss since the summer of 2023. 

Irchester United, who finished bottom in 21/22, spent the 22/23 in the Northants Combination where they finished in 5th place and were promoted back to the SSMFL Division One.     

It's been a good season for Langford who are currently in ninth position just five points off fifth which is the last play-off place. Could they be in with a chance of promotion back to the Premier Division they last played in the 2010/11 season. 

They played in the Quarter-Final of the Division One Cup on Saturday and were knocked out by Leighton Town Development who won 1-3 at Forde Park in front of a crowd of 56 people. 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS - SHORT 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS - LONG 


A BIG WIN FOR DYNAMO MINSK - BELARUS WEEK ONE ROUND-UP

BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR DYNAMO MINSK

It was business at usual for 2023 Champion's Dynamo Minsk as they ran five goals past Smorgon with four scored in the first 45 minutes. Nigerian striker Raymond Adeola, a new signing from Gomel, scored twice for Dynamo on his debut. His second goal was the best goal of the weekend which was a strike from way outside of the penalty box. 

It was a day for the veterans when Isloch and Dynamo Brest drew 1-1 with former Dynamo player Aleksandr Makas, 32, scoring for the home side and Sergey Kislyak, 36, rescuing a point for the visitor's four minutes into added time. 

On their return to the Premier League DNEPR were well beaten by Slavia Mozyr who 2-0. It was an own goal and defender Pavel Chikida who scored the first top tier goal of his career. His only other goals have come in the First League for Smolevichi back in 2015, 2016 and 2017. This was the top attendance of the day with 3,450 at The Yunost Stadium.

BATE BORISOV WINNERS ON THE ROAD AT FC MINSK 

BATE Borisov got a narrow 0-1 win at FC Minsk who were unlucky not to get anything from the game - Substitute Semen Penchuk had a second half penalty saved by Vladislav Ignatyev who was making his debut for BATE at the age of 21. He has spent last season on loan with Gomel and Osotrovets in the First League. 

NEMAN GRODNO KICK OFF THE SEASON WITH THREE POINTS

Last season's runner's up Neman Grodno won 2-1 over Naftan Novopolotsk. The visitors took the lead early in the game via former Naftan midfielder Anton Suchkov who was making his debut for his new club. Sergey Karpovich and Kyrgyzstani International midfielder Gulzhigit Alkulov scored the goals for Igor Kovalevich's team.  

Former Shakhtyor Soligorsk and BATE Borisov striker Maksim Skavysh showed what an important signing he may well be for Torpedo Belaz Zhodino this season by scoring the winner and only goal of the game on his debut against Arsenal Dzerzhinsk. 

Shakhtyor Soligorsk won 1-0 against Vitebsk with the only goal of the games scored in the first half by Denis Kovalevich. Mikhail Bashilov had a debut to forget for Vitesbsk when he was yellow carded in the 84th and 88th minute - he was the only player to be sent off across the opening weekend. Shakhtyor's Valon Ahmedi had a penalty kick saved in the second half by Vitebsk's Dmitri Kharitonov who was starting his first Premier League since starting for Slutsk  against Shakhtyor in June 2021. 

Slutsk and Gomel ended all square. The visitors took the lead through debutant Illya Grishchenko on 78 minutes only for the home side to score a dramatic equaliser Sergey Pushnyakov via the penalty spot in added time. 

BELARUS IS ACTION AGAINST MONTENEGRO AND MALTA

The International Team is in action next week so there are no games. Belarus plat Friendly games against Montenegro on Thursday which is scheduled to take place in Turkey and then Malta on Tuesday 26th March. 

Many of Carlos Alos's squad are currently playing outside of Belarus. The following players who currently play in the Premier League are listed below. Alos has been head coach since August of last year. He coaching career started in his home country Spain where he played for a host of lower league sides and has taken him to Hong Kong, Poland, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Qatar, Cyprus and Rwanda prior to him taking the Belarus job. 

Dynamo Minsk 
Illya Chernyak 
Sergey Politevich 

Neman Grodno 
Yegor Parkhomeko 
Sergey Karpovich 

Shakhtyor Soligorsk 
Sergey Ignatovich 

Torpedo Belaz Zhodino 
Danila Nechayev
Maksim Skavysh 
Denis Laptev  

FIRST LEAGUE LINE UP CONFIRMED 

The First League is much changed for the 2024 season with the line up as follows with the Second Teams of BATE, Dynamo Minsk, Shakhtyor and Torpedo all joining along with a Belarus u17 team. Most of the teams are playing in pre-season friendly games with the stand out result being Bumprom Gomel's 19-0 win against Second League side Gorky. The second tier is scheduled to kicks off in the first week of April. 

