Blast from the past
Andrew Cornell looks back at Blues’ games on September 1st
We played on this date in 2006 and the game is best forgotten as they went down to one of the worst defeats of that season in the game of two keepers. James Hussey went into the game carrying an injury and had to be replaced by youngster Joe Woolley and Blues went down 4-1 at Newport County.
The following year we hosted Dorchester Town in a Conference South game which ended in a 0-0 draw. Blues recorded 18 shots at the Magpies’ goal, the last effort seeing Roy Essandoh agonisingly drag his shot inches wide of keeper Simon Evans’ post following a raking Tom Williamson pass. It was typical of the half chances missed that, on any other day, would have been converted.
A low key first half saw the best chances come in the final minute, both for Stortford. Loui Fazakerley’s shot from close range was well saved by Evans. The hesitant-looking keeper failed to hold on to Jason Mason’s resultant cross but Jack Midson’s quick reaction shot only hit the post. Earlier Greg Pearson had seen a shot from a tight angle also hit the woodwork. The visitors’ best chance fell to Charlie Henry but his shot was well saved by Andy Young.
Blues dominated the second half. Craig Edwards saw an effort turned past the post on the hour mark. Then, the best move of the match: Greg Pearson picked up the ball on the halfway line and drove towards the heart of the Town defence. His short pass to Jack Midson was quickly pushed out to the overlapping Mark Wright who, on the corner of the six yard box somehow managed to scoop the ball over when presented with a clear shot at goal.
Blues pushed forward for a winner and almost paid the price. Henry and Bent both shot wide from good positions and Darren Watts hammered the ball over from close range. But Blues could still have won if Greg Pearson had converted when blasting over before Essandoh’s injury time miss.
We have played two FA Cup games on this date in the past. Six years ago we played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at Northwood in the Preliminary Round, our goals coming from Alex Riches and Vinnie John (2). Unfortunately the home replay was lost 1-0. Way back in 1934 we beat Old Johnians at home in the Extra Preliminary Round thanks to a goal from Logan.
I started this article with a defeat but this was not the worst defeat on this date. In 1951 we lost at home to Yiewsley by 7-3 and in 1956 were beaten at Aylesbury 6-1. Its not all bad news though, in 1973 we were climbing the table fast and beat Barking 4-0 at Rhodes Avenue. There was a win by the same margin albeit against lesser opposition in 1971 when Eynesbury Rovers were beaten 5-1 in the East Anglian Cup.
2007 BSFC 0 Dorchester Town 0 – Conference South
Young, Jones, Wright, Edwards, Goodacre, Champion, Mason, Williamson, Pearson, Midson, Fazackerley Subs: Essandoh, Langer Unused: Gaisie, Patten, Welch
2006 Newport County 4 BSFC 1 – Conference South
Hussey, Collis, Gwillim, Stewart, Goodacre, Porter, Innocent, Champion, Blackman, Midson, Taylor Subs: Mason, Fowler, Woolley Unused: Fuller, Lockett Scorer: Porter
2001 Northwood 3 BSFC 3 – FA Cup Preliminary Round
Desborough, Risley, Riches, Taylor, Gridelet, Kyriacou, Hercules, Southam, John, Gentle, Braham Subs: Paul, Fannon, Wolf Unused: Moody, Collier Scorers: Riches, John (2)
1999 Wealdstone 0 BSFC 2 – Isthmian League Division 1
White, Fannon, Risley, Paxton, Quinn, Benstock, Quinton, Oladeji, Hayes, Comerford, Harding Subs: Braham, Swaille, Willock Scorers: Quinton, Hayes
1998 BSFC 1 St Albans City 1– Isthmian League Premier Division
King, Edwards, Campbell, Clark, Clifford, Smith, Forbes, Greene, Conroy, Ikazoboh, Deleon Subs: Comerford, Unused: Gammons, McCarthy Scorer: Ikazoboh
1992 BSFC 1 Purfleet 0 – Isthmian League Division 1
Mallett, Petrou, Claridge, Harrigan, Hopkins, L Burns, White, T Burns, Gayle, Dance, Walker Subs: Pritchard, Sailsman Scorer: Walker
1990 BSFC 0 Enfield 0 – Isthmian League Premier Division
Taylor, Jackman, Tamblyn-Jones, Hopkins, Harrigan, Went, Ryan, Milbourne, Bedford, Gayle, Manderson, Subs: Young, Unused: Parker
1987 Hitchin Town 1BSFC 3 – Isthmian League Premier Division
Taylor, Nunn, Goodchild, Hull, McCayna, Hoddle, Cassidy, Weddell, Gayle, Zacchau, Wood Subs Unused: Barker, Moore
1984 Slough Town 1 BSFC 1 – Isthmian League Premier Division
Welsh, Miguel Luque, Davey, Manuel Luque, Hull, Simmonds, Avery, Mercer, Harris, Cardines, I Smith Sub: Ryan Scorers: Harris
1979 BSFC 2 Maidenhead United 2 – Isthmian League Division 1
Carrick, Coakley, Bradford, M Smith, Brame, Knapman, Ferry, Eason, Worrell, I Smith, Reading Sub: Coote Scorers: ???
1973 BSFC 4 Barking 0 – Isthmian League Division 1
Moore, Davenport, Lawrence, Payne, Still, Tone, Leakey, Wilson, Bass, Greene, Scott
Sub: ??? Scorers: Tone, Bass, Scott (2)
1971 BSFC 5 Eynesbury Rovers 1 – East Anglian Cup 2nd Round
Partridge, Cooper, Sedgley, Lawrence, Still, Sharkey, Mitchell, Merrifield, Devaux, Smith, King
Sub: ??? Scorers: Devaux (4), King
1969 Harwich & Parkeston 1 BSFC 1 – Athenian League Premier Division
Scorer: Gough
1962 BSFC 3 Hemel Hempstead Town 0 – Delphian League Cup 1st Round
Cherry, Rolph, Atkinson, Rankin, Neeves, Wilson, Harkness, Gough, Welch, Smith, Francis Scorers: Harkness, ???
1956 Aylesbury United 6 BSFC 1 – Delphian League
Fox, Duncan, Stone, Lloyd, Carter, Hanley, Neal, Hussey, Hardy, Horton, Scott
Scorer: Hardy
1954 Stevenage Town 1 BSFC 2 – Delphian League
Scorers: Baird, Yates
1951 BSFC 3 Yiewsley 7 – Delphian League
Richardson, Wilkins, Bradford, Lambert, Hubbuck, Giles, Whitaker, Bentley, Brown, Yates, Haggerwood Scorers: Whitaker, Brown (2)
1945 BSFC 0 Royal Corps of Signals 2 – Friendly
1934 BSFC 1 Old Johnians 0 – FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Vasey, Spring, Smith, Little, Burtenshaw, Rowlands, Kimber. Mingay, Rawlings, Logan, Johnson Scorer: Logan