ABFF Belarus U17
BATE Borisov II
Baranovichi 
Belshina Bobruisk
Bumprom Gomel 
Dynamo Minsk II 
Energetik-BGU 
Lida
Lokomotiv Gomel 
ML Vitebsk 
Molodechno 
Niva Dolbizno 
Orsha 
Ostrovets 
Shakhtyor Soligorsk II 
Slonim 
Torpedo Belaz Zhodino II
Volna Pinsk

RESULTS
Friday 15th March 
Isloch 1-1 Dynamo Brest (335)
Slavia Mozyr 2-0 DNEPR Mogilev (3450)

Saturday 16th March
FC Minsk 0-1 BATE Borisov (1950)
Neman Grodno 2-1 Naftan Novopolotsk (2800)  
Dynamo Minsk 5-0 Smorgon (2487) 

Sunday 17th March 
Arsenal Dzerzhinsk 0-1 Torpedo BelAZ Zhodino (425) 
Slutsk 1-1 FC Gomel (1117)
Shakhtyor Soligorsk 1-0 Vitebsk (950)

Thursday 14 March 2024

BELARUSIAN PREMIER LEAGUE - 2024 SEASON PREVIEW

WEEK ONE FIXTURES
Friday 15th March 
Isloch v Dynamo Brest 
Slavia Mozyr v DNEPR Mogilev

Saturday 16th March
FC Minsk v BATE Borisov
Neman Grodno v Naftan Novopolotsk
Dynamo Minsk v Smorgon 

Sunday 17th March
Arsenal Dzerzhinsk v  Torpedo BelAZ Zhodino 
Slutsk v FC Gomel 
Shakhtyor Soligorsk v Vitebsk

The 2024 Belarusian Premier League kicks off this weekend. I still keep an eye on the competition many fans took a keen interest in during the pandemic and lock down - How long ago does that feel now? 

There are three promoted sides for the new campaign - Arsenal Dzerzhinsk, DNEPR Mogilev and Vitebsk who were relegated from the Premier League in 2022. They all return after finishing in the top three of Division One last season. Vitesbsk beat Energetik BGU 1-0 on aggregate in the promotion/relegation play off. 

Here we take a quick look at the teams involved this season. 

ARSENAL DZERZHINSK 
The club were formed very recently in 2019 and spent one season in Premier League in 2022 where they won 5 of 30 league games played and lost the relegation/promotion play-off to Maxline Rogachev (now Maxline Vitebsk). Maxline were not promoted as they were denied a Premier League licence but Arsenal were relegated. Arsenal had a brilliant 2023 season winning the First League title by 8 points and scoring 86 goals in 32 games of which 26 they won. 

Former Slutsk boss Aleksandr Brazevich who took charge in July 2023 has moved on to Dynamo Brest for the 2024 season. He has been replaced by Vyacheslav Vashkevich who joins from Lokomotiv Moscow where he had been an academy coach and their second team manager from July to December last year. 

They have signed defender Arseni Ageev from BATE Borisov on a permanent basis after he spent he season on loan with Arsenal last season. 

The new boss has also recruited 20 year old defender Egor Pogostnov and 18 year old attacked Dmitri Radikovskiy from his former club who join on loan. 

BATE BORISOV 
BATE finished in fifth place last season which equalled their lowest ever position since they were promoted to the top level in 1998. 

Igor Kriushenko is the new Manager who returns to the club he managed from 2005 to 2007. He was also the Belarus National Team boss from 2017 to 2019 and has managed at Dynamo Brest, Dynamo Minsk as well as Periskabo 1973 (Indonesia) and Shurtan Guzar in Uzbekistan. 

Three players have been brought in from FC Gomel - Midfielders Aleksandr Anufriev, Ilya Aleksievich and Andrey Potapenko.  Anufriev and Potapenko are both players who came through the BATE academy  but never made a first team appearance with Aleksievich a former BATE player between 2013 to 2015.

BATE appear not to be the powerhouse they used to be and may well finish around 5th or 6th again this season. 

DYNAMO BREST 
Alexsandr Brazevich has been brought in to the club after his successful campaign with Arsenal Dzerzhinsk. Midfielder Vladislav Lyakh has followed Brazevich from his former club where the former Dynamo Minsk had been for the last two seasons. 

Midfielder Matvey Dukso, 20, has moved from Smorgon where he made 28 Premier League appearances last season. 

Dukso is amongsr a number of young players who have been recruited - Maksim Karasab (20) have joined from FC Minsk along with Artem Turich (19) and German Barkovskiy (21) from EnergetiK-BGU. 

DYNAMO MINSK 
Last season's champions will be playing in the First Qualifying Round of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League later in the year.  

Manager Vadim Skripchenko has signed 22 year old Nigerian forward Raymond Adeola from Russian second tier side Rodina Moscow - He knows the league well having played for Gomel in 2021 and 2022 as well as on loan last season. 

Defender Vadim Pigas, 22, has joined after three stand out seasons with Isloch. 

Belaus u21 International Ilya Chernyak, 21, who has joined from Kazakhstan Premier League side FC Casipy is a name to look out for to. 

DNEPR MOGILEV
DNEPR return to the top level after just one season away. The club were a regular Premier League team from 1992 and famously won the title in 1998. After merging with Luch Minsk in 2019 to form Dynapro Mogilev with that team being dissolved in 2020. DNEPR were reformed and started from the Second League in 2020. Their return to the Premier League in 2022 was a season to forget as they finished rock bottom with just 3 wins in 30 games played. 

Former Smorgon, Naftan, Lida, Gomel, Belshina Bobruisk boss Vyacheslav Gerashchenko has been in his second spell in charge of the club since December 2022 and took them to runner's up position in the First League last season. He was previously in charge from 2011 to 2013.

New signing Sergey Glebko, 31, who has been with Slutsk since 2021 will bring some much needed top level experience to the midfield area. 

Only the most ardent of Reading and Crystal Palace fans will have knowledge of Ibrahim Kargbo Jr. He played academy football for both The Royals and The Eagles before playing in Belgium for Roeselare and Lierse Kempenzonen in 2018 and 2019. He was born in Sierra Leone but has been capped by Belgium at u18 and u19 level. He then moved to Dynamo Kyiv speing time on loan with Olimpic Doentsk, Celje (Slovenia) and Doxa Katokopias (Cyrpus). He then moved to Celje on permemnant basis and played in Croatia for NK Solin last season. 

20 year old Cote d'Ivoire midfielder Boni Amian has joined from Russian club Khimki.

Kazakhstan forward Danil Ankudinov, 20, has also joined. He has played in Moldova for Sheriff Tiraspol and on loan in Armenia for Van and Lithuania for Dziugas Telsiai. 

FC GOMEL 
Andrey Gorovtsov has been manager since last August when he moved from First League side Lokomotiv Gomel following the departure of Vladimir Nevinskiy. 

Since they spent one season in the second tier in 2020 they have finished 4th, 7th and 6th to re-establish themselves as one of the bigger teams in Belarus. 

Former Energetik-BGU striker Illya Grishchenko has returned to Belarus after spending the 2023 season with FK Sevastopol who are based in Crimea but play in the Russian Fourth Tier. 

ISLOCH 
Dmitry Komarovskiy has been in charge for the last two seasons after being Assistant and a former player from 2016 to 2021. It's been a very respectable 5th and 6th place finish for The Wolves under Komarovskiy in his first job as a Manager. 

Three players have moved across from City rival's Dynamo Minsk - Defender Kiril Rodionov (who was on loan with Isloch last season) along with Defender Ivan Khovalko (age 20) and Midfielder Yuri Kravchenko (age 19).

Ghanian defender Fard Ibrahim is a fan's favourite at the club having been with them since 2022. 

FC MINSK 
Since their formation in 2006 FC Minsk have played in the top tier for all but two seasons as well as lifting the Belarusian Cup in 2013. The finished in 6th place last season with former Dynamo Minsk boss Artyon Chelyadinskiy taking the post of Manager for this season following the departure of Sergey Yaromko who has taken the job as the new Belarus U21 coach. 

Chelyadinskiy's most recent job was as an Academy Coach with Dynamo Minsk and represented clubs in Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan during his playing career. 

As usual FC have a squad of mainly young players with goalkeeper Denis Shpakovskiy (21), striker Maksym Shevchenko (21) and defender Aleksandr Mikhalenko (22) joining from Dynamo Minsk. 

Shevchenko scored 9 goals in 27 First League games on loan at Baranovichi who finished 6th last season so could be amongst the goals this in a better standard team - The question is can he make the jump up to the top tier?  

NAFTAN NOVOPOLOTSK 
It was a good season for Naftan on their return to the Premier League last season as they finished in 12th place well above the drop zone. 

However, Had Shakhtyor, Energetik and Belshina not been deducted points they would of finished second from bottom and been involved in the relegation/promotion play off.

Former Belshina Bobruisk boss Albert Ryback who is most well known for his playing career as a goalkeeper with Neman Grodno was appointed in May 2023 following Yuri Puntus moving to First League side Maxline Vitebsk. 

It could be another struggle this season for Naftan who have lost games 6-0 and 4-0 (Neman), 8-0 (Dynamo Brest), 2-1 (Maxline) as well as drawing versus Isloch, Gomel and DNEPR in their pre-season campaign. 

Ryback has been very busy in pre-season making a large number of signings as follows- 

Mikhail Kolyadko (Midfielder, 35) joins from Belshina Bobruisk. 
Aleksey Kharitonovich (Goalkeeper, 28) joins from Belshina Bobruisk. 
Egor Shedko (Attacker, 20) joins from Dynamo Minsk. 
Marat Kalinchenko (Midfielder, 25) joins from Zhodino Yuzhnoe. 
Egor Kress (Midfielder, 20) joins from Slavia Mozyr. 
Alexsandr Naumovich (Goalkeeper, 22) joins on loan from Gomel. 
Roman Papaeyha (Attacker, 24) joins from Neman Grodno.
Anton Suchkov (Midfielder, 21) joins on loan from Neman Grodno.
Vladimir Marukhin (Midfielder, 20) joins on loan from Russian club Neftekhimik. 
Arsen Dzhioev (Attacker, 21) joins from Russian club Znamya Truda. 
Ivan Tikhonov (Midfielder, 20) joins from Dynamo Minsk.  
Aleksandr Kuchinskiy (Midfielder, 27) joins from Lokomotiv Gomel. 
Kingu Yallet (Defender, 26) joins from DR Congo club DC Motema Pembe. 
Andrey Lebedev (Defender, 33) counts FC Minsk and Vitebsk as former clubs. 
Dmitry Say (Goalkeeper, 27) joins from Slonim. 
Nikita Nekrasov (Midfielder, 23) joins from BATE Borisov. 
Khetag Badoev (Defender, 23) joins from Russian club Veles. 

Shedko scored 7 goals in 31 first League games for Lokomotiv Gomel last season and has played for Belarus at u17 and u19 level. 

Kalinchenko scored 14 goals in 25 first league games for Zhodino Yuzhnoe last season. 

Tikhonov was on loan with Lokomotiv Gomel last season. 

Will all the new signings gell togther as a team? Nafatan will need to win more than the 6 in 28 games they won last season in order to avoid the drop zone! 

NEMAN GRODNO 
Last season's runner's up ran champion's Dynamo Minsk very close and have had a good pre-season. They will be back in the UEFA Europa Conference League for the 23/24 campaign - they beat Vaduz (Liechtenstein) and Balzan (Malta) last season before losing to Slovenian club Celje in the Third Qualifying Round. 

Igor Kovalevich has been in charge since 2016 and was previously in charge of the Belarus u21 team as well as Naftan between 2007 to 2012. 

He has made some signings to strengthen his squad this season with the experienced midfielder Igor Costrov, 36, joining from Slavia Mozyr. 

Former Isloch Midfielder Ruslan Lisakovich, 21, has returend to Belarus having spent the past two years with Russian Second Tier side Dynamo Makhachkala. He has been capped by Belarus as full and u21 level so is very impressive signing. 

They have also recruited Cameroon striker Leonard Gweth who is 21 years old who has played for Jong KAA Gent in Belgium and Baltijos FA in Lithuania. 

SHAKTYOR SOLIGORSK 
Due to a match fixing scandal Shakhtyor were stripped of the 2022 league title, deducted 30 points last season and will start this season on -20. 

Stanislav Suvorov has been appointed as Manager following the departure of Aleksey Baga. 

Suvorov is a former Manager of First League side Shakhtyor Petrikov in the 2022 season who are classed as a 'farm side' for Soligorsk. 

Many of their current squad have moved up from Shakhtyor Petrikov including all six of their attackers listed in their squad at present. They are 17, 19, 18, 19, 18 and 19 years of age. 

With their points deduction it'll be an interesting campaign for Shakhtyor. 

SLAVIA MOZYR 
Former Shakhtyor manager Ivan Bionchik guided Slavia to a 7th place position last season. 

Attacker Aleksandr Butko, 27, has joined from Torpedo Belaz Zhodino. He scored 12 goals in 14 games on loan for First League side Lokomotiv Gomel so may well be a name to look out for.

SLUTSK 
Many fans around the world adopted Slutsk as their Belarusian team during the pandemic and lockdown.

Following much loved boss Aleksandr Brazevich's departure in 2022 Aleksandr Gurinovich took over for last season and Slutsk finished in 8th which was only the third time in their history they have finished 8th or above. 

20 year old midfielder Maksim Omelyanchuk has signed from Energetik-BGU and despite his young age brings with him the experience of playing 62 Premier League games. Defender Vladislav Karpenya, 22, has also signed from Energetik. 

An interesting signing in Kazakhstan International striker Oralhan Omitaev has joined from Atyrau. The 25 year old has 5 full caps to his name but has never been lethal in front of goal scoring 15 goals in 140 Kazakhstan Premier League games during his career. 

SMORGON 
The Bears returned to the Premier League for the 2023 and many fan expected them to be relegated once more as they did in 2021 when they finished rock bottom. They won 7 of their 28 games but like Naftan would of been closer to the drop zone without the teams who had points deductions. 

Latvian Igor Slesarcuks has been brought in a Manager for the 2024 season - He has previously been in charge of First League sides Slonim and Osipovichi as well as been Assistant as Dymamo Minsk, FC Minsk, Torpedo Zhodino and Salvia Mozyr. 

This is first appointment as a Manager in the Belarusian Premier League and it'll be interesting to see how he does with Smorgon. 

TORPEDO BELAZ ZHODINO 
Former Smolevichi Manager and BATE Borisov Assistant Manager Dmitry Molosh has been in charge of Torpedo since December 2021. In that time they have finished in 8th, 8th and 3rd position in the Premier League as well as winning the 2023 Belarusian Cup. An already decent squad has been improved with some impressive signings. 

Belarusian International striker Denis Laptev has signed from BATE Borisov where he spent the 2023 season. He has made 297 Premier League appearances during his career scoring 119 goals. 

Defender Danila Nechayev has also moved from BATE who is also a full Belarus International. 

Attacker Andrei Cobet, 27, has been a stand out performer for Slavia Mozyr for the past two seasons. He is a full Moldovan International. 

Attacker Illya Vasilevich has also made the move from BATE Borisov. He has been capped up to u21 level for Belarus and has also played for Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine. 

Maksim Skavysh, 34, has moved from Shakhtyor Soligorsk. The Belarusian International has won the Premier Leauge on multiple occasions and moves back to Torpedo for a third spell. 

Torpedo drew 13 of their 28 league games during the 2023 season and only lost 3 - They will be one of the front runners this season with the signings they have made. 

VITEBSK 
Vitesbsk return to the top tier after just one season. Aleksandr Pavlov, 39, has been Manager since November 2022. As a player he was a full International and won the Premier League multiple times with BATE Borisov. 

There hasn't been much transfer activity with Midfielder Dmitri Girs moving from Slutsk and centre- back Wepa Jumayew moving from Energetik-BGU. 

Finally, A quick mention to the Second League side formerly known as Tractor Minsk who will now be named "Automotive-Factory Tractor" if my translation is correct?

They have also changed their club badge which has to go down as one the best I've seen of late... What do you think? 

Monday 11 March 2024

HERTS SENIOR COUNTY LEAGUE GREG CUP 2023/24 UPDATE

I've written about the wonderful history of "The Greg Cup of North Hertfordshire Junior Cup" as it was originally known when first played for in the 1910/11 season. You can read about the unique history on the below link. 

This season sees Elizabeth Allen Old Boys getting some luck and a Bye to the semi-final stage where they will be joined by Owens Thirds along with the winners of Elizabeth Allen Old Boys Reserves v Knebworth Reserves and Tring Corinthians v Bury Rangers.

It could be a an all 'Elizabeth Allen' semi-final where the first team of Division Four play the reserves of Division Five.  


FIRST ROUND 
KNEBWORTH RESERVES 4-3 BULLYS CRUSADERS 
OWENS THIRD 7-0 LEMSFORD DEVELOPMENT 
WALTHAM CROSS DEVELOPMENT 1-4 TRING CORINTHIANS u23s
BYE
BURY RANGERS  
ELIZABETH ALLEN OLD BOYS 
ELIZABETH ALLEN OLD BOYS RESERVES 
GREENBURY UNITED 

QUARTER FINAL
(1) TRING CORINTIANS v BURY RANGERS (Sat 16th March)
(2) GREENBURY UNITED v OWENS THIRDS - Away Win
(3)ELIZABETH ALLEN OLD BOYS RESERVES v KNEBWORTH RESERVES (Sat 23rd March)
BYE
ELIZABETH ALLEN OLD BOYS 

SEMI-FINAL
WINNERS OF MATCH (1) v OWENS THIRDS
WINNERS OF MATCH (3) v ELIZABETH ALLEN OLD BOYS 


RAYNERS LANE OR FLACKWELL HEATH - WHO WILL WIN THE CHERRY RED RECORDS COMBINED COUNTIES PREMIER NORTH TITLE

POS TEAM P W D L GF GA GD PTS FORM PP
1.  RAYNERS LANE  28 21 4 3 80 27 +53 67 WWDWLW 97
2.  FLACKWELL HEATH  28 21 4 3 71 23 +48 67 WWWWWL 97

The race for The Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Premier Division North title is looking like it's going to go right down to the wire as Rayners Lane and Flackwell Heath have both played 28 games and are currently on 67 points. 

Both have lost only their third game of the season in their last six games played. Flackwell Heath lost 0-2 at home to Harefield United on Saturday in front of a crowd of 268 people at Wilks Park which came just two weeks after they had won 0-2 at Rayners Lane on Saturday 24th February. 

Chris Ayres has been The Heathen's Manager since October 2021. 

Rayners Lane made some headlines last June when they appointed Gary Meakin as Manager. He replaced Scott Patmore who had been very successful during his spell with the club helping them to win the Middlesex Premier Cup in 2023 and gain promotion via the 2022/23 Division One play-offs beating London Samurai Rovers and Langley.  

Meakin had been manager at Beaconsfield Town (Beaconsfield SYCOB), Egham Town, Burnham, Northwood and Wingate & Finchley previously.
 his Assistant Wes Daly played for a number of non-league clubs (including Basingstoke Town, Bromley and AFC Wimbledon) after starting his career with Queens Park Rangers. 

RAYNERS LANE LEAGUE DEFEATS THIS SEASON
Tue 29th August - Virginia Water 1-0 Rayners Lane 
Sat 2nd September - Ardley 2-1 Rayners Lane 
Sat 24th February - Rayners Lane 0-2 Flackwell Heath 

FLACKWELL HEATH LEAGUE DEFEATS THIS SEASON
Tue 10th October - Flackwell Heath 1-3 Reading City 
Sat 27th January - Flackwell Heath 1-3 Rayners Lane 
Sat 9th March - Flackwell Heath 0-2 Harefield United

As well as the title race Rayners Lane have got through to the Middlesex Senior Cup Final for the first time in their history where they will play Hayes & Yeading United on Wednesday 17th April at Uxbridge FC. 

Flackwell Heath are still in The Berks & Bucks Senior Cup where they travel to Beaconsfield Town in the Quarter Final next Tuesday. They also through to the Quarter-Final stage of the Cherry Red Records Premier Challenge Cup where they will face Langley, Reading City or Milton United. 

If the Middlesex side go up it'll be the first time in their history that they have played at Step Four. Flackwell Heath last played at Step Four in the 06/07 season when they finished bottom of the Isthmian Division One North - They played in the lower divisions of the Isthmian League from 1984 to 2007. 

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES
Saturday 16th March 
Flackwell Heath v Milton United
Rayners Lane v Wembley 

Tuesday 19th March
Beaconsfield Town v Flackwell Heath (B&B Senior Cup QF)
Reading City v Rayners Lane 

Saturday 23rd March 
Egham Town v Flackwell Heath 
Rayners Lane v North Greenford United
 
Saturday 30th March 
Flackwell Heath v Wallingford & Crowmarsh 
Wokingham & Emmbrook v Rayners Lane


SATURDAY/TUESDAY/THURSDAY/SATURDAY - A BUSY FEW MONTHS COMING UP IN LOCAL NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Have we ever had a period of time in a football season with this amount of rain? The awful weather has caused a huge amount of postponements for non-league clubs up and down the country. The bad news is there's more wet weather forecast for this week as well.

The Football Association has told clubs there will be no extension to the season at Steps five and six of the non-league ladder with games that won't involve clubs with a possibility of promotion or relegation may be rescheduled to no later than Saturday 4th May. 

Here we look at some of our local clubs in the Spartan South Midlands League and how many fixtures they have to complete in just over two months. 

To date Shefford Town & Campton have played just under 2/3rds of their league season's games and will have to complete the remaining 1/3rd by Saturday 20th April as well as play their Premier Division Cup Quarter Final against Real Bedford - If they win this game they'll have to add the Semi-Final to the list!

To indicate how tough the coming months will be for some clubs 

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

SHEFFORD TOWN & CAMPTON 
NUMBER OF LEAGUE GAMES TO PLAY - 14 
MARCH 
Tue 12th - Dunstable Town 
Sat 16th - ST PANTELEIMON 
Tue 19th - REAL BEDFORD (Premier Division Cup QF) 
Sat 23rd - TRING ATHLETIC 
Tue 26th - BALDOCK TOWN 
Thu 28th - COCKFOSTERS
Sat 30th - Real Bedford 
APRIL 
Tue 2nd - Aylesbury Vale Dynamos 
Thu 4th - Stansted 
Sat 6th - LONDON LIONS 
Tue 9th - BIGGLESWADE UNITED 
Thu 11th - Colney Heath 
Sat 13th - Harpenden Town 
Wed 17th - St Panteleimon 
Sat 20th - LEVERSTOCK GREEN 
COCKFOSTERS 
NUMBER OF LEAGUE GAMES TO PLAY - 13 
MARCH 
Thu 14th - ST PANTELEIMON (Premier Division Cup QF)
Sat 16th - Baldock Town 
Wed 20th - FC Romania
Sat 23rd - Leverstock Green 
Tue 26th - LONDON LIONS 
Thu 28th - Shefford Town & Campton 
APRIL 
Tue 2nd - Crawley Green 
Thu 4th - Aylesbury Vale Dynamos 
Sat 6th - BIGGLESWADE UNITED 
Wed 10th - London Lions 
Sat 13th - DUNSTABLE TOWN 
Tue 16th - MK IRISH 
Thu 18th - Potton United 
Sat 20th - Colney Heath

AYLESBURY VALE DYNAMOS
NUMBER OF LEAGUE GAMES TO PLAY - 13
MARCH
Tue 12th - St Panteleimon 
Sat 16th - STANSTED 
Tue 19th - LEVERSTOCK GREEN 
Sat 23rd - COLNEY HEATH 
Tue 26th - SAWBRIDGEWORTH TOWN 
Sat 30th - TRING ATHLETIC 
APRIL 
Tue 2nd - SHEFFORD TOWN & CAMPTON 
Thu 4th - COCKFOSTERS 
Sat 6th - Arlesey Town 
Tue 9th - ST PANTELEIMON 
Sat 13th - Biggleswade United 
Tue 16th - Tring Athletic 
Sat 20th - Potton United

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
NORTHAMPTON SILEBY RANGERS 
NUMBER OF LEAGUE GAMES TO PLAY - 14 
MARCH 
Tue 12th - NORTHAMPTON ON CHENECKS 
Sat 16th - MOULTON 
Tue 19th - RAUNDS TOWN 
Sat 23rd - WNSLOW UNITED 
Tue 26th - CRANFIELD UNITED 
Sat 30th - Wellingborough Whitworth 
APRIL 
Tue 2nd - Royston Town u23 
Sat 6th - RUSHDEN & HIGHAM UNITED 
Tue 9th - Moulton 
Thu 11th - Winslow United 
Sat 13th - WELLINGBOROUGH WHITWORTH 
Tue 16th - Burton Park Wanderers 
Thu 18th - Cranfield United 
Sat 20th - ROYSTON TOWN u23 
TBA - Langford or Leighton Town Development (Division One Cup SF) 

WINSLOW UNITED
LEAGUE GAMES TO PLAY - 14
MARCH 
Tue 12th - Letchworth GC Eagles 
Thu 14th - Rothwell Corinthians (Division One Cup QF) 
Sat 16th - RUSHDEN & HIGHAM UNITED 
Tue 19th - LONG BUCKBY 
Sat 23rd - Northampton Sileby Rangers 
Tues 26th - AMPTHILL TOWN 
Sat 30th - Royston Town u23 
APRIL 
Tue 2nd - RAUNDS TOWN 
Thu 4th - Huntingdon Town 
Sat 6th - Wellingborough Whitworth 
Tue 9th - Leighton Town Development 
Thu 11th - NORTHAMPTON SILEBY RANGERS 
Sat 13th - ROTHWELL CORINTHIANS  
Tue 16th - BUCKINGHAM 
Sat 20th - Ampthill Town 

RUSHDEN & HIGHAM UNITED 
LEAGUE GAMES TO PLAY - 14  
MARCH
Tue 12th - BURTON PARK WANDERERS  
Sat 16th - Winslow United 
Tue 19th - LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY EAGLES
Sat 23rd - Leighton Town Development 
Sat 30th - Irchester United 
APRIL
Tue 2nd - Buckingham 
Sat 6th - Northampton Sileby Rangers 
Tue 9th - AMPTHILL TOWN 
Thu 11th - Langford 
Sat 13th - CRANFIELD UNITED 
Tue 16th - LANGFORD
Thu 18th - BUCKINGHAM 
Sat 20th - Moulton
TBA - Royston Town u23 

Wednesday 6 March 2024

FC BARESI ON THE BRINK OF WINNING THE ESSEX ALLIANCE LEAGUE TITLE

POS TEAM P W D L GF GA GD PTS PP LAST SEASON
1.  FC BARESI  25 19 5 1 90 29 +61 62 68 2nd 
2.  WOODFORD EAST  24 17 2 5 65 34 +31 53 65 4th
3.  CHADWELL HEATH SPARTANS  25 14 4 7 53 40 +13 46 52 9th
4.  HARINGEY BOROUGH u23s 24 13 3 8 69 42 +27 42 54 -
5.  WALTHAMSTOW RESERVES  24 11 2 11 83 54 +29 35 47 13th
6.  LYMORE GARDENS  22 10 4 8 68 56 +12 34 42 8th
7.  FC PETROCUB  23 9 6 8 46 40 +6 33 48 7th
8.  FRENFORD DEVELOPMENT  21 10 1 10 64 57 +7 31 52 10th

FC Baresi are on the brink of winning the Essex Alliance League Senior Division title. If they win at bottom of the table Kit Out London on Saturday they will go to 65 points with Woodford East only able to get to this points tally if they win all of their final games. If Woodford East drop points against 3rd place Chadwell Heath Spartans and FC Baresi win or draw they will be champions! 

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES 
Saturday 9th March 
CHADWELL HEATH SPARTANS v WOODFORD EAST 
KIT OUT LONDON v FC BARESI 

Saturday 16th March 
BAKERS 693 v WOODFORD EAST 
FC BARESI v FC PETROCUB 


LATEST ON THE PITCHING IN ISTHMIAN PREMIER DIVISION BATTLE TO BEAT THE DROP

POS TEAM P W D L GF GA GD PTS FORM PP
16. POTTERS BAR TOWN 28 9 9 10 42 45 -3 36 LWWDDD 78
17.  FOLKESTONE INVICTA  31 8 9 14 42 52 -10 33 DLWDLD 66
18. CHESHUNT  31 7 6 18 42 56 -14 27 LDLLDW 60
19. MARGATE 32 6 7 19 34 61 -27 25 LLLWLL 55
20. CONCORD RANGERS  27 5 6 16 25 52 -27 21 LDLWLL 66
21. HARINGEY BOROUGH 32 4 9 19 26 59 -33 21 DLDLLW 51
22. KINGSTONIAN 31 4 6 21 42 66 -24 18 LWDLDL 51

Cheshunt's 0-3 win against Concord Rangers last night could be a really pivotal result in the race to avoid the drop form The Pitching In Isthmian Premier Division. It was The Beachboy's 'home' game but played at Aveley FC due to the problems they have been having with the pitch at The Aspect Arena. 

The now have fifteen games to play between now and the end of the season on Saturday 27th April. 

It's now looking very ominous for both Kingstonian and Haringey Borough who currently occupy the bottom two with 18 and 21 points. Borough host Cheshunt at Coles Park on Saturday in another massive game for both clubs. Kingstonian make the trip down to the South Coast to play Folkestone Invicta. 

SATURDAY FIXTURES FOR BOTTOM SEVEN
Chatham Town (2nd) v Concord Rangers (20th)
Folkestone Invicta (17th) v Kingstonian (22nd)
Haringey Borough (21st) v Cheshunt (18th)
Hashtag United (12th) v Margate (19th)